Day Three: No Place Like Africa

Still suffering from Jet-lag but ready to experience an African church service. I am excited because if it's anything like our home services, it's going to be awesome! We walk to the church which is only about a 10 minute walk down the dry, dusty unpaved road and while we walk, we start to accrue a small amount of curious children who see all these "Mzunugus" (Swahili for white person) walking down the street! We stop for a moment to talk and play with them and take some pictures. African children go nuts over having their pictures taken and love to see themselves on that tiny screen of your camera. It was definitely a precious moment. We get back on the road (yes, the sweet children still following us!) and we arrive at the church. It's obviously not as I expected but still holds it's own beauty, wonder and awe. The true beauty is in the people and the children. After several (more like hundreds) of "Jambos" and "Karibu Sanas" ("Hello" and "Welcome!") we meet tons of new brothers, sisters and friends in Christ.

For several minutes while they are preparing for the church service, we play with the children and take pictures with them. Some of the older ones inform us in broken English that there will be several Baptisms and Confirmations in church today and I follow their pointing fingers to a group of about 15 children or so who are standing in line in their Sunday best. These children are the ones getting confirmed today. I go over to them and congratulate them on their special day, they are shy at first, but after a few pictures are taken, they begin to come out of their shells and pretty soon laughter and shouts of excitement fill the air. It's the best sound my ears have heard in the longest time. After a few more minutes of playing and interacting with the children, we head inside the church.

BUT FIRST ... my mom gets to do the honors of laying the first cornerstone of the church. We do a small procession to the back of the church where there is a ribbon tied and a cornerstone covered in a white sheet. After beautiful African hymns, my mom cuts the ribbon and unveils the first cornerstone of the church. People clap, cheer and ay-yiyiyiyi (African women make this sound when they are excited! It's amazing and we tried to do it, but to no avail!) and took pictures of my mom and the Bishop. It was such an honor for me and especially my mom! Very proud of my mom. 

We file into the church the same way we proceeded to the cornerstone ceremony with hymns of African praise and music. I can already tell that this is going to be the experience of a lifetime and this church service will not be like the ones at home. I am excited and feel God working his ways through these people with their beautiful music, dance and celebration that Christ is risen indeed!

(**MORE TO COME ABOUT THIS SERVICE LATER!)