LIGHT FOR THE JOURNEY
AUGUST 2007
“CONNECTING HEARTS ACROSS THE WORLD” – PART III

            Looking on as Beverly Rich made adjustments to the huge belt of Ellen’s stunning African dress called a Gomez, I felt as if this were a dream. Glancing in the mirror at my reflection, I adjusted the huge belt of the colorful borrowed gomez I was wearing.  Brushing my hand over the lovely rich magenta fabric, the realization hit.  This was no dream. I really was in Uganda preparing to attend my precious friend, Mariam’s, “introduction”, the precursor to her wedding.  Silently, I prayed, “Thank you, Lord Jesus, for making it possible for me to come.”  Mariam Babyrie, a beautiful Ugandan sister was to marry Steven Moro Collins.
            The “introduction” in Uganda is as cultural as the groom paying a “bride price” in order to marry.  It takes place a week or so before the wedding and is the venue for the formal introduction of the two families.  It is also the time when the groom bargains for his bride. 
            Mariam’s family lives miles away in the bush so everyone met at the church to travel together to the event.  Four vehicles were filled with people and gifts for the bride’s family.  There were bags of grain, boxes of clothing and huge baskets filled with fruits and vegetables.  Live animals would be delivered in another fashion. 
            Riding beside Beverly in the back seat of the Pajero, I braced myself to prevent my arm from getting bruised on the long bumpy ride.  As we bounced along the dusty road, barely more than a cow trail, I looked down and a stream of thick red liquid was running past our feet.  Jerking my feet up, I gasped. “What is THAT?”  We discovered a quarter of beef behind our seat.  The “stream” was blood.  Laughing, we tucked our dresses up to protect them.  THIS is Uganda!
            When we arrived at the family home they seated us under three sided tents.  The scene was lovely and the decorations were elaborate for Uganda.  The tents were arranged about fifteen feet apart with the families facing each other. There was one spokesperson for each family and microphones so everyone could hear.  My problem was that everything was in Luganda and I couldn’t understand a word.
             It was an all day event and at one point, the groom’s family and guests returned to the vehicles to retrieve the gifts.  They returned, dancing, with everyone balancing a gift on their heads.  Everything, except for the live animals, was carried on someone’s head as they danced along in procession. 
            At midday, just before the meal, it started raining and then pouring, filling tent roofs with water. There was a muddy sea around and between them.  We stayed dry except for our feet which were in a stream of water.
            Toward the end of the ceremony the bride’s father said something that created an outburst of protest from the groom’s side.  Those who could interpret told me the he was unhappy with the bride price and wanted three more cows.  After the uproar and considerable dickering between the family spokesmen, it was disclosed that the “cows” the bride’s parents wanted were symbolic.  They wanted the three “cows” of love, patience and peace.  The forty people under our tent breathed a huge sigh of relief at once.  
            There were beautiful passages of Scripture read and even an exchange of rings which Pastor Jesse Rich was asked to bless.  And in all actuality, the couple were married before God and man by the end of the ceremony.  It was a lovely and memorable day. 
            The wedding, a week later at Calvary Chapel Jinja, was a beautiful tribute to Jesus Christ and the value He places on the marriage of one man and one woman.  Steven, a dashing groom, is a perfect match for his beautiful bride, Mariam.
            Both Steven and Mariam are former prisoners who embraced Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  They recognize their imprisonment as a tool God used to get their attention and bring them into His family.  They are key staff members of the Calvary Chapel mission in Jinja.  They teach in the Uganda prisons and village churches. Mariam teaches several girls Bible studies in Jinja including the children of the handicapped.  This summer they joined the team of Prayer Warriors For Prisoners and now pray for American prisoners.            
            Before Steven and Mariam were married, she needed financial help in order to have her two daughters live with her.  Several PWFP volunteers stepped up to the plate and gave monthly gifts to help.  But when a Colorado prisoner named *Joe learned of Mariam’s need, he went before the Lord, seeking direction about his part in helping.  He wrote, “When I took this matter to prayer, the Lord gave me James 1:27: ‘religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: look after orphans and widows in their distress…’”
            This compassionate man was faithful to send $10 of his meager $12 to $15 monthly wage.  He never failed to keep his pledge. Joe’s heart was so deeply touched by this mother’s need that his check is always accompanied with a note of joy such as this:  “Praise the Lord!  This is my favorite time of month when I can send this gift for Mariam and her daughters.  I thank God for letting me be a vessel to help.”  He continues to send his monthly pledge to help Mariam and Steven in their ministry.  Jesus Christ is the cord that connects hearts such as Joe’s and Mariam’s.  However, without obedience on Joe’s part, this never would have happened.  Is there someone God wants YOU to connect with?  Is your heart open to His compassion so when you hear His call, you will obey?  Joe has been blessed beyond measure by his generosity and obedience.  He knows we can never out give God! 
            “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.  And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” II Cor 9:12-15 NIV
*Name has been changed.
 © August 2007 Jan McLaughlin - All rights reserved.  Find out more at www.PrayerForPrisoners.org
Jan McLaughlin can be reached at 719-275-6971 or by e-mail, PrayerForPrisoners@msn.com.