| I met Siprion when he came to sit by me in Sacrament meeting. Usually just the children come to sit by me so they can rub my arms, they think because my skin is lighter it might be softer, like a teddy bear or blanket. But Siprion, a strong, unwrinkled, outspoken but very small man I figured was closer to my age - (and since then I found out he is just one year younger), and a head shorter than me. In our conversation I learned that his English was good, and it was his first time coming to church. As we sat together his eyes would tear up uncontrollably several times during the Sacrament Meeting and Gospel Essential class. This is a remarkable humble man I couldn't help noticing.
But what is typical on a Sunday in Iganga, the Elders can barely squeeze in all the appointments they make so I asked them to invite Rock and I to his discussions. Two weeks later the ZL's drove us out to his home on a dirt road - a two hour drive from our home in Jinja. Elder Tyler said Siprion rides his bike to church down this dirt road and it takes him 3 hours. We met his wife and grandchildren, they had prepared a lovely lunch for us. Sugar cane bites, roasted peanuts, and jackfruit. The jackfruit was the only thing we had never eaten before, something that tasted like a very firm sweet rubbery papaya. But on the tree it looks like a big green scary deformed porcupine. When you cut it open it resembles a squash. But it's a very good fruit and it grows everywhere.
Then she brought out another dish, and from the muted gasp under Elder Jenkins breath, I got a little nervous. He said, don't worry it's chicken, but then asked our host; "Siprion, who is the guest of honor?" The honor went to Elder Ballstaedt, and honestly, the Elders actually said; "Whew". To their surprise, Rock actually likes eating chicken gizzards which is only reserved for the guest of honor and you have to eat it. I took a very small piece of chicken while Rock sat crunching his gizzards with a totally straight face, and I couldn't figure out how to swallow the skin with feathers still kind of stuck in it. Elder Jenkins said; 'Sister Ballstaedt, sometimes you have to swallow and not think about it". eew.
The Elders had given Siprion many discussions and this one was on the Word of Wisdom. His only question was; "what is non-perscription drugs"? The Elders say that most people in the villages have never heard of drugs except sometimes marijuana or opium. Siprion had no idea about either. Siprion committed to the Elders without any hesitation that he was willing and able to give up his morning tea, and he had never used anything else prohibited in the word of wisdom. He had committed himself to the gospel on that very first day he came to church.
He did have one concern. He wanted his wife to be baptized with him, but the Elders said no; she hasn't had the lessons, and she doesn't speak English so we need someone else to teach her the discussions. Rock said then he should wait for her.
Siprion said; "it is very hard for us financially to pay for transport to her parents village and give them a gift before we get married." Again, a couple in their 60's with grandchildren who were never allowed to get married because he couldn't pay the gift to her parents.
All the way home Rock is whining to the Elders about how sad they can't get baptized together. He is still sad about it the next day while we are in Kampala having lunch with Pres and Sis J. Of course Pres J says to call the Elders and tell them she is going to be baptized, just do the interview and let them celebrate together. Sunday came and after all the hard work Rock had been doing for the last few months, Pres J was there in Iganga to create it from a "group" to a "branch". He also interviewed Siprion's wife with Brother Tucker (now President Tucker) as the interpreter.
They were married and baptized after church. (I couldn't attend because I had a YSA meeting and transfer dinner for the Elders after that - so Rock went alone but I did send wedding cupcakes!) |
