The Uniforms Delivered
Sunday, July 21st was a day of blessings. I woke up early to a peaceful sound outside. It was not raining and I was very thankful for that. I was going to Denkaka for church and delivering the uniforms to the children. No rain meant it would make an easier trip for us. I prepared pancakes for the host family and got dressed for church. But then the rain came pouring down. We ventured out to pick up the uniforms. We dodged pools of water to get to the shop. The seamstress had everything bagged and ready to go. Off we went to catch a bajaj. It took a while and since only three can ride at a time, our group of five had to split up for the first part of our trip. We made it to the edge of town and had to wait for a taxi to Denkaka. With the rain coming down and no sign of the other two people, we walked around looking for a ride. Finally a taxi arrived. We got in the taxi and it was not full so that was a relief. Many times there are 24 people in a 12 passenger van. The driver turned the taxi around and went the opposite direction from Denkaka. He was going to pick up people until the van was full. After several trips around the area we found our other two individuals. Finally after an hour we were on our way to Denkaka. Once we arrived, we took a horse cart to the church. The driver of the cart didn’t look more than 12 years old. I have seen many younger boys than 12 driving a horse cart.
We arrived wet, muddy and tired but our weariness didn’t last long. As we approached the church building, the people were on their knees praying. They had been there for several hours in prayer. The start of their church service each Sunday begins around 9:00 in prayer. Imagine walking to church in the rain with nothing to protect you from getting wet. Then you spend the next hour or more on your knees. There are no kneeling pads, just a dirt floor. Yet, there they were praying on their knees in wet clothing.
At our arrival the service continued into singing and praising God. They didn’t just stand and sing but they worshipped through music. They praised God with their hands and hearts. I stood there watching. These people, who have so little in material possessions, were praising God with such joy. They weren’t putting in their hour of time on Sunday, they were there truly worshipping God with all their hearts. I didn’t need an interpreter to tell me that the people in this church, with a dirt floor, wooden benches and some hungry, loved praising our God.
After the message and many different prayers, I was asked to speak to the congregation about the partnership with them. When I finished they wanted to pray for me. I was over whelmed by their love and appreciation.
While I was speaking the children were in another room putting on their uniforms. Then they paraded in and were presented to the church. I wish I could have captured the look on the faces of the children and their church family. Here were 28 children in their church who were going to attend school in the fall. Such a blessing God has provided through our hands and feet. May God bless all those who donated to make this a possibility for the children. You have helped to change their future.
“It is not what you believe that counts; it is what you believe enough to do.”
Gary Gulbranson
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