An African Country Church

This last Sunday we were invited to attend a one year anniversary celebration for a new church located outside of the capital of Kampala. The name of the area was Natchigala and the church was set amidst a beautiful tea estate, green tea bushes covering the hill side like a blanket. The drive out was delightful as both of us were reminded of how much we had missed the open countryside with its vivid colors and six foot red-clay termite hills. We got lost trying to follow the heavily overgrown trail but eventually pulled up at a “rustic” structure of bamboo siding, tin roofing sheets, and several large tarps whipping in the late morning breeze.
As “muzungus” (a white person but as a statement of fact and not demeaning) we received a lot of looks and many greeted us with joy-filled smiles. The audience’s clothing and appearance was a full spectrum ranging from several women who had their hair done professionally to numerous children in the back who were without even cheap bata sandals.
The pastor’s name is Wilson and the church in Natchigala was born in his heart as he realized the need for Jesus in the Natchigala community. He and his wife, Grace, are some of our heroes as we continue to learn from their willingness to leap out upon the promises of God and see what He would do with not much more than an available couple.
It was a refreshing privilege to be back in an African “pulpit” (there was none!) and re-experience the humor generated by misunderstandings between the preacher and the translator. Jesus was faithful and it dawned on us during the extended celebrations that this was our fourth Sunday in Uganda.
Thank you for standing with us as part of Jesus' team and as we cannot say thank you enough for "holding the ropes."
The Africa Gospel Church of Natchigala sends their “greetings!”