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Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Praying the Perimeter

Tugging on a long-sleeved shirt, I headed out the door to meet up with a few others for a prayer walk around the perimeter of downtown Soroti.  I couldn't believe I was actually dressed for cool weather, but the wind was blowing and the sun was barely awake.  I was the second of four vehicles in a line-up of mzungus who joined together to meditate on what God is doing and hopefully will do in Soroti. 
We got out of our vehicles and stood beside an open sports field where children meet for primary school and some Indian shop keepers play cricket on Sunday.  After praying together, six of us adults, and 5 MK's (missionary kids) began to stroll.
Sipi Falls on your left is a great place to get fast local food - brown beans, rice, fried plantain, liver, pork, and African tea.
Crossing the main street you notice a major intersection of businesses, the Teso bus park, and open grounds where many concerts, speakers, and crusades are held.  Again, to your left you will notice OM Supermarket and a purple movie theatre.  I've never been in the theatre - I think they show Nigerian films.
On your right is a Paradise Villa guest house and restaurant, surrounded by tiny shops and yet another bus park.  Before turning right you will notice a huge outdoor clothing market... the vendors have not yet brought their burlap sacks filled with second hand clothing from Good Will or Value Village.  I'm sure by 9 am the clothing will be displayed for sale.
On the corner is Christ Embassy, a prosperity gospel church that meets on the second floor.  Further up the road on the right is the police barracks.  Officers tend to stay together in some square tin hut type buildings (which I think would be hot to live in).  Rubbish litters the streets and the gutters wreak. Scattered all around that area are grinding mills, bars (with men already drinking or still finishing up from last night) and cheap video halls.
Coming to another intersection, we head into industry ally - where we notice Edward's carpentry shop (he builds most of our custom designed furniture) and the Coke and Pepsi plants.  Metal workers are already welding painted bars - for beds or protection over your windows.  It is here we take time to greet some of the street boys that Bobby (my team-mate) works with.  In one hand they are carrying torn-up bags with tiny pieces of scrap metal they are collecting for some small money, and in the other hand they are holding glue bottles or water bottles filled with aviation fuel - for sniffing.  I wonder what realities these boys are trying to escape from.
We skirt around the outside of the main market and go down "rubber road", where you can purchase local bikes and rubber ropes, which are used to tie packages to the back of your bike.  Going down the opposite side of town now - we notice hundreds of students beginning to gather.  Adorning blue and white school uniforms, they stand outside of Soroti Secondary School - waiting for the gate to open and classes to begin.  Across from the high school is a corner where discos and bars fill the buildings - party central.  Close by is Moon Digital, where I can now get digital photos printed.  As we approach the corner, turning back on to main street, the team notices a "For Rent" sign.  There is a house on Main Street!!  Steve gets goosebumps.  I write down the number to call the landlord, and I quickly talk to a gardener who is working inside the yard to find that the house is vacant.  Silent prayers are offered... Lord, is this where you want me to live?
The journey is almost finished.  The kids have been collecting pop bottle caps to keep themselves active while we chat and pray about the assets and needs of this town that has caught our hearts.  The final street hosts a mosque, a few more bars and billiard joints.  On one front porch, Scrabble players meet every afternoon to try out new words compete in a friendly manner.  Next door to there we bought a bag of mandazi (African donuts) to carry us the last block back to the cars.  A one hour trek!
Father God... pour your Spirit into this town.  May the people come to truly know you and desire to live lives that are pleasing to Your Most Holy Name.  Use me Lord!  Open the eyes of my heart!  Let truth, love, honesty, peace, and grace reign. 
(I wanted to take pictures, but didn't want to feel like a tourist group... hopefully I can show you some snaps soon.)

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