On December 14, I went to Soroti to attend Emmanuel’s
ordination. Emmanuel was in my
discipleship group, and I supervised him for both his Sunday and block
[diocesan] placements. When I thought I
had a conflict and wasn’t able to attend, he reminded me that he is my son, and
gets first preference. He’s right, and
thankfully, the conflict resolved itself.
ordination. Emmanuel was in my
discipleship group, and I supervised him for both his Sunday and block
[diocesan] placements. When I thought I
had a conflict and wasn’t able to attend, he reminded me that he is my son, and
gets first preference. He’s right, and
thankfully, the conflict resolved itself.
Happily, I now know the way to Soroti, and it’s actually pretty
easy: go east on Jinja Road, and after
Iganga, branch left to go to Mbale. At
Mbale, go through the town and take the road to Soroti. The
cathedral is just after the middle of Soroti town. There are precious few road signs in Uganda,
and last year I missed the branch at Iganga (I expected a roundabout, and it’s
just a street) and took the long way to Mbale.
This year, I took the branch, but had some issues at Mbale because the
entire town is being repaved. Once I got
through that, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the road to Soroti has
been tarmacked, at least a rough paving.
That turned a horrible road into a good one, even if I wondered if I was
on the wrong road for about 90 minutes.
easy: go east on Jinja Road, and after
Iganga, branch left to go to Mbale. At
Mbale, go through the town and take the road to Soroti. The
cathedral is just after the middle of Soroti town. There are precious few road signs in Uganda,
and last year I missed the branch at Iganga (I expected a roundabout, and it’s
just a street) and took the long way to Mbale.
This year, I took the branch, but had some issues at Mbale because the
entire town is being repaved. Once I got
through that, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the road to Soroti has
been tarmacked, at least a rough paving.
That turned a horrible road into a good one, even if I wondered if I was
on the wrong road for about 90 minutes.
Since it’s the dry season, it tends to be hot, but Soroti is
warmer than Mukono, so it was about 90 during the day, feeling between 95-97.
warmer than Mukono, so it was about 90 during the day, feeling between 95-97.
The Soroti cathedral is a simple building, but holds about 2,000. The church was packed for the ordination,
naturally, and while there is no air conditioning, there are a plethora of fans working hard.
The service was to start at 10, but began around 10:30, and the service
itself probably ended around 1:30. Given
that there was a reading, a sermon, commissioning about 15 lay readers, ordaining
two deacons, offertory, and Holy Communion, that’s not bad at all. However, then there were the introductions
(to include yours truly), and the bishop had some announcements, which
carried us to 3:00. One of the announcements
was that he expects all clergy to vest for the ordination, though visiting
clergy (like me) are exempt. I leaned
over to Godfrey, one of my current students, and whispered that I would vest
for his ordination next year. After
dismissing us, the bishop looked at the clock, saw the time, and exclaimed “we
can’t be in this hot cathedral at 3:00!”
naturally, and while there is no air conditioning, there are a plethora of fans working hard.
The service was to start at 10, but began around 10:30, and the service
itself probably ended around 1:30. Given
that there was a reading, a sermon, commissioning about 15 lay readers, ordaining
two deacons, offertory, and Holy Communion, that’s not bad at all. However, then there were the introductions
(to include yours truly), and the bishop had some announcements, which
carried us to 3:00. One of the announcements
was that he expects all clergy to vest for the ordination, though visiting
clergy (like me) are exempt. I leaned
over to Godfrey, one of my current students, and whispered that I would vest
for his ordination next year. After
dismissing us, the bishop looked at the clock, saw the time, and exclaimed “we
can’t be in this hot cathedral at 3:00!”
 |
| Bishop George of Soroti; Rev. David is holding his staff; David is the vicar of the cathedral, and is a friend from my student days at UCU. |
 |
| The newly ordained Rev. Emmanuel, with the Dean of the Cathedral to his right, Canon Abraham. |
Emmanuel had asked me to come to a thanksgiving service at
his home; what I missed is that I was the chief guest (guest of honor). My challenge with that was that I had
intended to be in Mukono before it gets dark at 7:00, and it’s at least a
four-hour drive. Since we got out of the
service late, I begged Emmanuel to let me come and make my remarks, then go. He agreed.
his home; what I missed is that I was the chief guest (guest of honor). My challenge with that was that I had
intended to be in Mukono before it gets dark at 7:00, and it’s at least a
four-hour drive. Since we got out of the
service late, I begged Emmanuel to let me come and make my remarks, then go. He agreed.
After a stop to get plates for the lunch that was to come
after the thanksgiving, we arrived at Emmanuel’s place around 4:30. We were greeted on the road by a group of
people cheering, yelling, and waving makeshift banners.
after the thanksgiving, we arrived at Emmanuel’s place around 4:30. We were greeted on the road by a group of
people cheering, yelling, and waving makeshift banners.
 |
| This is some of the crowd that welcomed us; you can see the tents on the compound to shelter the guests from sun or rain. |
They absolutely crowded the car, and I felt like I was
driving a VIP. I reckon I really was; one of their own had reached two milestones, a university degree and his ordination. One of the women holding
a banner was on my side of the car, and was fond of inadvertently covering the
windshield, and I was afraid I would run over one of the kids.
driving a VIP. I reckon I really was; one of their own had reached two milestones, a university degree and his ordination. One of the women holding
a banner was on my side of the car, and was fond of inadvertently covering the
windshield, and I was afraid I would run over one of the kids.
When we reached the compound, it had been closed off with
ribbon for Emmanuel to cut, much like is done at wedding receptions here. Emmanuel knelt in prayer, and seeing him shed
tears while he was praying reminded me of how overwhelmed I was at my
ordination.
ribbon for Emmanuel to cut, much like is done at wedding receptions here. Emmanuel knelt in prayer, and seeing him shed
tears while he was praying reminded me of how overwhelmed I was at my
ordination.
 |
| Emmanuel kneeling in prayer outside his compound. |
Like any good function, we began with the Uganda national
anthem (in English, which I mostly know), then they sang the Ateso anthem (which I didn’t
know; I do know the first verse of the Buganda anthem, however). The emcee announced the agenda, and Emmanuel
asked if we could break protocol and I could make my remarks first, as I had
wanted to be on the road three hours ago and was getting quite antsy that I wouldn’t even make it to Mbale before dark.
anthem (in English, which I mostly know), then they sang the Ateso anthem (which I didn’t
know; I do know the first verse of the Buganda anthem, however). The emcee announced the agenda, and Emmanuel
asked if we could break protocol and I could make my remarks first, as I had
wanted to be on the road three hours ago and was getting quite antsy that I wouldn’t even make it to Mbale before dark.
In my speech, I thanked everyone for their sacrifice in
letting Emmanuel come to Mukono for three years; it is hard on extended
families while our students are with us.
His wife even delivered a child when he was with us, and while he
traveled for the birth, he had to come back to school. I’m sure I said some other things, but ended
by charging Emmanuel to continue to be faithful to Jesus, to continue to love
the Christians in his care, and to preach the Gospel faithfully.
letting Emmanuel come to Mukono for three years; it is hard on extended
families while our students are with us.
His wife even delivered a child when he was with us, and while he
traveled for the birth, he had to come back to school. I’m sure I said some other things, but ended
by charging Emmanuel to continue to be faithful to Jesus, to continue to love
the Christians in his care, and to preach the Gospel faithfully.
Emmanuel had been translating for me, and when I was
finished, he gave me a big hug, again with tears in his eyes, which brought tears
to my eyes. He then told me how much
being his lecturer and discipleship tutor meant to him, and how much he has
learned from me, and then translated that for the crowd. If I’d not already teared up, I certainly
would have then!
finished, he gave me a big hug, again with tears in his eyes, which brought tears
to my eyes. He then told me how much
being his lecturer and discipleship tutor meant to him, and how much he has
learned from me, and then translated that for the crowd. If I’d not already teared up, I certainly
would have then!
I write that not to say that I think I’m a terribly important person
here, but to tell you that I’m grateful to have the opportunity to have an impact on my students. They mean the world to me, and I treasure
teaching them, talking with them, and learning with them. Being able to celebrate with them is icing on the cake.
here, but to tell you that I’m grateful to have the opportunity to have an impact on my students. They mean the world to me, and I treasure
teaching them, talking with them, and learning with them. Being able to celebrate with them is icing on the cake.
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