Today was Mugisha’s funeral. Thankfully, exams hadn’t started yet (why they’re starting on a Wednesday this semester is beyond me, but I’m grateful) so that the students who are Sunday School teachers could come, as Mugisha had been one of the students in Sunday School.
Other than that though, I wondered who would come, besides family. I mean, he only passed away yesterday afternoon. Funerals and burials normally happen fairly quickly here, I suspect because things like embalming are prohibitively expensive.
Silly me – this is Africa, where “I am because you are” is the way we think. Mugisha was one of us, so people came.
People came – our little chapel, which holds about 150 in the pews, closer to 200 if we use the gallery (we’d call it a choir loft), had the pews full, the gallery close to full, and scores of people outside the door.
Harriet, the woman I buy airtime (pre-paid cell phone minutes) even came. I had just seen her an hour prior when I was buying airtime, and mentioned that I had a funeral to attend. She told me that she didn’t realize the funeral was for Mugisha; she comes from the same area as his mother.
The Vice Chancellor didn’t only come to the funeral, he spoke, and spoke beautifully. So we had two good sermons today – once again, I appreciate the hope we have in the resurrection.
Burial will be in the village, which is quite a distance away. Some have traveled today, and some are traveling in the morning. Please pray for safe travel for those who are going, and for the family as they grieve.
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