Village Church: the authentic Uganda

While on the way to the village church, we had an informal worship service on the bus. Sam lead us in songs like “Eyalama” and “I’m so glad Jesus set me free”, then Rev. Francis spoke a few words of a sermon for us before Sam told us a story.

Eyalama: Thank You

Rev. Francis talked about Abraham and how God called him from his family and friends to go to a country he did not know. He compared this team to Abraham, for we had left our families and friends to go to a country we did not know; still we stepped out in faith, following Christ wherever He would leave.

“Live to be a blessing”
–Rev. Francis

He told us that God has called us to be a blessing; and God called us out of self land to a world where we must see ourselves as the least to make the most difference. He has called us out of our country and comfort zones to this foreign land. Breven Francis told us that it is not about who we are but what we do and told us that it was his personal mission to bless one person every day.

We see ourselves as the ones blessing others as we go on mission trips, but we are equally blessed; many times we receive the greater blessing. Just our presence at the church was a blessing to these people, and in return they blessed us in so many ways.

We arrived at the village of Kamorojo, About an hours drive from Soroti. There was already a very nice breakfast arrayed for us when we got off the bus. We ate first, and then gravitated toward the main church building where we were welcomed by singing and praising. They play their local instruments, one that looks very much like a heart, and is made out of wood, string, and animal hide. Another instrument that they play is an African piano; it is a complicated instrument to explain but is a wooden box on top that are different lengths. The pricking of the prongs causes different tones, and if created correctly, these pianos are remarkably on key. Most of the videos from today can be found by using the hashtag #HMIUganda16 on Facebook.

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When the service officially started, after the music was finished, many of us split to do a children’s church across the street. There were several buildings, and the 250+ kids that we had cannot all fit in one or even two of the buildings. So the group to even smaller groups and each handle the particular section of kids.

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We are so proud of the team today as they were engaging, and were not only ready but willing to step in and do things that they hadn’t done before and maybe weren’t comfortable with. But they did them, and God bless that effort. Many of the younger and older children prayed to accept Christ into their life. You can never be very sure about whether they fully understood or not. But God was definitely working on the hearts of some, and we may never know in this life just how many people we impact for Christ even if we don’t see it.

After the service we went out to see the water source for that village. It was head and shoulders above any water source we had ever seen in Uganda for these local villages, and yet it was still a disease ridden well. An old fashion well, not like the kind we would dig for these people, But one that required a bucket to lift water from the ground, filled with dirt and disease. And yet this is one of the best, most sanitary water sources we have seen it out in the father reaches of the Soroti area.

Today was a good day of ministry. It was a blessing and encouragement to the team, we all left uplifted, And reinvigorated to serve for these last few days we have an Uganda. You know on the good days though, I would ask you to pray that we would accomplish as much as we can during our time here. God is moving in Uganda, we want to be a part of it, we want you to be a part of it. So continue to pray for the work, and if God lays on your heart to contribute financially to the work you can do so at buildingwithhope.com

Remember, for pictures and updates like and follow the Hope Missions International Facebook page, and stop by my personal blog: theanonymousnovelist.com for a different perspective on the work we are doing here in Uganda, Africa.

–Jared Allen