MOYO, Uganda – So the blessings keep coming on the Amy For Africa Mission to Moyo.
The AFA teams split up today and got a double-dose from God. Floyd Paris, Chris and Amy Compston, Dr. Maggie Lawentmann and Rob Barber went to an all-Muslim village called Aliba – the location for the fifth Penne Paris school – and were greeted with drums, dancing and singing by more than 5,000 Muslim men, women and children.
Fear? No way. Gabriel Lazarri, Floyd’s right-hand man, had arranged to have 48 troops from the Uganda Army nearby just in case. He didn’t tell them until the ride home.
“I think most of the team there wasn’t but Gabriel and Floyd anticipated that there maybe could be but they step up the security measures necessary,” Amy said. “None of the team members were afraid. It’s just the peace that God gives.”
A police presence was also there to help keep order but it wasn’t necessary. Controlling the happiness of the crowd was their biggest job.
The students from the Penne Paris school showed off their skills for the AFA team, which was treated like royalty. Children were everywhere, including sitting in the trees so they could see.
“We rounded this curve and there was a sea of people. They were all in the road,” Chris said. “We got out of the car and walked the last mile or so.”
“They put their arms around us and danced with us until we got to the area where ‘The Program,”’ was,” Amy said. “They were in their headwraps and Muslim attire.”
Amy was there six months ago when the school was being started. The children have been there since September but they were speaking in clear English where it was easily understood.
“The whole crowd would cheer for them when they did it,” she said. “That’s why we’re accepted because they see the change in these children. The trees were full of children trying to see what was going on.”
Dr. Maggie has had an experience besides the many wounds that were tended to on the day. She saw an active case of leprosy from an older woman who came for treatment. “I did a rewind in my mind four or five times to make sure I hadn’t touched her,” she said. “It was sad to see.”
The AFA team was honored with pop and packages of cookies and Bro. Floyd was able to pray with them.
“Inroads are being made,” Amy said. “They welcomed us back there any time. They said the Christian and Muslim religions are united for now. They want their children to know that Christians are good people.”
The rest of the team – Tony and Amy Blankenbeckley, Rob and Jon VanHoose, Whitney Saucedo, Kathy Whitely, Shannon Luther and I – went to Itula, a peaceful Muslim village located about an hour from Aliba.
The team going to Itula were greeted by children who looked at the mazungas (white man) like they’d never seen one before – and they probably hadn’t. We’ve also found they love looking at themselves after you snap a picture of them. For many, it may be the first time they’ve seen their image. They giggle and giggle. No matter where you go in this world, kids are kids. It’s the same in Moyo.
Me, Jon and Kathy entertained the children while the public address system was being put together. There were around 2,000 who showed up in Itula and more than half of those received shoes. We washed feet, shared Jesus and sent them away happy.