Grampy's blog

Blogging from Uganda…a Grampy Perspective or Jaja as these kids call me!

I know this is the blog that you all have been waiting for so here goes…What a privilege it has been this week to get to be involved in the work of the DueUnto Team!  So proud of Jay, Jill, Jake,  Jared  and Jayne and amazed by their work and dedication. We have seen several of the “starfish miracles” and some in progress, and each one is truly touching when you  think of the massive difference made in these young lives.  If you are one of the ones “involved” in these miracles from home, please know that you have had a part in something very special. While all the other “bloggers” have done a great job of keeping you abreast of the clinics, the “starfish”, etc.,  as a former minister of music, I wanted to give you a little info on something I know a little bit more about……the worship service we attended on Sunday morning.

We attended the 8am “English” service at Gaba Church (there are 3 or 4 worship services following this one) which was set in a large block building with open air windows, but with very  modern  sound/media equipment and  the most  amazing 20’ ceiling fan I have ever seen!....made me wonder where these babies were when I was sweltering through tabernacle  worship  services at Falls Creek! 

The room was comfortably full with what I would estimate to be 400-500 people (or 1000 if you are Southern Baptist!). The music service was well planned and led by a worship leader, praise team and band (guitar, bass, drums, and keyboard), praise choruses familiar to us were used and all this would fit right into one of our services at home. Now the good part….these people sing!!!  I would use the word gusto but I think reckless abandon might be a better description, and these folks cannot sing in one spot!

The music was well planned, and as the congregation really got going the director was literally bouncing up and down in circles as he led! After thinking about it, if the congregation sang like that, I might have bounced up and down too….wouldn’t that  have caused a stir!  The music lasted about 45 minutes only broken once by the “announcements” (lol, still one of my pet peeves!), and definitely the people were worshipping and were “prepped” to hear whatever message Pastor Peter had to throw on them! A side note for those of you musically inclined, the choruses were all set in keys at least one full step higher than we are used to singing them, and the harmonies were mostly of the high persuasion also.

 I don’t know if this was due to the voices available in the praise team and/or the fact that Ugandans have higher voices, but the only people I saw straining for high notes were the mzungus present!

Pastor Peter was impeccably dressed in a suit and tie (obviously did not buy into the western thought that you have to “dress down” to the same as the congregation to put them at ease….another one of my pet peeves!!).  

He is very charismatic (in the good sense!) and earned your attention as soon as he opened his mouth. I know you are wondering……there was no “preach on brother” going on like in the black churches of the southern US, but Peter would have them repeat words by saying “say: this or that” and the congregation would

respond. The message was a point by point expository message on stewardship based on the parable of the talents. “The first servant doubled his talents! Say: doubled it! Say: well done!” “The last servant buried his talent. Say: buried it!  Say: lazy!”  He took us scripture by scripture and point by point through the message all leading to his focal point.

“Say: it’s not mine it’s his!!!”

 The week has gone by incredibly fast, and we are so glad that we got the opportunity to experience this first hand. We are looking forward to hearing what God is doing in Uganda!

 “Say: headed home! Say: God bless! Say: Sing for Joy!”         Jerry/Dad/Grampy/Jaja