'High Fashion' and 'Full of Joy'

High Fashion

I asked Alice if we could purchase some African style dresses so she took us to a tailor to choose some fabric and to be measured for a traditional Ugandan dress – one worn by Ugandan women for special occasions only.  The cost of these hand made dresses is about £30 and Alice said that is a good price, but prohibitively expensive for many people – if a woman has one, it is just one and she keeps it and wears it for all occasions.  I laughed because I asked where they get the fabrics and she said they were imported from China!   After our visit to the tailor, Mark bought a ready made African shirt for about £5. 

Looking at some Ugandan fashion designs.

Negotiating a price with the tailor.

Choosing fabrics.
 

The tailor's baby asleep on the floor!

The tailor had measured us on Saturday morning and by Saturday evening our dresses were ready to be collected.  On Sunday morning, Alice came and helped Jocelyn and I dress for church as it was really difficult to put on by yourself – there was a large piece of fabric underneath made into a  petticoat and to help hold out the fabric of the dress. It was all very hot especially when walking along in the hot sunshine! 

As we walked along the street to church (feeling a bit silly as we’re not used to it) everyone was coming out to greet us, clapping, cheering and tooting us.  An elderly lady came out to the street and shook our hands and thanked us for dressing in Ugandan outfits.  It seemed that we were honouring them by wearing them and it was very humbling. 

 

On our final day, Alice once again helped us get into our Ugandan outfits for the final service and the other ladies had also worn their special dresses to mark the occasion.

 

 

 

 

Full of Joy

For anyone who has ever been to Africa you will know that the worship is infectious, joyful and exuberant.  When everyone starts singing and dancing there is no chance of standing still!   One of the pastors said that there are two types of joy, inner joy and face joy.  Sometimes people in the UK need to tell their faces about their inner joy!!   One of the most moving things for me in African worship is when the women ululate – if you look it up on google it’s like a call of pure joy from the throat used in celebrations in Africa and the Middle East and when I hear it I am always moved to tears – it just does something to me!  

Children performing a dance.

You just can't stand still in African worship!

 

Mark enjoyed having a go on the drums!

 

Whenever we are in places where there is material deprivation, we are always astounded by the absolute contentment and joy amongst people who materially, have very little.  In the West we seem to constantly be pursuing happiness, comfort and wealth which may bring people ‘face joy’ but certainly doesn’t bring inner or lasting joy and contentment.  Again, we have SO much to learn from our brothers and sisters in Africa and other places around the world. 

On Sunday afternoon the church organised a children’s afternoon and invited children’s groups from other churches in the town and surrounding areas.  Each group came and performed a song and dance for us.  After this, Jocelyn did a children’s story and I taught the children some of our songs – ‘Great Big God’ (always a favourite!), ‘Great Great Brill Brill’ and then ‘We want to see Jesus lifted high’. 

Children praying for each other.

I got the children into groups to pray for each other.

Joyful singing!

'And he holds us in his hand!'

An explosion of joy!

Having a sleep during the long service!

It was like an explosion of joy that broke out in the place with everyone, adults included, all dancing and having fun.  It was SO exuberant!  I felt so full of joy I could have cried and it felt like a glimpse of heaven.  It is a moment I will never forget, seeing all the happy joyful faces just rejoicing together in God’s presence.