THE GOOD – Jesus always shows up and the students always have a great time!!!
Apac is about 4 hours from Gulu, via Lira. My counterpart/co-worker in Lira has been planning this conference, but she couldn’t be there for the actual event. She asked me to take over as the person in charge to make sure everything gets done and goes smoothly. I was not excited about this task. Arriving to a town I’ve never been to before, working with people I’ve never met before. I’ve already planned and carried-out one youth conference in Gulu, so I know of the out-of-the ordinary frustrations that come with this role. But this is ministry. Specifically, this is service with Scripture Union of Uganda. Often times, No, is not an answer!!!
The day started with my 5am alarm clock. Ready by 5:30am when the driver is to come and pick me and the vehicle from where I’m staying in Lira. He arrives around 5:40am, but the vehicle has issues starting. An ongoing issue with this vehicle. Sometimes you have to push it and put it in gear in order to get it start. After trying for 10 min, the ignition turns over. We drive into town to pick up two others from the SU Lira office. After a quick load up of last minute items, we leave the office by 6:04am. Not bad, only 30 minutes late.
Before leaving Lira, we need petrol; for both the vehicle and for the generator as there’s no electricity at the conference venue. We drive around Lira for literally 45 minutes searching for petrol! We fill up the vehicle at our 2nd stop; but we don’t have a jerry can (or any container) for fuel for the generator. We drive around hoping to find a petrol station which also has a container we can purchase. Emma, one of our SU Lira volunteers, finally decides to use our nice, very new and very clean jerry can that we use for drinking water…to put petrol in it!!!! I finally speak up, but there seems to be no other option. But the petrol station we’re at, has no petrol. We stop at 3 others. No petrol. Finally, we find petrol and we’re on our way. It’s nearly 7am!
I settle in for the 2hr drive on horrible roads. I try not to let my already growing frustration get to me; especially knowing what the day ahead might be like.
Jesus, Jesus, please be with me. I can’t do this. I need you. Give me grace, give me patience!
To increase my feeling of being stuck in a foreign world, the 3 Ugandan guys in the truck, continue to talk only in the local language. I can’t even attempt to be interested since I can’t understand a thing. They’re even using a dialect slightly different from the little Luo I do know. The radio is on. The guy on the radio is shouting in the local language. I finally ask “what is this guy shouting about.” The answer: He’s preaching. Of course. When we preach, we shout! It’s the Ugandan way.
I begin to sink lower in the front seat; wishing I had my iPod yet, even if I did, that would be an incredible sign of “I’m not interested in you.” Instead I talk to my friend…
Please, please help me. My grace dispenser is empty. Please fill me up. Let your all-consuming power come and take over me!
We arrive to the venue in Apac at 8:30am. We made it in 1.5 hrs! According to the conference schedule, Opening Remarks are scheduled for 8:30am! No one is fazed! No one else is there!! Only one of the key volunteers from Apac is at the venue location. We unload and start setting up. Several trips are made into town and to people’s houses to get the rest of the equipment, firewood, food, etc. By 10am the cook hasn’t shown up yet. In order to eat lunch by 2pm, the beans need to be on the fire (to start boiling) by 10:30am!! And tea break is scheduled for 10:30am.
I know this is Your conference and somehow everything will come together for Your Glory. Please fill me up! These are all your children. You love them, help me to be loving to them even when I’m annoyed, frustrated and irritated!
I ask the SU Apac Committee Chairperson for the names of the people he asked to come be Bible Study leaders with us. He says that he talked to some people about coming, but they were not able to meet to go over the Bible Study. He says that he also, has not seen the Bible Study guide! WHAT!? The “plan” was that the Chairperson was in charge of all the details that could only be handled by the local Apac person. I was assured; everything should be under control. One of the volunteers did show up. But he had written his own Bible Study. No, no. We have a Bible study that all the leaders will use, so that each group does the same study!!! He’s okay with this. Thankfully, some of the SU Patrons that came with their schools are wonderful and offered to lead Bible Study group in short notice.
At 10:10am, I hear a bunch of voices singing...loudly. A lorry (cargo-type truck) full of singing students arrives. 74 students and their patron from Apac Secondary School. Wow! We register our first students for the conference!
We officially get our day’s program started just before 11am!! We reschedule the schedule and figure out what to take out of the program and what activities can be shorted in length. There’s a struggle to come up with the new program. 3 of us are talking it over, and can’t seem to agree on what will work best! We finally, somewhat, agree (for now) and move forward.
The cooks are moving along quickly. More students are arriving. Our MC is doing wonderful at leading the students in fun praise. Most importantly, the students are having a blast. They are dancing and singing with huge smiles on their faces!
The rest of the day moves on. We have a great time of small group Bible Study. Lots of worship and praise jam which the students all love SO much! Great speakers. Even a fabulous preacher who didn’t shout at the students!! YAY!! The best tea I’ve had yet in Uganda. We have extra money so we even buy cabbage and greens for lunch; to go with the standard posho (cornmeal substance) and beans. Everyone is working together!!!
"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Col 3:14
* * * Love brings us together in unity. * * *
In total, 105 students from 4 schools, along with 5 teachers and 6 other Apac community members, come to be a part of this 2nd Annual Scripture Union Apac Youth Conference!
Even in this crazy day, you would think my mood might worsen as the day goes on. As the frustrations and annoyances pile up on top of each other. But somehow, Jesus comes through, as he always promises to if we allow Him to and call on Him! My grace dispenser was restored. At least enough to get me through the day.
Our conference theme, which is the Scripture Union Uganda’s theme for the year, is “Light Your World “ (Matt 5:14)
Somehow God always manages to Light up MY World!!!! WOW!
This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long!
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