Uganda 2025 Day 23

Uganda 2025 Day 23

Today is Sunday! I might have forgot about that and not brought my Bible with me today. I was ready to be picked up at 5:30 AM but due to Uganda time was picked up at around 6:30 AM. Wilson picked up John Basco at his place and then came and picked me up. We had a long drive today. During our drive, John Basco and I had a good conversation. He told me more about his past. He can see the God‘s hand was working through it all. For our destinations we started off by going to visit his former high school. We arrive just in time for Church to be starting. Wilson had driven up the driveway to where there was some shade. He came to church service with us as well. They had us sitting at a special table since we were visitors. I was so happy when I knew some of the songs. Some of them I knew from home and some of them I knew from previous trips to Uganda. Although I think my favorite part of the service, was listening to all the students worshiping God! I thought a few times I can only imagine a very tiny amount of what it will sound like in heaven. I also loved watching them worship when the songs became slower. Not just the students but also Wilson and John Bosco. After worship, one of the men went up and talked about some stuff and then announced to the preacher coming up. I had a heart attack! I was pretty sure he was looking at me and then John Bosco leaned over and said that I was the preacher. I freaked out! Although it turned out that there was a guy sitting behind me that was doing preaching. I knew what I would have talked about, but my words that would have been all jumbled because I would’ve been so nervous. The pastor preached about God being the God of second chances. It was a very good sermon and many people need to hear this. He was saying in the beginning, how people only give you one chance most of the time, but God gives unlimited chances. The past is the past and it can’t be changed, but we can strive for the future. There was a lot more than that, though, of course. After the sermon, they did a couple more things and did have the visitors come upfront and talk. John Bosco gave the microphone to Wilson first and I asked what I was supposed to say. He told me to just say my name and that I was happy to be there. I think that’s what I said, but I kind of froze and said words. I do know when I said my name they all chuckled so I repeated it slower. You know if you’re nervous on stage you speak faster. I am pretty sure that’s what I did. I then gave the microphone back to John Bosco and took my seat. He is such a preacher. He pretty much gave a mini sermon partially going off of what was preached. And at the end, he said I was not supposed to take long so I am done and he passed off the microphone. When service was over, we went and stood under the tree near the van. Students were supposed to come and meet us. They forgot to say that in church so John Bosco sent a couple of the kids to get other kids. Then when the students were there, he looked at me and said encourage them and ask them questions. Of course I immediately froze and I was like I have no idea what to say. I did end up, encouraging them to work hard on their studies and not procrastinate. Also, to keep in the Bible and build their relationship with God. Then I was too nervous. I had no idea what kind of questions to ask so I told them they should ask me questions. John Bosco walked away about this time to socialize with other people. Thankfully, Wilson broke the ice for all of us and he asked me some questions. They ask about where I live, but most questions were about school. I did have to keep saying that I did not go to public school and I explained that I was homeschooled. They had a really good questions. I did end up asking their grade levels most were the equivalent of our high school, but I think one was the equivalent of our middle school. I asked what they wanted to study if they went to university and if they had areas in those fields that they want to specialize in. I think I asked a couple more questions but now I don’t know what. Oh, they did ask about grade levels in the United States. they have something equivalent to kindergarten, but I forget what they call it… Maybe it’s called nursery. Then they have primary and secondary school. Primary school is equivalent to our elementary school, but it sounds like they are in there another year or two longer.secondary school is equivalent to our middle in high school and I think the same amount of years. Although the nursery I believe is 2 to 3 years. After a while of talking with the students, John Bosco came back and said it was time for lunch. We have lunch with a couple of the teachers and of course Wilson. We were talking about economic and financial stuff. Well, they were I was mostly listening. It is because one of the men brought something up and it went off into a full on conversation. When we were all done eating and finished with the topic, we walked back toward the van. John Bosco talked to some more students which meant that I ended up talking to more of the students. It was mostly the young men that would talk and ask the questions. Once we left, John Bosco said they are usually more talkative than the girls. He said it is almost always harder to get the girls to talk. From the high school we drove over to the primary school. Here we were able to say hello to Joyce (John Bosco’s (1) sister), Claire (John Basco (2) sister), and Esther. John Bosco, once again, asked me to encourage the girls. I of course had no idea what to say. He talked to the girls for a short time and then I encouraged them in the same way I encouraged the high school students. Study hard and follow God.  We were only here a short time, but I made sure we took photos before we left. 

On the drive back, we stopped at the equator to take photos. On our safari trip, the team stopped at the same place. This time, the sun was directly behind us on the side with the restaurant, so we had to cross traffic. I told John Bosco that he had to tell me when because he is a local and this traffic was faster than the city. When it was time to cross, he grabbed my hand and we crossed. I had to take faster steps because his legs are longer. Haha! Wilson took photos of John Bosco and I and then John Bosco took photos of Wilson and I. We also took a couple photos of just Wilson. This time crossing the street, we were lucky and the traffic was not as heavy as before for the moment. The rest of the ride was long because it was later in the day and there was traffic. I never mind the traffic because I enjoy watching everyone and everything.