Today I prayed a prayer you probably never prayed!

"God please help me to get to the church without falling in the mud!"

Let me first say that this post is not an exaggeration of the truth by any means!  I wish I had pictures to prove it but I left home with my camera case minus the camera!   I was hoping to post a  lovely picture of my mud-covered shoes and feet upon arrival at the church but alas, I am pregnant and what they say about being forgetful when you are pregnant is true!
So since I have no photos of this epic event, I will just have to paint a word picture for you...use your imagination...it was a pretty hilarious sight to behold I am sure!
The rain had begun to pour in the morning before we even left the house but we ventured out anyway trying our best not to be late.  We do have a car, for which we are very grateful, but because the church is so far from the main road and the path to the church is a "walking" path and not fit for driving, we typically park our car at the house of one of the church members who happens to live near the road.  The rest of the journey to the church we make on foot.  Today was no different, except of course, it was pouring rain!  So with our umbrellas in hand we began to walk to the church.
Now under normal circumstances this walk would take me about ten minutes, even given my tendency to walk slowly and enjoy the beautiful scenery.  Today, however, is not normal.  Of course for those who live in Ntunga and who have spent most of their life in the rural, this day is very normal indeed.  Rainy season means muddy paths.  For me, I can honestly say that I have never in my life seen so much mud, much less had to try to walk in it! 
As you are picturing what this scene must have looked like, don't forget that I am now 27 weeks pregnant and beginning to have quite a little belly!  I don't really have shoes for this kind of trek, so I am wearing the sturdiest pair of flip flops I can find.  I did think ahead enough to bring another pair along so that I could change once I got to the church, which is a miracle in itself considering how forgetful I have been these days!
My dear husband went on ahead, not wanting the pastor to be late for church, but not before making sure that Michael (our house helper) was staying behind with me to make sure that I did not fall (or maybe to pick me up out of the mud if I did fall, I am not sure which!).
I think Michael and I laughed the whole way to the church.  I knew that if I did not laugh I might just start to cry!  I almost fell countless times!  Poor, helpless Michael was walking behind me not sure what to do so he just kept on saying "careful" every time my feet started to slide.  Just to be sure you got the picture, I am carrying a big bag (bible, song book, water bottle, extra shoes, camera case, and wallet inside), an umbrella, and I have a bulky shaw wrapped around my shoulders in attempt to stay warm and dry.  I am also wearing a traditional igitenge (wrap skirt) which is giving me quite a hard time and feels as though it is coming loose (not a good thing!).  Even now, just imagining the way I must have looked brings a smile to my face! 
My feet slid with every step and my whole body was tense, just waiting to find my pregnant bottom planted in the mud!  I literally found myself praying for God to keep me on my feet and not allow me to fall.  Not only did I not want to be covered in mud anymore than I already was, but I was pretty sure it is not a good thing for a pregnant woman to fall period!
We finally did arrive at the church, after 45 minutes!  My poor husband had already been at the church for quite awhile and was getting a bit worried that his pregnant wife was laying in the mud along the path somewhere!  My feet were literally covered in mud by the time we arrived and my igitenge was quite a sight to behold as well.  The dear women from the church held back their laughter long enough to bring me a basin with some water to wash up a bit before switching into my other shoes.  Even now, I just can't keep myself from laughing!  It was quite an experience to be sure...and probably one that I will have to get used to in the future.  However, I must say that I will not be trying to walk to the church in the mud at eight or nine months pregnant, when I can't even see my feet!  And I am not sure what I am going to do when I have to walk to the church carrying a baby!  I will be praying that the rain doesn't come on Sunday mornings from now on!  Who knew you could write such a long post about mud!  Thanks for reading, hope you weren't too bored by my ramblings!