High School Interview

Last night, 10 pm my time, I was interviewed by a Social Justice class of high school students in Toronto. I really enjoyed sharing about my work here and also talking about child soldiers in Uganda, the LRA, and the war. Thankfully the LRA is not active in Uganda at the moment, but people remain fearful because they are just over the border in Congo and Sudan. But the Lord is good, teens and young adults are slowly being accepted back into their communities and into a somewhat normal lifestyle. Please pray that Joseph Kony will be captured and that this evil war can stop.

A Dividing Church

This morning was a very tough morning at my church in Pamba. Both of the pastors announced that they really couldn't work together anymore. A spirit of distrust, pride, jealousy, bitterness, finances, etc all seemed to get in the way and broke these two men down. One of the pastors stepped down from his postion and then moments later was brought to the hospital with an extremely high blood pressure. The church has been rocked. Both pastors and their wives have called me to meet with them lately, to talk things through, and to pray together, but it seems that the Satan has a stronghold. Many people are shouting, "The devil is a liar!" Please pray for peace and reconciliation in the church that has become my home for the past few months.
Also, today, flocks and flocks and flocks of people have been walking to Soroti. Hot Radio, one of the local radio stations, has flown in all the top music artists from around Uganda and there is a huge concert in the sports grounds. I have never seen so many people in Soroti. The streets are flooded. But as I write this entry it is currently pouring rain and it doesn't look like it will let up. (This is the craziest dry season I have ever heard about!) Well, many churches are also gathering to pray for their young people because they believe that if their kids are at the all day concert they are going to hell. Some are worried that if Christ returns right now, their children will be left behind. I was glad to have a moment with a small group from church to explain that their children are not going to hell for going to a concert. Even if Christ returns, he still loves them at that moment. This concert is not a salvation issue. But the parents are truly rejoicing now that the rain is pouring. For the evil has been temporarily stopped.

A Dramatic Twist

Recently I was talking with the young people who help me with Sunday school and I thought it would be fun if we put on a big drama for the kids, to re-enact some stories. These young guys loved the idea. "Africans can act!", they exclaimed. So we planned to meet on Saturday afternoon. I asked them if I should bring some ideas and they said, "No, we have lots of suggestions."
Yesturday afternoon, after visiting the roadside bicycle repair shop, to put a bolt on my back fender to keep it in place, I biked the 25 minutes out to Pamba. I met at the house of my Sunday school helpers. To my delight Moses and Carol (who has been away at school the past few months) were both there and ready to plan. We sat inside the simple brick house and they brought out their notebook. The first page was titled "Life is Very Hard in Africa" and then they had made a list of the hard things:

• getting water from the well
• farming / digging
• traditional clothing and torn clothing
• education
• church
• preparing meals
• making money
• going to the market
• biking

Well, yes, I agreed life could be hard in Africa sometimes, but I wasn't sure how this could be a Sunday school lesson. I challenged them a little and said, "How do we see God in all of this?"

We came up with a plan to add music and prayer and encouragement through each scene of the drama. But they also changed their minds about acting. They want to make it a video or photo exhibit presentation. I am doing my best to work with them on this funny presentation... it certainly wasn't my idea, but that's probably a good thing. I really want to encourage the young people in their gifts and dreams and so I will make this work. We are going to plan a few photo opportunities between now and the 13th of December. I'll let you know how it turns out.

I'm full!

This evening a really good friend of mine invited me over for dinner. This German friend has been volunteering with YWAM (Youth With a Mission) and over the past few months we have become friends. Well, tonight she invited me over for one of the best home cooked meals I have had in a while. Meatballs, potatoes, Caulifower with cheese sauce, mangoes... the latter two ingredients she purchased in a neighbouring city to make sure the meal was perfect. It was so nice to fellowship with someone who is sort of going through the same questions in life that I am, except that she is also adopting a 4 year old Ugandan daughter. I thank God for her hospitality and friendship.

Stray cows

This afternoon I was sitting at my table writing letters when, to my surprise, I looked up and saw two cows chewing the grass in my yard. Huh? I went outside and saw that the small door to my gate was open and these two lost cows were just making themselves at home. It was starting to rain, so there were no people around. Thankfully these two bulls had a long rope tied to one of their feet, so I just grabbed the ropes and started pulling them towards the gate. As they got closer to the door they started to complain and that made some kids look out to see what was going on. Laughter erupted as the princesses saw I was struggling with these cattle. Soon the children ran over and grabbed tree branches to shoo them out of the yard while I opened the big gate for easier access. I thought my dowry was arriving early, but the only thing I was allowed to keep were a few piles of dung. Aaah, all in a day's work.

Loving a Child

This dear little boy follows me every where and is often waiting by my gate to welcome me home. He gives me the sweetest hugs and he gets so excited when I visit him and his family. Last night his mother said to me, "Karen, thank you for loving my son. You have really shown me what it means to love. I see you hugging him, playing with him, enjoying him. And there are some days I can hardly say that I love him. I have three children, but I don't always love them, but you have shown me that I should. You have shown me how much joy I can find in playing with them, and how precious it is for them in return."
I tell you, the tears were in my eyes! LOVE!

One Final Request

I humbly request that if anyone feels called to continue supporting me one final time, donations are very welcome in my name with International Teams. I would love for you to partner with me still, as I continue working with some wonderful Ugandan people. Together we can make a difference.
For Canadians, please send a cheque to:
International Teams
1 Union Street
Elmira, Ontario
N3B 3J9
and make sure that you write "Karen Lubbers" on the memo line.

or you can donate on-line at:
http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=2172974

For Americans to donate with a cheque:
International Teams
Attn: Receipting Department
411 W. River Road
Elgin, IL
60123

You can also donate online at:
http://www.iteams.org/index2.shtml Then click on the GIVE button. In the where to give box, type Karen Lubbers.

Thank you so much for making a difference in Soroti, Uganda.

Echoes of Thunder

At our last Bible study, the Princesses asked if they could have a small good-bye party at my house on Monday. At first they were thinking of juice and popcorn and inviting their boarding house parents. On Sunday I received an official invitation to attend the party at my house and they asked me to be the Master of Ceremonies. (Is it still master if I AM WOMAN?)
On Monday they started coming over at 11 am with arm loads of stuff. I don't know where the girls got the budget from, but there were chickens, potatoes, flour, cabbage, a charcoal stove, trays, a crate of soda, and more.
Some of the girls worked very hard in the kitchen. Below you see a shot of dough that will turn in to Chapatis, or Indian flatbread.

The girls also made paper decorations and hung balloons all over my dining room and living room. Chairs were lined up. It was going to be yet another formal party.

The girls that I had weekly Bible studies with also put together a small choir, called "Echoes of Thunder" and they sang a few beautiful numbers during the program.

The hard rains delayed the party from 3 pm til 6:30 pm, but that didn't damper it at all. A pastor came to encourage the girls, the boarding house parents and guard all said a few words, Scripture was read, songs sang, and yummy food was eaten.

Much to my surprise the evening ended up being a blessing to me as well. Such encouraging words from the girls, and their respected elders, that I knew without a doubt God has used me this year.

Introduction in Tororo

On Saturday I went with my friends, Lawrence and Thomas to an Introduction in Tororo. Tororo is about three hours away. An Introduction is sort of like an engagement party, but it's also the day when the dowry or bride price is discussed between both sides of the family. The boys wore ephods, or kanzus, to keep up with the Buganda traditional dress.
The groom had rented a bus to take some of his guests from Soroti to the festivities.

When we got there at 4:30 in the afternoon, the men lined up and the women lined up, and then together we marched onto the bride's homestead and found a place to sit under a large white canopied tent. I even helped some of the ladies carry gifts to the brides family - gifts of soda, meat, jewelry, etc. Goats and bulls decorated the driveway as well. Thankfully it had already been discussed how much the bride is worth, because I don't think I could handle that talk.

For entertainment, between all the speeches and discussions, there were some very traditional dancers. Wow, these people could truly roll their stomachs energetically.

The lady below is the oldest lady in Lawrence's family clan. The groom is a cousin to Lawrence. I'm sure that this lady is over 100, but no one quite knows her real age. A very precious lady. I tried to communicate with her while sitting on the bus, but her Enlish is non-existent, and so is my understanding of her language.

By 8 pm we were all sharing a meal together and then we loaded back on to the bus and headed back to Soroti. Now there is only one more cultural celebration that everyone tells me I need to attend, and that is a wedding. Cheers.

Slumber Party

Yesturday afternoon I was writing more of my Christmas letter, some of the neighbour kids came over to play. Henry, Lydia, and Winnie love playing in my house. Later in the evening I packed my bright pink suitcase with a game of Bingo, a pillow, blankets, water bottle, toothbrush and paste, Bible, and a book and marched across the street to where Henry lives.
His parents run a hostel for 68 village girls who need boarding while they attend high school in Soroti. And this is where my 14 Princesses reside. I was invited for a slumber party.

Just after arrival we all sat down on the bedroom floor to share a meal of beans and posho (white corn bread). Somehow a chicken leg also appeared in my dish. I think it was a gift from the hostel owners. :) After dinner I introduced the girls to Bingo. They loved the game!
It was a rainy night, so we hung around inside the room, talking, singing, and laughing. They were so excited to see my teddy bear in their room and wanted to hear more of "Bones'" stories of adventure. In this particular room, which they called "I don't care" there were 4 triple-decker bunks. Occasionally girls from the other rooms, "Queens" or "Warriars", etc would drop by to chat.
I also joined the whole group in watching a Nigerian film on a tv where the colour is mainly green. It was a good story, for once, about a blind boy who prayed for his family, and after 2o years his father finally came to know the Lord. Really inspiring actually.

I climbed in to bed around 11pm. Thankfully they gave me the bottom bunk. This was the view when I looked up. :) At 8 am we started to greet the day, in song. Slowly we took bucket baths and ate cassava chips and posho porridge for breakfast. And again, this time an orange was sitting in front of me on the floor. The father of the hostel was so proud to have a mzungu stay with the girls. I finally crossed the dirt road back to my house at 10:30 am. A very fun night!

Kampala Photos

Sarah, Josiah, and I took time to be tourists for one day. My friend Ben took us around Kampala.We visited the National museum, and my favourite part was exploring the model huts from the different tribes.

Here I am in front of a Karamajong home.

Josiah, Sarah, and myself... the only International Team Beyond team-mates left in Uganda at the moment. We miss the Sliedrechts and the Shaardas.

It's a hard life in a typical African home.

Sarah and I in front of the kings palace, the biggest grass hut in the world. 9 1/2 meters high and 31 meters wide.

Josiah, Sarah and I went to the kings tombs. We sat with the tour guide and heard some history from the Buganda tribe.

Anything you would like to buy is available on the streets.

Market streets in Kampala.

Here we are, trying to maneuver our way through traffic. You squeeze in where you can until you get through the intersection.

This is a small view of the taxi park in Kampala.

Goats again

On Monday I went back on the field to deliver 19 more goats to former LRA child soldiers or victims. These goats will hopefully be a source of income for a few families. On behalf of Fida International, and the teens in the villages, I want to say thank you to Set Free Ministries for making it all possible.

Let me explain

My blogs have been slowing down because I haven't been up to much the past couple of days except for writing. I am sending out over 200 snail mail cards. My fingers are a little sore, but I am doing great. But, you shall soon here more from me. Tonight I am sleeping in the hostel with the Princesses. They say they are going to put me on top bunk. :) So be it. And then on Saturday I will most likely be attending an Introduction. That's the day when the bride price gets discussed and all the wedding arrangements will be made. I'm ready for another day that my stretch my patience or understanding. For now, it's back to my desk. Cheers.

A Confused Season

Nope, it's not me who is confused, but the dry season. It is supposed to be dry and hot season here, but instead I find myself bundled in blankets at night and often racing home on my bike to beat the rain. The other day I went to the field on a piki-piki (motorcycle) and the last five minutes just about did us in. The rain bites as you ride without a jacket. Farmers are also starting to bite, or at least become upset because they don't know which crop to plant or when. Some crops burn in the heat, others grow moldy in too much rain. I pray that people will wisely plant crops and trust God to provide for their needs.

Tis the season

Well, my gate has become a busy place. A lot more people are coming around asking for handouts or work. And that's because Christmas is in the air and the prices of everything has gone up at the market. Fruits and vegetables have almost doubled in price and I don't know how some people can afford it. Well, maybe I can, that's why they are at my gate. I pray for wisdom, insight, and knowledge as to when to help, when to encourage, when to pray, and when to give. Poverty is such a struggle. When is it good to help, without creating dependence, or once again proving that mzungus are rich?
It's time to leave this internet cafe. I don't care for the rap music playing in the background. Ciao.

Transport in Style

Yesturday I traveled back from Kampala on the bus again. It was a fairly good ride. The journey was stalled when our conductor was arrested... apparently the bus had traveled from Soroti to Kampala early in the morning, and the police had then instructed the bus to remain in Kampala for service, but it decided to refill with passages and turn around. So they arrested the conductor until a fine is paid and the bus is serviced. Thankfully it didn't break down on our trip.

I sat beside a wonderful man who came from the Congo. He was really sweet, and when we understood eachother, he had amazing stories to tell. He mainly spoke French and Sarah and I are both very weak in our French language skills. This man is a refugee to Uganda. Eight months ago he was stabbed in Kampala... not all Congolese people are welcomed here by the general public. He showed my pictures of the stabbing, right after it happened. So cruel... a puncture to the skull. This man has found a job though, and with the strength of God is continuing on. You should have seen the excitement on his face when my ipod carried music in his local language. :) He listened to my music for almost 5 hours.

It is good to be back in Soroti. Today I went to the field to visit with the local chairperson of Obalanga, to check up on the mass grave project. It was sad to see it overgrown with weeds and bushes, but the chairman still dreams of grass and flowers soon. We'll see.

Well, I need to bike home before dark settles in. Ciao

Kampala monologue

This morning the Bokma's and I decided to tour Kampala for the day. First we went to the National Museum and toured through some rooms full of artifacts, fossils, stories of tribal history, stuffed animals, and more. In the backyard of the museum were about 15 model huts that we could walk through.

Then over to Kasubi tombs where we got an incredible history tour. At first the guide told us about the outside of the palace.... where 84 extra huts were built. The first Bugandan king had 84 wives and they each had a hut. Today some single women or widows from that tribe still stay there to keep tradition alive. Everything is wrapped in bark cloth to keep this palace / tomb termite free... since it was built in 1882.

Later in the day we headed over to Owino market and o my goodness, I have traveled a lot of places in this world, but I have never seen a market as crazy busy as this one. I guarded my purse and pushed my way through crowds of people to help Sarah find old magazines, full of colourful paper, so that our friends can make paper beads out of them. And then we went on a grand adventure trying to find varnish in a random store, some three stories high... it only took us an extra 25 minutes to locate this shop - full of varnish and other chemicals.

All in all, an adventurous day in Kampala. Heading home tomorrow. Cheers.

Bukedea

I wanted to write about my Saturday experience... it was one of the toughest days for me culturally. A vehicle was supposed to leave a 9 am, but of course, Sarah (my team-mate) and I didn't leave with our friends until after 10 am. We traveled in a very rickety pick-up truck and by the time we got to Bukedea an hour later the exhaust was smoking terribly. We knew we had found our destination path into the bush when we saw some fresh flowers tied to a post.
Sarah and I thought we were going to the village to fellowship with the family of our dear friends, but we ended up being invited to a Thanksgiving service for a Pentecostal church. We walked into this gorgeous grass thatched village church, where the roof extends all the way down to three feet from the ground. You have to bend your body to step into the side door.
Flowers were strung across the church; old cassette tape tape was used to tie the flowers up. Posters were hung everywhere - Saying "Welcome Keren", "Welcome Sarah". We had no idea what to expect. Then we had to sit at the "high table" in front of the church. The congregation would sing a song, somewhat unenthusiastically, then the MC would say "Hallelujah" on increasing scales of loudness, until the whole crowd was excited. Then he would say "1, 2, 3" and clap to draw us all back together and then we would sing the song again. Sarah and I hated being stared at the whole time and the woman would do their high pitched trilling whenever people mentioned that they were excited that the mzungus had come to join them in their service.
Part way through the four hour service I had to make a short call, or go susu (is anybody catching on that my bladder was full?) so my friend led me through the small village to find the designated spot. I should have gone off exploring in the bush on my own, because I was led to a pile of rocks beside a very active hut. This pile was supposed to be surrounded by burlap sacks and papyrus reeds, but there were many worn out holes in the design. Of course, a person's gotta do what a person's gotta do, so I was soon walking back to the church, feeling much better, except that my heart was starting to pound.
At the end of the service, the group wanted to offer a thanksgiving basket to the visitors, with bananas and fresh vegetables. Our friend decided to auction them off in what he called American style auctioning. He went on forever, but not in a style that I am used to. The basket didn't go the highest bidder, but to the person who brought up the last coin. Finally a pregnant lady bought it for 100 shillings and then she still walked up to the front and placed the basket in front of Sarah and me. But the church had just had an offering of over 10,000 shillings. (Close to $6). I ended up giving the pregnant woman a bag of baby clothes in exchange for the produce and she was so excited.
At the end of the day, we still ended up going to our friend's homestead to pick up g-nuts (peanuts) and eggs. Then off to another farm to eat lunch (but it's 4:30pm). We didn't fellowship with any of the locals. They washed our hands by carrying a pitcher of water and pouring it over our hands into a bucket. And then they served the food and left the room. I have always found that style of hosting rather strange, but it is very typical here.
I was happy to be home around 6pm. Taking painkillers for a nauseous headache and ready to relax for the night.

Dentist

This morning all of us (Shaardas, Sarah, and I) went to the dentist. I finally got my tooth checked out, but got a clear bill of health. Nothing looks or feels wrong anymore and the x-ray doesn't show anything. So, I just got a super good cleaning today from a very modern facility. As I was laying in the chair I thought of my mom. She always says that she enjoys an hour at the dentist because it's an hour to rest... just to lie there and not feel the stresses of the world. And for the first time, I agreed with her. It was a complete hour to myself. Just staring at a painted ceiling of blue skies and puffy clouds.
Right now I am enjoying a few days in Kampala - buying a few treats, a lawn mower blade, eating Thai food, and seeing a some sights. Sarah has filled our day tomorrow with touring museums, tombs, swimming and more. I will head back to Soroti on Thursday on the trusty (choke) old bus!

Dedicating a Piki-piki

Hello friends... it has been a while because my internet connection is down in Soroti. Today, though, I traveled to Kampala with my team and low and behold, there is internet at the guest house! Yeah. I wanted to share one quick story before I go to bed.
On Sunday morning, close to the end of the service, a new motorcycle (a piki-piki) was wheeled in to church. The owner wanted to have it blessed and prayed over. The pastor got out his Bible and read passages about when Solomon consecrated and dedicated the temple and how God's eyes would always be upon it. The pastor went on to say that God would always be with the driver as long as he tithed the bike to the Lord. But if accidents started occuring, then maybe God's will wasn't being followed. It was such a strange little ceremony for me to be watching. He asked the elders and assistant pastor to come up front and lay hands on the bike. Another glimpse into the prosperity gospel. So strange.
O ya, I recently heard too, that people are paying for a "Christian" group to come from Kampala to bless their homes and pray for evil spirits to be removed. These poor people pay large amounts of money to have their homes blessed, and sometimes it turns into a disaster. A truck load of prayers will come. One of them might sense that there is some sort of symbol buried under the foundation of the house... leftovers from previous witchdoctors. Well, they begin to dig the foundation of the home, and then say... oooh, the spirits have moved the relic to the other side of the house and continue destroying more of the foundation. So sad! I can't believe what some people will do in the name of Jesus.

Lasts

Yesturday we had our last official team-meeting. Things are changing quickly here in Soroti.
This evening Sarah, Mandy, and I got together for our last Bible study before the Shaardas head back to the States. We checked out Psalm 59 and reflected on how God truly protects us and guides us, even when we are unaware. But sometimes we are aware, and we thank Him for that too... like a few weeks ago when a local thief came to my gate. Somehow the goosebumps on my arm told me to not even let this guy in the compound and thankfully the guard was there to back me up. Or how some young kids who were riding a bicycle far too big for their little legs weaved uncontrollably in front of me and we almost collided... only God knows how I stopped in time - with both feet jumping off the bike.
Tomorrow will be my last day of teaching little Miss Lydia and then we are heading out on my bike to Mama's. It is a restaurant that looks like a shack or a hole in the wall and serves local food, but that is Lydia's choice for our celebration meal. It's actually a yummy place to eat! :)
This month is my last full month in Uganda (for now). It's hard to imagine what I have yet to do here or what God wants me to do still. How many more times will I read to my friends, bike to town, lead worship or teach Sunday school? How often will I be able to visit with friends or speak to people in the villages? How many more times will I faintly hear the calls to prayer coming from the Muslim mosque or be able to chat with my Indian friends in town?
I must admit, as much as I get culturally frustrated here, I really love it and don't really want to be leaving. I have a feeling God is calling me back to Uganda. Praying for direction.

An Apron

This morning we had our last bi-weekly team meeting. My International Teams team here seems to be quickly changing. First the Sliedrechts left in August. On Monday the Shaardas are heading to Kampala / America for a short home-service also. That means only Sarah, Josiah, and I are left in Soroti. Woah, a small team... but we are still excited about all that the Lord is using us to do here.
We started off the meeting with a time of encouragement and I was truly blessed and affirmed by my team-mates. They spoke about I am a 'person changing people'... how I simply meet, encourage, humour, befriend, and teach people. Not normally a person for tears, I must admit that I choked up this morning.
And to top it off, my two precious students presented me with an apron that they had had made and then they designed themselves. Such a sweet momento of my year of teaching Lydia (and Grace).

Wood and Bibles

9:30 am, today, I opened my gate to receive a taxi van that had come to pick up my house full of guests. I enjoyed getting to know 5 more Michiganders, and was privileged to take part in the Set Free Ministries seminar. The last couple of days have been another whirlwind of activities.
Saturday afternoon I started preparing a few dishes for a shared team meal. I also biked to town to pick up some Bibles for my Princesses. The owner of the bookshop had texted me and told that they were finally in, but when I got there, the owner was no where to be seen and the other staff didn't know anything about Bibles. So instead, I walked across the street to My Supermarket and bought some icecream as a special treat for the gang in my home.
Saturday night there was a bonfire planned for after dinner, with a time of praise and worship. Usually I send my guard out to buy would, but when I was biking home from town I noticed that there was only one bundle left at the nearest vendor, so I decided to pick it myself.
Here I am, biking in the yard with my bundle of firewood, about to make its way to the fire pit.
Dinner was yummy! Praise and worship was awesome.... spontaneous... with Bokmas, Set Free people, Shaardas, Lawrence, Jackson, and my princesses in attendance. It was unplanned and heartfelt. God is good.
I don't know how to describe Sunday yet. My Sunday school kids were rowdy and stubborn. The Pastor wanted to invite me and two of my guests over for lunch, but I don't him we couldn't stay because one had to teach a class that afternoon, and the other one wanted to eat lunch with the rest of his team-mates. Well, we settled for a soda... but that still took at least a half an hour. The pastor asked us what kind we wanted and then he left to buy them, while we sat in his tiny living room, alone. Josiah and I pulled out a National Geographic photography book to look at while we waited. Then Pastor and his wife came back and pastor started into a long monologue about ministry and his life. I finally, but kindly, was able to interrupt by saying, "Pastor, I think you are doing an amazing job serving in Pamba. Why don't we pray for you before we go." I prayed and then we left. :) He did understand though that we were on American time with schedules to follow.

And now, I just finished closing the gate behind 14 absolutely excited and blessed Princesses. I was having a hard time coming up with material to teach the girls tonight because of all the visitors I have had for the past six days, so I decided to show them "The Chronicles of Narnia" (the older version). Wow, first of all, I don't think these village girls have seen a lot of television, and then I thought I was scaring them royally, but they were soon grasping the symbolism and sitting on the edge of their seats. When Aslan came back to life from off the Stone Table the girls screamed in wonder! Their hands and voices were cheering as the battle went on between good and evil. They marvelled at God's grace.

About half way through the movie the owner of the bookstore delivered my Bibles in his personal automobile. He felt so bad for being late. I was just glad to get these Bibles. I signed each one with a personal note while the girls drank sodas and snacked on watermelon and popcorn and peanuts. They actually spit the watermelon seeds all over my living room floor. :) Thankfully they also swept them all up before they left. 14 Princesses jumped around my dining room table as I handed out Bibles with a note, a Canadian sticker, and two bookmarks. Some were shocked that they finally owned a Bible for the first time in their lives... others were just delighted to have a version that was understandable. I just thank the Lord for such a wonderful evening. The girls have been a blessing to me in so many ways!

Freedom

The Set Free Ministries Workshop ended on Saturday afternoon. The final moments were shared by placing rocks at the foot of the cross and sharing communion together.

The rocks were symbolic of our sins being placed at Jesus' feet.
Everyone was handed a piece of bread to eat, and some people found this to be a very emotional experience. I pray that many people have truly found freedom from all their past hurts, sins, and burdens.

We ate the bread, but we symbolically poured the wine over the stones to remind us that Jesus covered our sins with his blood. A powerful way to finish a seminar.