A Bridget Jones’s Moment

There have been many incidents in my life that would only happen to me, or a select few. I have gotten use to making a fool of myself, which usually provides my family and friends with a good laugh.

This past Sunday I attended Christ the King Church for a 9:30am mass. This mass is in English. Of course, church was packed. People gathered outside the Church, waiting for the 7am Lugbara (the local language) mass to end. As soon as the congregation left, we flooded in. It was like trying to enter the doors to a concert- that is how many people there were. So, I followed the crowd, trying to get a seat. I was pushed to the front, where I found an empty pew on the left, near the front. Not my favorite spot, especially since this was my first time at Christ the King, but it would do! Eventually the pew filled and the rows in front of me were taken as well. There must have been 700 people in this Church. I was the only muzungu (white person). I was handed a music booklet, of which I was thankful had both English and Lugbara songs. I remember thinking, “Wow, David (another volunteer) was right- everyone is beautiful here. And they all have amazing voices.” I became in awe of the African people, as I listened to the deep voices of the men behind me and the hand movements of the women in front of me. The men next to me would help point out which song we were singing. I was lucky that the Alleluia was in the same tune that I know.

Then it happened, and I realized how silly I had been. Bridget Jones, in her movie says, “Stupid Bridget. Stupid Stupid Bridget” Pretty soon I was saying the same thing about myself…

I went to sit down with the rest of the congregation. I sat, but the people next to me did not. They remained standing and told me it was not time to sit. I looked around. Still everyone was sitting. Then I realized, about 45 minutes too later, I was in the choir. AHHHHHHHH! Okay, first, I cannot sing at all. Second, I am the only mozungu. Third, I cannot sing in Lugbara. And Fourth, I am not very free with my body when it comes to worshiping the Lord. But now, in the choir, I realized everyone knew I was there… in the wrong spot. I was angry- angry that the men did not tell me at the beginning of mass that I was in the choir’s seating. I was embarrassed. I was red. I was sweaty. I looked at the man next to me in shock. He said, “Welcome to the choir.”

I was going to attempt to leave after communion, but my legs were shaking so badly, I could not move to get communion. So my way out would be at the end of mass. So, I sang in Lugbara, the best I could, I waved my arms back and forth to the beat, and I tried my best to play the part of an alto choir member amongst tenor and bass males. Yes, this is a Bridget Jones’s Moment. Watch her movie- you will laugh and see what I mean.