The Lord's Day

The Lord’s day—Sunday. The fresh morning air came brushing through my window as the warm rays of sunlight poured onto the concrete floor and across our African comforters. Another beautiful day. I had the opportunity to go to a village church this morning and worship with the locals. We drove for about an hour into what looked like the middle of nowhere. We were driving down a dirt road, a very bumpy dirt road, that was surrounded with nature. Every once in a while we would drive past people walking the street. I often find myself wondering where they came from, where they are going, and how long they have been walking. What is the motivation behind their journey? I love learning about other people’s lives and be introduced into the thoughts running inside their head. I watched people form from little dots in the distance into people as we reached the same marker on the road and then eventually fade away as we continued to drive onward. Eventually we reached a village, which I would never have known was a village. There was only about two houses visible from the side of the road, and we pulled our car up on the grassy pathway. Our driver, Mernard, put the car in park and announced our arrival. We all hopped out of the safe haven of the jeep and into the tall grass, which im sure is home to many creatures that I do not want to think about. We walked up a little hill, around a corner and many huts came into view. The church was located at the entrance area of this village but was vacant for the time being. Mernard walked over to a tree that had a metal contraption hanging from its branches. He took another metal panel and banged it on the contraption. The noise it created reverberated across the open sky, letting the surrounding villagers know that it was time for church to begin. Some kids showed up in the distance, and after we waved, they ran away. We must have been scary, and im sure they were wondering who are these crazy white people and what are they doing here. I often wonder if we are the first white people some of the kids see. How terrifying if you did not know that people were created with different skin colors. A few natives gathered, and by a few I mean about 4, and then we all went into the building, otherwise known as a small hut, and sat down. On my way in, I saw a little African boy standing by a tree. I slowly walked over, held out my hand, and said jambo, which means hello. He shook my hand but did not make eye contact. I tried to ask him his name but he would not answer. I motioned for him to join me into the hut and he grabbed my hand and followed me. As I entered the building he continued to hold my hand and follow me to an open seat. I picked him up and sat him on my lap, because there were only three rows on each side, big enough for about four people. Honestly, I was slightly nervous about the benches maintaining all of our body weight. He sat in complete silence, and did not sing to the songs. I don’t know if he wasn’t familiar with the hymns, or if he had ever been to church before. I tried to hum along and sing, but im sure I sounded ridiculous. I only recongnized one song. There were many songs, prayer, a lesson, and the Lord’s supper, giving, and more songs and prayer. This little bundle of joy sat in my lap the entire service. Allison was sitting next to me and we kept trying to get him to smile. Eventually he warmed up to us and gave us a view of his pretty white teeth as a smile spread across his face. He was a ticklish little child.. and we knew how to make him giggle. Throughout church, more people would come in and join the service. Many people sat on the ground, and I would say it ended up having about 30 total people in attendance. A common tradition in the African church is to leave the auditorium with singing, and to form a line outside of the church. The first person out starts the line, and the second person shakes their hand, then joins the line. The third person shakes the first person, and then the second persons hand and then forms the next spot in line. You go about this process until everyone is outside and each person has shaken everyones hand, while still singing. Its such a wonderful thing to experience. Then after everyone is out and in a large circle, we disperse and enjoy fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

I wanted to share a great analogy I heard today in church. During the Lord’s supper, the speaker said that he is often reminded of himself when he glanced over and saw children poking their heads in and peering through the windows. This is how we are, God’s people. Through Christ’s death, he opened the door and welcomed us inside, so that we no longer have to peer in through the window. We are welcome to join Jesus, but all we have to do is enter.

It is only midday, and most are relaxing in the house, reading a book, taking a nap, playing a game, enjoying each others company. It’s another wonderful day in Tanzania.