Media Month

For almost a week two weeks three weeks… I have been trying to process our Media Fast (see this blog if you aren’t sure what I am talking about), so take these disconnected thoughts with the understanding that God’s not finished with us yet.

Instant Messenger, Facebook, text messaging, Words With Friends, Blogs, Pinterest, Face Time – OH MY!

I have been blessed to have connectedness with many groups of people, close bonds with many families, and genuine friendships with a handful of people for the large majority of my life… spending hours and hours together sharing, laughing, crying, exploring, even vacationing.

When I was in high school AOL Instant Messenger became very popular. I remember spending hours talking to my friends in the evening – because, of course, I didn't get to see and talk to them enough at school, during after school activities and at church.

Later in college, Facebook became popular and I found it to be a wonderful way to keep in touch with friends and family members who were far away.

But at some point in time the use of these inventions got carried away...  

Last month… our month of Media Fasting… put these modern “ conveniences” in perspective. While many recent technologies allow us to feel “in touch” with many friends and family members, they can also give us a false sense of connectedness.

Our media fast helped me understand the depth of the current relationships I have with friends and family… as well as the friendship I have with my Savior. I had a couple hour conversation with a High School friend (which was long over due). I enjoyed (more than normal) a monthly dinner meeting with friends from college. A three hour Saturday morning coffee meeting was a feast for my soul... but more often last month... I called many friends and they responded by text message. I left voice-mails in hopes of getting a call back or to schedule some real face time and weeks later I found Facebook messages apologizing.

This made me feel empty. I missed the everyday communication and feeling of being “in touch” and at the same time I grieved the days of spending hours together in genuine community. But, EVERY SINGLE DAY Jesus was there. He listened and loved and guided and reassured. He helped Nick and I grow in our marriage. He revealed opportunities I wonder if I would have missed had I been checking Facebook, Pinterest, Words With Friends, blogs, text messages, etc…   

So what now? Well, I have to admit… three weeks later I am using Facebook, texting, Gmail Chatting, blogs and Pinterest to reconnect with friends and family members – BUT -  I am more intentional about making plans and spending real face time together. I'm calling long-distance friends instead of just sending them the little " Miss you. Let's catch up soon." notes.  I’m leaving my phone on silent and trying to be more present when I am with a group of people. And I am thanking my Savior for the opportunities he continues to provide us with – especially those which lead to genuine community with others.

Try a week long fast of text messaging or Facebook or whatever it is that is a competing distraction for you.

Give it a try and be blessed.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2

Mutiny Month One- Clothing

If you haven't read an earlier post titled, "The Freedom You Find When You Leave Things Behind" then click here first!

Here is how our first month went... 

1 - the number of days per week that I used to do laundry

2 - the number of buttons I lost on my dress shorts

3 - the number of times we made an exception

4 - the number of shirts we had to choose from each morning

5 - the number of times I wore the same thing two days in a row

6 - the number of people on the “waiting list” to read the book that started this journey

7 - the number of items of clothing I could go through in one day in the past

8 - the number of times I wish I had a cozy sweatshirt

9 - the number of days our dryer worked this month (irony?)

…and finally the “magic” number…

10 - the number of items of clothing we chose to wear for one month

In a little nut shell, that was the month of August for us - our first month of “an experimental mutiny against excess”.

So where is that journey leading us now? 

Well into a Month of Media Mutiny…

- No Facebook

- No Pinterest

- No Words with Friends

- No Dish Network

- No Netflix

- No Hulu

- No Wii

- No Blogging

- * No text messaging

- * No personal email

* (we will respond to a sent message, but we will go back to the “old fashion” phone call or face to face communication this month)

So, while I haven’t done a very good job sharing this month of all the ways we have seen God’s wonderous love... I will be journaling this month and can’t wait to share in October where He is leading us!

Thanks for reading! If you are interested in knowing more – 

give me a phone call! 

See you in October! 

 

Ugandan Wedding - Church Ceremony

At Rock Foundation School, we also have a church. Our school director, Christine, is also a wonderful God-fearing pastor.

Christine looked beautiful in her purple dress for the wedding. A second wedding pastor is seated next to her. 

The ceremony was to start at 11am. Around noon the girls were still getting their hair done by the beautician who was to go to the bride’s house next to help her get ready. Therefore, I think the wedding started after 3pm. That’s how time in Africa works, but it was a blessing to have some time to walk to town and visit with a few students! 

This little boy is dressed traditionally for the wedding. I found him (or maybe he found me) on the way back from our morning walk. 

People started gathering in the church around 11, where music/ entertainment was provided. Many of the people from the church choir were in the wedding party; so many others gave a song or two. The wedding processional was very similar to an American wedding, except for the pace at which the wedding party moves. It took about 8 minutes for them to make it down the aisle! As they moved through the church, during the ceremony, they walked in the same fashion. I love the way every moment is savored.

Christine's children were the flower girl and pin boy (ring bearer).
The bride's brother walked her down the isle. Poor girl! She had that huge shop light on her almost the whole time to help with the pictures and video. I can't imagine how hot she felt! 

During church they exchanged rings and vows. There were two pastors (like our wedding) and they both gave messages. Instead of a kiss, there is an embrace. Instead of walking out of the church and making a reception line, the bride and groom stood at the front of the church and the guests went to congratulate them. Then they went to take a few photos as guests moved to the reception.

The groom showing off the ring! Can you feel the love?!

The reception was held at the “playground” behind the girls’ dormitory. There were three tents sent up once again, with a long aisle and small tent with many cakes underneath. The bride and groom entered the reception just like they entered the ceremony. Then they made their way to their seats and had a blessing, before they went to cut the cake.

Entering the reception.

Shortly after cutting the cake, it started to rain. Through the rain the bride and groom moved to two chairs facing one another.  It looked like the “garter removal” that some Americans do at their wedding. Instead, in Africa, the bride and groom loving feed one another cake and a drink to show how well they will take care of one another. It was very romantic… till the skies opened up and it started to pour.

Look closely and you will see the bride and groom facing each other.

We sat in the tents for about an hour, working together to lift out the water that was being collected. They moved the food tables under the edge of the tents and tried to form some sort of an assembly line to get everyone fed. Then the MC got our attention and told us there were cars here to take us home. Cars!? We are a short walking distance from the guest house. Well… that’s African hospitality for you. They picked us up at the tent and dropped us off about 100 yards away at the door. I’m so sorry we missed all the singing and dancing. I can only imagine the celebration it could have been, but in Africa it is a blessing to have rain on your wedding day. I’d say this couple has been more than blessed. The rain didn’t stop till the next morning.

One of the boys that danced before the bride and groom arrived.  I  wish  we would have been able to see all the dancing and songs! 

Ugandan Wedding Celebration- Traditional Ceremony

There are three styles of marriage in Uganda: Traditional, Court and Church. We were blessed this trip to witness a Traditional ceremony and Church ceremony. I will blog about the church ceremony another evening... 

During the Traditional ceremony there is a tent for the groom’s family, the bride’s family, and friends. There is an order and tradition for everything from the time of arrival, to drinking soda, to the music, and dance. Some of the rituals include: a dowry for the bride’s parents, a war of words, and a parade of eligible women.

We waited for 2 hours in the rain for the ceremony to start.
I was so thankful  for Michael to keep me warm.  

The dowry for the bride’s family includes: cows, goats, chickens, rice, beans, fruits, soda, small gifts, vegetables, and money.

The line of gifts went on and on.
Family members and friends provide the gifts. We gave a bag of rice and three chickens. This helps the family have a reception after the church wedding.  

The war of words is between members of each family to make sure that everything has been thought-out and will work well.

The men did the talking and sat on couches in the front of the tents.
They spoke in the local language and some of the guests translated poignant or humors remarks for us.   

The parade of eligible women starts with younger girls, and then the next two groups get a little bit older. When they come out the groom says no “the one” is not there. Then finally when the bride is in the last group he “chooses” her and gives her a necklace. Then the celebration continues.

This is the youngest group. Most of these girls are from Rock Foundation School. 

The second group also included many students, as well as many of the bridesmaids for the church ceremony. 

Woohoo! The "one" is in this group!!

The groom’s face was full of joy. It was a blessing to be a part of such a special occasion. 

His face was priceless! Pure joy!!

We always feel like family when we are in Masindi. That day was no exception. 


Look for a blog next week about the church ceremony.

The Freedom You Find When You Leave Things Behind

 

We are home safe and sound and BLESSED!

During our July mission trip, we tried to have a few morning devotionals as a group. One morning our group leader played the song “Things We Leave Behind” by Michael Card. I will share some of the lyrics with you, but encourage you to listen to the song by clicking on this link.

The chorus goes as follows:

Every heart needs to be set free,
from possessions
that hold it so tight
'Cause freedom's not found in the things that we own,
It's the power
to do what is right

[…]

We can't imagine the freedom we find
from the things we leave behind

Well, I don’t think the “things” we found in Africa can be contained in one blog post… however; Nick and I have decided that we don’t want these “findings” to wane as we return to our “American” life. So, August 1^st we started our personal “experimental mutiny against excess”, inspired by my cousins Dawn and Derek Zitko who lent us the book “7” by Jen Hatmaker.

“7 is the true story of how Jen took seven months, identified seven areas of excess, and made seven simple choices to fight back against the modern-day diseases of greed, materialism, and overindulgence.” (http://jenhatmaker.com/)

We are going to take the next seven months and seven areas of excess… but make ten simple choices to continue to be set free from possessions that hold us so tight..

“'Cause when we say 'no'
to the things of the world
we open our hearts
to the love of the Lord and
it's hard to imagine
the freedom we find
from the things we leave behind”

This month we are “leaving behind” all items of clothing aside from the 10 simple choices we made. Here are the ten clothing items I will be wearing for the next 30 days.

For those of you who “traveled” with us on our July Mission Trip to Masindi, Uganda – the trip doesn’t stop here. Now we have the challenge of bringing two different lifestyles and cultures together- keeping God in the center!