Weekend at Congress

We just got back from Congress (a big Salvation Army event for our division). It was good. And, as per usual, I learned a few things. 1. If you smile sweetly (ALMOST flirtatiously), you can get a guy to pump water for you at the borehole (because, trust me, it's tiring). 2. Don't forget your bucket (I learned this last time). You need a bucket in order to bathe out of at 3:00am outside in the dark, so that the men don't see. There was a hard and steady rule this time - "no woman is to be found bathing after 4:30am." I've got to tell you - it was FREEZING. (Actually, I felt guilty. We only have one sleeping bag, and John let me use it. He only had a couple of thin blankets - and the cement floor in the classrooms where we stayed was hard - but a few guys tried to cuddle up to him for warmth!) 3. If you're going to be using pit latrines, don't wear nylons. It's just a lot more awkward. 4. Wear sunscreen. All of the sessions are held outside, and only the officers are under a tent. Sometimes you can get shade, but sometimes you can't. 5. Be prepared to witness to cows. Salvationists here love to march. So, we had 2 marches of witness - in the field with the cows. I have to admit, it does look fairly impressive to see SO many people in uniform, marching for Jesus. I think the cows here blessed. People were asking me if Congress was similar in Canada. Hmmm, well maybe a little different.

People LOVE The Salvation Army here, and they love their uniforms. Even when people are told they can wear whatever they want, they choose uniforms. And people will save all of the money they can just to get proper uniforms. It's actually remarkable. One lady had borrowed a hat to wear for the weekend, and it was stolen. She knows that it was stolen rather than lost, because the thief had put another hat (cloth version) in its place. So, announcements were made, but the hat wasn't returned. So, this morning they took a collection. Over $45,000 was raised - enough for the girl to buy a replacement hat for the friend she borrowed it from, plus her own hat, plus some extra groceries. She wept in front of the crowd, and I was really moved too. That's grace. I was just really touched that the whole community came together to look after this one girl. It was beautiful.

Our power's back at home (hallelujah!) but they say our phones (and thus internet) will be out for at least a month. We had become spoiled by having internet at home. Oh well. We can still submit to our blog, even if we can't see it, so don't worry - you will be kept up-to-date on our adventures.