To make it easier for people to vote in Uganda, ballot papers include the photo of each of the candidates. This means even those unable to read can still vote for their choice if they can recognize them. One of the complaints of the opposition parties is that the Electoral Commission allowed the President, Y.K.Museveni, to be the only candidate to use a photograph wearing a hat. This meant that at each of his election rallies he closed with the slogan ‘Vote the old man with a hat’, making it easier for voters to pick him out as distinctive.
The President has made his hat one of the distinctive features of the campaign, with almost all photographs in the newspapers, and all election posters showing him in a hat. One of his political assistants, writing in the national newspaper ‘New Vision’ even used the hat to symbolize Museveni’s commitment to Uganda: ‘The hat of Museveni is not only the literally one he puts on. It can be extended to the heart of Museveni. A heart is a symbol of love. Museveni has love for his country’. Museveni’s hat became distinctive, helping him to stand out from the others seeking election to the highest office in the country.
In 1 Peter 2:9 we as Christians are called to be distinctive, or as the King James version says, ‘peculiar’: ‘But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light’. The writer reminds us that the purpose of our salvation is that we should stand out as different in order to show the praises, or glory of God.
In Uganda we know what it is like to stand out as different. Wherever we go children shout out ‘Mzungu, Mzungu’ meaning white person. But our challenge is whether we are distinctive because of what Christ is doing in our lives rather than just because of what we look like?
There are many good people in the world; they give to charities, care about injustice, do voluntary work and help their neighbours, but they do not know Christ. What makes distinctive those of us who call ourselves followers of Jesus; and can this difference be seen in our lives? Lets think about how we can be “peculiar people” in the right sense of the word! and make a difference in our communities.
Prayer topics
Thank God that the national and presidential lessons have taken place relatively peacefully
Give thanks for 2 new short term volunteers working in Potters village and pray that they may help to ease the heavy work load that falls on the CMS Mission Partner, Jenny Green.
For safety for Malcolm as he travels around the Diocese in March, frequently on unmade roads, to audit the parish churches
For Irene as she plans Business training courses at the Vocational Training Centre
For the appointment of a matron to care for the female boarders at the Vocational Training Centre
To read our weekly blog search for ‘Malcolm and Irene Crawford’ or go to:
http://malcolmandirenecrawford.blogspot.com
In Uganda we know what it is like to stand out as different. Wherever we go children shout out ‘Mzungu, Mzungu’ meaning white person. But our challenge is whether we are distinctive because of what Christ is doing in our lives rather than just because of what we look like?
There are many good people in the world; they give to charities, care about injustice, do voluntary work and help their neighbours, but they do not know Christ. What makes distinctive those of us who call ourselves followers of Jesus; and can this difference be seen in our lives? Lets think about how we can be “peculiar people” in the right sense of the word! and make a difference in our communities.
Prayer topics
Thank God that the national and presidential lessons have taken place relatively peacefully
Give thanks for 2 new short term volunteers working in Potters village and pray that they may help to ease the heavy work load that falls on the CMS Mission Partner, Jenny Green.
For safety for Malcolm as he travels around the Diocese in March, frequently on unmade roads, to audit the parish churches
For Irene as she plans Business training courses at the Vocational Training Centre
For the appointment of a matron to care for the female boarders at the Vocational Training Centre
To read our weekly blog search for ‘Malcolm and Irene Crawford’ or go to:
http://malcolmandirenecrawford.blogspot.com
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