Today they invited us to join them at Church. So we woke early and prepared for the 10am Church Service at Watoto Church, formerly Kampala Pentecostal Church (KPC). It's the same church Auntie Jo goes to each week so it was lovely to meet up with her as well as Nathan and Bethany. It's easy to forget you're in Africa when you're inside the church. It is so modern and upbeat. The worhsip was amazing. Lutaaya Deborah loved the praise and worship music, singing along and joining in with the dances we were encouraged to do. Little Jaydn decided she wanted me to hold her throughout the service. I must admit I love seeing the change in her little face now she has her forever family. She has literally come alive. So it was an honour to share her cuddles during the service and see her hi-5 people around her during the one song.
We joined Nathan and Bethany for lunch. We ate at a buffet restaurant, which Lutaaya Deborah loved. She is being very good at trying new foods, tasting them and deciding if she likes them or not. This said, if she doesn't like something she certainly makes sure she doesn't eat it again. She is 100% certain she dislikes egg, in whatever form. I've tried explaining that in the UK they are different as the yolks are more orange colour, so maybe we'll try and taste this again when we get home.
We went back to our guest house to rest up for the afternoon before meeting up with Nathan, Bethany and Jaydn again this evening. They had heard of a cultural centre where you see all types of Ugandan dancing. As we drove to the centre I realised we drove through the town where Lutaaya Deborah was found. She had been found when she was approximately 18 months old on the doorstep of the chief of police. Even though we didn't see the exact spot of where she was found, I took some photos of the town. Right now she doesn't want to acknowledge this part of her life but she may have questions as she grows older, so as many answers as I can give her are ready and waiting. When we returned home I mentioned to her about the town and asked if she would like to go there and see where she had been found. She answered 'NO', so I guess she isn't ready to know of any of the past just yet.
The church service talked of the story of Moses, with God saying I am the I am. It seemed touching that Lutaaya Deborah's start of life mirrors the story of baby Moses. Her mother, for whatever reason, couldn't look after her or give her the care she needed, so rather than leaving her to die, left her in a place she knew she would be found. I cannot begin to imagine how someone makes this decision and follows through with it. It really is heart breaking. But God is the I am, and He had a plan for Lutaaya Deborah's life, as He has with all our lives. We are now fulfilling that plan. Now is our beginning. Now is the start of forever for us as a family, which will open the doors to whatever plans God has for Lutaaya. She can become the person she is meant to be.
We certainly realised that she is born to dance at the cultural centre. She sat nodding and clapping throughout the Ugandan Traditional dances. She sat in awe at the dancers and musicians. It was educational too. We learned lots about Uganda as a country as well as the individual tribes of Uganda. I mean, I never knew that Uganda should be pronounced Buganda, but when the first people came here and discovered the area, the B was so softly pronounced they never heard it, and so named it Uganda!
At one point all the children were invited to the front to take part. Lutaaya Deborah took Jaydn. Lutaaya Deborah came alive during the activities with the other children. She sure can DANCE! Little Jaydn wasn't so keep and simply wanted to stand and watch. So cute! The compare was so encouraging with the children. First a group activity and dance, and then they made a circle with each child dancing their own style. Such a confidence boost for every child taking part. Lutaaya Deborah was one of the first to be chosen and she didn't hesitate. She loved being up there.
The night quickly passed by. Memories for Lutaaya to cherish forever of her own culture and traditions. I pray she never loses this as this is what makes her Ugandan. I pray she is always proud of her birth country. I pray that the dances will be instilled in her mind forever.
Lutaaya Deborah is very rarely tired. Mornings are a no go but she could literally stay up all night given the choice. So after so much excitement and stimulation, she was buzzing before bed. Managing to get her into bed, she fell asleep after singing one of the songs from Church this morning, 'Our God is love.'
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