9:00 Leaders arriving, registering their names, getting their name tags and assigned stations as well as changing into their youth fest 2010 t-shirt. Everyone is giddy with excitement, anticipating the day’s events. About half of the leaders took part with us in this event last year and the other half are new to it; they have no idea what is going to happen and no idea that they are going to be blown away!  

10:00 Leaders gather together to pray and dedicate the day to the Lord.

10:30 Balloons are being blown up, flags are being hung across the stage, students’ paintings being set up for display; people scurrying about organizing their stations, waiting for the youth to come, the anticipation is high….

11:00 Leaders in position ready to receive the youth! Bashir on popcorn machine, Erasto on sound, Joannie & Robert on promotion, Tevin & Francis on registration, Nicholas and crew on security, Agnes on hospitality, Alex on volunteers…just to name a few.

11:15 Hospitality team blowing bubbles, passing out candy, and welcoming our first group of students as they arrive

11:25 Guest Presenters perform songs and dances to an enthusiastic crowd.

11:50 Announcements – Toilet location, no swimming allowed, Promotion Tent location, Leaders pointed out, etc.

12:00 Program Officially Begins – Singing of national anthem, an opening prayer and a welcome to everyone for coming

12:20 Musical Chairs Competition – this one is especially fun to watch because they add flair to it as they dance around the chairs

12:45 Guest Musician – Hawa from Kansanga Miracle Center sings a number

12:55 Limbo Competition – All schools present send a representative to compete

1:30 Dance Team – Christian Focus Center dance team rocks us with their skills.

1:45 Dance Competition – The schools battle it out on the stage. Each student is given 30 seconds to show their best moves. Youth in the crowd determine the best dancer.

2:10 Guest Music Artist – JB Katende performs a couple of songs, and as he did last year, he’s inviting a couple of our leaders to join him in dancing along.

2:20 Bubble Gum Blowing Competition – Students are chewing a wad of gum, struggling to blow a bubble. Matt, thinking he’ll show them how to do it, joins in the competition only to find that it’s not as easy as it seems. Finally, someone manages to blow a bubble to win the competition.

2:35 Guest Speaker Introduction – Pastor Matthew Catinella, holding up a t-shirt, tells the youth that the t-shirt is a free prize for whoever wants it. He repeats it several times until it finally clicks and a couple of youth run toward him to take the t-shirt; he used this an illustration to introduce the guest speaker, explaining that he has come with a free message for them, all they have to do is receive it and it’s theirs.

2:45 Guest speaker – Pastor Fred Wantaate, of Makerere Full Gospel Church delivers a powerful message titled Are you growing older or growing up? He actively engages the youth, teaching them that growing up means making responsible decisions, including saving sex until marriage.

3:30 Altar Call – Pastor Wantaate gives an altar call and more than 10 youth respond to the invitation to accept Jesus as their Savior!

3:40 Commitment Cards – Leaders pass out commitment cards to the youth as Pastor Wantaate explains what it is and gives the challenge to the youth. Thousands accept the challenge to walk pure and sign the commitment card.

3:45 Dance Team – Jericho Breakers, dressed in their matching Detroit Pistons jerseys, break out some unbelievable break-dancing moves.

3:55 Dance Team – This team of youth from Sharing Youth Center present a unique dance combination, apparently with a Brazilian touch.

4:10 Raffle – a youth wins a calculator

4:15 Raffle – a youth wins a nice handbag!

4:20 Music Artist – Zack 40, a guest music artist in touch with today’s culture presents a couple of Christian rap songs in Luganda. He does a great job connecting with the youth and getting them involved.

4:35 Music Artist – Isaac Morgan, this guy is dressed for style. Even though it’s 80 degrees out, he’s rocking his chic black leather jacket as he sings a couple hits from his album.

4:50 Tug of War Competition – Youth enjoy this competition in the battle of the brawns. Even some of the Revolution leaders, including Pastor Matthew, compete in this game.

5:20 Dance Team – Once again Jericho Breakers show their talent.

5:40 Rookie Time – Youth rapper shows what he’s got.

5:50 Eating Competition – By now, it is well into the day and you can imagine how big the youths’ appetite must be. They are ready to scarf down the bag of popcorn, boiled egg, piece of bread and mountain dew. 

6:15 Walk Pure Quiz – a student from each of the different schools, where we are teaching Walk Pure, participate in answering questions from the book. This is where we find out how much they really learned. J

6:30 Song & Dance Presentation – Smartly dressed, G-Way group presents a couple of songs accompanied by choreographed dances. They bring a modern flair to traditional Ugandan music and dance.

6:40 Guest Presenter – Well known music artist and Pastor Wilson Bugembe draws a loud cheer as he enters the stage. The people are so excited that the leaders have to man the stage area to keep the people from rushing the stage.

6:50 Guest Music Artist – Inner Man presents a couple of songs as we wind down the day.

7:00 Drama Team – Mirodix, led by one of our very own leaders, Cathy, presents a message about a lady who got AIDS, and the devastating repercussions, because she chose to have sex outside of marriage.

7:30 Grand Prize Presentation – The grand prize goat, trophy and certificate is awarded to Old Kampala Secondary School for creating the best painting depicting the walk pure message and for being the best participants in the Walk Pure program and competitions of the day. They were first ones to arrive and the last ones to leave.

7:45 Tear Down, Pack Up & Clean Up – Wow, what a successful day: lives touched, commitments made, prizes won, and memories made. Looking forward to doing it all again next year! Good job Revolution team!

MORE PHOTOS TO COME!