Marriage Respite 2024
“When the mango tree is no longer bearing fruit, get creative with it.” – Pastor Ben Ochola
What began as a rainy morning turned into one of the most refreshing days for several couples. They left the venue walking hand in hand with their spouses, each carrying either a fresh rose, a pack of assorted barbecue, or a mug of coffee from Kagga Gardens in Najera, Kira, an upcoming suburb outside Kampala city in Uganda.
A team from the Marrieds Department of Make Jesus Famous Global Tabernacle Church (MJF) had spent several weeks planning the event, which attracted a total of 97 couples from the church and its associate churches. The theme of this one-day marriage retreat, dubbed “Rekindle the Fire,” was designed to be a fun-filled day packed with activities, including outdoor games, a sumptuous buffet lunch, a live band, testimonies, a keynote presentation, barbecue, and a spectacular firework display to close the evening.
The event had a relatively late start on the afternoon of Saturday, November 24th, 2024, due to the persistent morning drizzle, typical of the second rainy season in Uganda. Couples trickled in one after the other, wearing blue denim jeans and white tops. The venue was already meticulously decorated in the thematic colors of blue and white. The masters of ceremonies took the floor, inviting the band to serenade the guests, which led to couples taking to the dance floor. It was particularly remarkable to see older couples trying to recall their dance moves.
Before lunch was served, the guests participated in some indoor games designed to test how well each couple knew their spouse. It was interesting to hear feedback from this activity, which set the tone and mood for the day. This led into testimonies from two wonderful couples. The first couple shared an inspiring testimony of faith, recounting how they trusted God for a child and how He answered their prayers. The second couple shared the support they had experienced from one another during their 29 years of marriage.
Amidst the romantic and refreshing mood filling the atmosphere, Pastor Ben Ochola preached the shortest yet most profound sermon. He gave an analogy of a mango tree; whose primary task is to bear fruit. When the tree stops bearing fruit, the owner must get creative and find ways to make the tree useful. He encouraged couples to get creative with their marriages.
The fun continued with outdoor activities. Couples were challenged with games to see if they could understand their spouses’ voices amidst the noise of society. It was fun to watch as most couples struggled to follow their spouse’s voice. Then came the feet-washing activity, a servant leadership exercise. This deep and emotional activity was something most couples desired to experience, but unfortunately, time did not allow for it.
As the evening approached, most couples opted to sit on the lush, well-manicured lawn of the gardens. The coffee bar and barbecue stand became the go-to places. Along with coffee, mulondo juice (a drink made from a local herb, believed to be an aphrodisiac) became the delicacy of the day. Unfortunately, the stock was depleted before most couples could indulge.
The evening was capped off by a stunning firework display that lit the dark skies of Najera, sparking shouts of joy from the crowd. Despite the chilly, gloomy weather earlier in the day, the evening became magical, with nearly all the couples asking when the next respite would be.
Written by
Godfrey A Ivudria
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