Hi from Africa

Sunday, January 18

We were divided into three groups; each attending a different church. Four students and I went to Shampande Wesleyan Church. The Zambians are not too concerned with time probably because few of them have watches, so when Sunday school started at 9:00 there were about 20 people there. By the time we ended at 10:00 there were 50-60 present. They just come wandering in one or two at a time without a care in the world. No one considered them late or really even notices. We studied Jonah 3 and it was good.

Here it is rude to rush to answer a question during a discussion because others may want to answer it and you would be denying them the opportunity to answer. It was difficult for us to know how much to talk because we did not want to be rude, but the leader would ask a question and no one would respond for several minutes. Also silence is expected here, unlike Americans who feel awkward when there is a pause. We have been told not to try to fill every minute with idle chatter. So there we were feeling awkward with the silence yet not wanting to talk too soon. So four of us answered one question and quit, but one student did not quite get the rules and kept answering. The leader finally said, "Let's hear from someone new."

Church service lasts from 10:00-12:30 or longer. Since the youth meet outside for Sunday school and the children meet in a different room at 10:00 they came into the church carrying their little brown wooden chairs and benches and placed them at the front of the church. The church is about the size of two school classrooms put together with long handmade pews on either side, so there is only a center aisle. Pews that would seat six comfortably were packed with 10-12 people. Since we were white and visitors they did not want to crowd us too much, so only put 9 on or pew. There were people standing in the back and on the front porch. There were 250- 300 people packed in.

The children’s choir, youth praise team, women’s choir, mixed choir, and a couple did some special music. Each of these choirs sang at least two songs with a few dances. They had a skit and a man gave a quite lengthy testimony then all the visitors stood, told a little about themselves and each person, couple, or group was given an individual official welcome by the church. Prayers, offering, and announcements were dispersed in between these things.

When they have group prayer everyone prays aloud at the same time, some sit, stand, kneel, walk in the aisle, etc. Even the children lift their prayers. It was very moving to see children on their knees praying the whole 5-7 minutes; however, long it takes. We joined right in – I liked it better than just listening to someone else pray. This all took 1 ½ hours then the children picked up their chairs and went outside for children’s church and the preacher preached for 30 minutes. The pastor preached in English while an interpreter spoke Tonga. Some of the songs were in English, some in Tonga.

Now here comes the fun - When church is over the people leave row by row, starting in the front. The pastor goes out first and the second person shakes the pastor’s hand and then stands next to him. The third person comes out and shakes the pastor’s hand and then the second person’s hand and stands beside him – this just continues. We were near the front so we shook about 50 hands and then we stood in line and shook the other 100+ hands – not all of the children came through the line. Every hand you shake you give a greeting to. When all is said and done there is a big circle out on the front drive/lawn. After the last hand is shaken people stay and fellowship for who knows how long. Our ride was there and we had to leave. It is quite the experience. We will be attending this church for the whole three months. Our cook, Mrs. Bhota, goes to this church, you could see that she felt special knowing the “white friends”. We really do stand out. Since it is winter in the states most of us are "glow in the dark" white.

Monday, January 19, 2009

I went to the school with Lindsay, one of our students, where she is doing her practicum with special ed. students. They were excited to see us back. They enter the room, one erases the chalkboard while the others sit quietly; some talk quietly. I waited until the headmaster was out of his meeting to give him some paperwork and then I walked home.

I had to go through part of the city; women are very friendly, but the men are not. It was about a mile+ walk. I was slightly nervous because they do not see white people just walking around the town, especially by themselves. I figured I was safe because it was about 9:00 am plus I had to walk by the security office and the clinic – just in case I needed help.

Everyone else had gone to visit AIDS patients. Once people know that you have AIDS your family, friends, sometimes the whole village shuns you. Consequently most people will not get tested until it is too late and are really sick. Most of these have caregivers that visit them once a week and bring them food.

I put on work clothes and went to the worksite where they are building a new compound for the offices and guests of World Hope. It was suppose to be done for us, but it still looks like it will be several weeks.

I went to offer my services – very prideful. I got to grout the kitchen tile. It was very difficult for me to do it their way. They use a 3-4 inch metal scraper with rounded corners. The concrete floor was unlevel partly because they have few tools and it is not considered necessary to be too level, and partly because they just mix up concrete right on the floor for other projects and they do not use it all. It hardens and they can’t get it all off. So in order to put the tile floor on level some places needed ½ inch of mortar and some almost an inch. So without a rubber float and just a metal scraper I had to get the grout into these deep spaces. I was quite the novelty for a while since women do not do this type of work.

Then came the true conflict – having to do it competely their way - which is course not the right way!! (according to a Harris girl) I was to put the grout down and then use the pointed tip of a trowel to make “perfect grout lines” which is nearly impossible on unlevel tiles and this scraped most of the gout out. After a few minutes of "discussion" – God spoke and an told me to change. It took everything I had in me – I compromise and used the rounded ends of my scraper-thing. With each scrape I said under my breath, “This is horrible – This is a mess” What’s wrong with them haven’t they ever watched HG-TV.

Then I asked for a bucket and rag to wash off the excess grout before it hardened and was told that they wait 2-3 days before they do that. I was appalled but asked them politely if they would like to inspect my work before I left.

So see you can teach an old dog new tricks. Then all evening I wondered if I got enough grout into the deep holes or if it sunk down after I left - I am not sure who would have the last laugh.