Today, in Uganda, I celebrated America’s independence. We didn’t have hamburgers, we didn’t have red white and blue streamers, we didn’t even have fireworks. We did however have what a lot of Americans don’t have today- unity, love, and family. After a long day of meetings and working at the PDN office we all headed over to Richmond’s mother’s house. We came baring hot dogs, chips, and baked beans (the closest things we could find to American food in the Ugandan supermarkets). After meeting “Mama” and the rest of Richmond’s family we started the fire and the small charcoal stove to get our party started.
As not one of us 3 young adults who had gathered from the United States were with any of our biological family, we all felt completely taken in by our new, very big, very loud, Ugandan family. After a big meal that we shared with some of the neighborhood (it seemed to be a feeding the 5,000 with two loaves situation) we all sat around the fire to fellowship. Arthur, Richmond’s brother, played the guitar while Lois played the African drum. We sang praise songs until we couldn’t sing until longer. After worshiping around the fire for a few hours we left with a prayer and a blessing. It was really refreshing to pledge our allegiance to our Lord and creator instead of a piece of cloth with stars and stripes.
The Fourth of July has gone from celebrating our country's independence to making sure we have enough fireworks to last most of the night. We have become so accustomed and comfortable with material things (more than enough food, fireworks, alcohol) that we do not give a second thought to those who have none of those things. I forget to easily how easy I have it here in the U.S.
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