Igreja/Church

Church was (mercifully) much cooler this week.  "Cooler" is a relative term, consider it was in the 80 degree range, rather than the 90+ degrees we experienced last week.  (The church roof is tin, by the way.  It conducts the heat wonderfully.)  Our two churches were combined again this week, due to a special visit from our church leader in Maputo.

I really enjoyed church this week.  Mom and I "rebelled" and sat with the women, rather than at the front of the church.  The front of the church is reserved for the pastors and special guests.  Out of respect, Mom would normally be sat there as well.  She and I both feel more comfortable sitting among the women and this week, we decided to so.  No one seemed too shocked by it, so hopefully we can continue.  The sermon was given in Portuguese and translated into Ndau.  I think one of the men at the front was also whispering a translation in English to Dad.  Mom was able to explain some of the service to me.

After church, we received an invitation to a special church lunch.  Our two church congregations piled into four vehicles.  Our vehicle seats ten theoretically, but in practice, many more can fit!  Mom and I sat in the front row next to Dad, who was driving.  Two of our pastors sat in the second row, along with the one pastor's wife (who is 8 months pregnant) and their two boys (about 8 and 6).  In the back, there are four jump seats.  On those seats sat another five women and three children.  One of those women was also about six months pregnant.  The other two vehicles of similar size were equally packed, and the rest of the church (most of the youth) climbed into the truck below.

There were probably about seventy of us for the luncheon.  It was largely a family get together, for the guest from Maputo was the father of our host.  Manuel, our host, has a thriving construction business.  He speaks English very well and was wearing a Manchester United shirt.  I pointed that out, teasing him for his support of Man U.  That got a big laugh, and he returned the teasing when I told him that my loyalty has by default been to Arsenal.  

We had a real feast prepared for us, which we ate under a tent with a nice cool breeze.  I shocked several people by not taking any of the meat options.  It is never easy to explain being a vegetarian in Africa.  It always amazes how many mounds of rice are prepared and how quickly they disappear.  

All in all, it was a lovely afternoon.  We were the first to depart, getting home at about 4 pm.  It was a perfectly enjoyable day.