Since moving to Uganda, I’ve experienced a lot of “firsts.” Today I officiated a wedding for the first time and it was especially special to me. I’m sure most ministers can remember their first weddings and I will certainly always remember mine. It’s not only because it was my first or because it was in Uganda but, because of who was married.
Once in a while, we come across people in life that are instantly special to us. Openy Vincent is one of those people for me. The first time I visited here, he was a security guard, between then and us moving over, he had been transferred to being our farm manager. As a big part of my job here is overseeing the farm, Vincent and I began a relationship that quickly turned into a friendship. That friendship has grown very deep over the past 20 months. Vincent spurs me on in my walk with Christ. I lead him and one other guy in a little discipleship group and he asked me and Mallory to counsel he and his wife before their wedding, because there was “a lot they could learn from us.” I know in our relationship he sees himself as being discipled by me but, I can only hope that he is learning as much from me as I am from him.
Vincent is a young man compared to me in years. In humility, confidence, wisdom, conviction, and resolve he’s got me by a longshot. Anyone who knows Vincent gives him almost instant respect. He’s just that kind of guy, the kind of man you meet and instantly know there’s something different about him. He’s quiet, but when he speaks people listen. When I got here, he was included in our weekly church leader meetings and after just a couple of months we all knew he was ready to be ordained as an elder. Because of his humility, he was shocked that we’d want someone so young but he took the task because he was sure that if God was leading him there that he would be okay. I even watched him wash the feet of an intern who worked on the farm during her time here. Vincent reminds me of my Grandaddy. (If you know me, you know that’s high praise) He has strong convictions between right and wrong and wields a resolve to hold those convictions unviolated. I drove his parents back to their home today after the wedding. I couldn’t help but share with his dad my thoughts on Vincent. He of course, beamed with pride but made sure to tell me that who Vincent is, is a gift from God. I pray that God grants me children who grow up to be like that.
God has great plans for Vincent and his new wife Christine. God is going to use them for His glory. I look forward growing our friendships and watching them grow in their love for one another and Christ. I was humbled and honored to lead them into marriage today. It’s truly an honor to work alongside Vincent in the farm fields of Abaana’s Hope and even more in the heart fields on God’s mission. Please join me in praying for these two as they begin their lives together.
Corbin Family 