Last Sunday we went to a small church 'Pillar of fire' in a village a short drive from the ship. It has some regular Mercy Ship attenders. We arrived after a pretty bumpy ride on some dirt tracks, surrounded by very lush green trees, and houses with precarious tin rooves dotted around, after lots of hearty waves from small kiddies around adn about outside as we passed by we arrived at the church. The whole area of land is the churches, so at one side is a concrete slightly raised up platform, with woven palm tree leave walls (I think that's what it was!) and a tin roof. Not exactly sturdy but so beautiful! There were rows of plastic chairs and a few benches. Outside there was an area with a roof but no walls, where they do studies, teaching etc. Just a little way from the church was a ploughed area of ground that the people from the church have started planting different types of vegetables in to see what they can grow more extensively. Lots of shoots were appearing and the Pastor (one of the dayworkers from teh ship) proudly showed us what they had been planting.
The service was being run by the kids, they did the notices, a story in drama and led all the singing. I tell you you haven't heard music till you've heard African drumming. It is such an amazing rhythm and sound. I am determined to get my 3 clap rhythm before my trip is out!! One person sings a line, the rest repeat it and so the singing continues, who needs power point?! The beautiful heartfelt sounds give me goose bumps every time! And the kids leading it, well anyone who knows me will know my heart is pretty much going all out...
What continues to be so amazing to me is the respect that people come to church with. As we eneterd the building, one of the men was just arriving having walked probably a good distance, he pulled out a cloth and began to polish his shoes. Only then did he enter the building. It seems so alien to me yet so humbling. The women too come in the most amazing outfits, beautuiful fabric and so bright. I am planning to get myself an African outfit made at the local tailors but I'll never be able to carry it off quite so well. I had to settle for my own semi African print dress I bought in the Uk before I left instead this time.
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wow Grace, I found your blog while searching for pictures to use on fundraising adds to help cover my costs of coming over to the Africa Mercy next year. I've nearly cried several times! Reading the stories of how people change when their deformities are fixed etc is such an amazing thing. And reading about church in the village is also so exciting - that's one of the things I was so afraid I'd really miss leaving home. I love my church here so much! Maybe you'll still be on the Africa Mercy when my little sister, Debs, and I arrive next year in April and we'll get to meet. I hope so. :) God bless, Sarah.
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