Sarah Hendrix
Things I learned in Africa....
13 years ago
Sunday, May 23, 2010
HI! Well today started with breakfast on our own here at the B&E house. Our cook, Leonard, has Sundays off so it was up to us to rustle up cereal, fruit, toast or whatever else we could find. Worship service here on the mission started at 9 am Zambian time...So that means it started when the majority of people got there and others continued to trail in for another 30 to 45 minutes. The service was mostly conducted in English with a few Tonga songs thrown in for good measure. They sing many songs that most of grew up singing in the church so we are able to sing along even without song books to such tunes as Joy to the World and What a friend we have in Jesus. Although the melodies of some are slightly altered from our versions we have really enjoyed learning them the Zambian way. Some of the kiddos from The Haven got to come to church so most of us had a baby in our lap for the entire 2 and a half hour service. Those kiddos can eat more goldfish and cheerios than any other toddlers I've ever seen. Most of them were very well behaved and entertained themselves well with the hair bands on our wrists and our bibles. Dr.Weaver had the most energetic little guy but she handled him like a champ. After service we headed back to the Hamby house to heat up leftovers for lunch, we're all so thankful for Leonard's wonderful cooking. After lunch we all decided a short rest was in order. We worshiped here on the mission again tonight at 7 and then the service was followed by some special singing by the students here at the mission. All of the songs were in Tonga but we enjoyed listening to their beautiful harmonies. For the last hour or so we've been getting prepared for our busy week that starts tomorrow with language classes for the Haven kids, of course we did all of this by candle light because the electricity around here is just not reliable. It's truly an adventure living here in Zambia and the day of worshipping with the Zambians was definitely a blessing to us all.
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I wondered how you guys were doing church services down there. That's really neat to see how different cultures worship. I can't wait to hear the different versions of the songs when yall get back. That's really interesting that being late is culturally acceptable! Did you notice a big difference in the way they worship down there?
ReplyDeleteHow was the experience in church!! Was the service similiar to the services in Searcy?
ReplyDeleteSounds like yall had good food and a good service.
ReplyDeleteHave you picked up on what some of the Tonga words mean yet?
ReplyDeleteHow ironic is it that the majority of their church songs were familiar. Such a small world we live in. What are some of the differences and similarities you have noticed among Zambian and American children?
ReplyDeleteI wish I had a little baby in my lap during church. It is good to hear that you know most of the songs. What service anything like ours?
ReplyDeleteMost of the songs were familiar. We were able to sing along to all of them really. They do church just like we do, but Longer!!!! And ye we have one phrase down really well. Twalumba...it means we all thank you.
ReplyDeleteThat's great. I think it would be interesting to have a baby in my lap for 2.5 hours. I am pleasantly suprised to hear most of it was in English so you could understand it. I've been to a church service in Poland before that is done the same way as here in America. So, even though the entire thing was in Polish and partly Latin, you knew what was coming and knew what was going on. Enjoy this week!
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