While I was in Africa this summer, I was able to attend church. I had heard from others about churches lasting around three or four hours in Africa so I came prepared with snacks, just in case.
We drove to a specific township and parked in the grass parking lot across the street from the church. The church was a small brick building with a fence around it (due to high crime in the city we stayed in). There were people milling around outside, greeting us with smiles, hugs and handshakes as we walked in. Upon walking inside the church we were greeted by the very strong smell of gas. I found this humorous, but it did give some of those on the team a headache. The gas was from two stand up heaters that were used to heat up the church (really it just heated up those who sat near it lol). There was no central air or heat in the building. We all took our seats in wooden folding chairs sent into rows. After a few minutes the worship team started. They were not a fancy band, or well trained singers but they sang with all their heart. They sang songs in Afrikaans and English. After a few songs the pastor came up to the pulpit. He mentioned various people in the congregation that needed prayer and would call on somebody in the congregation to pray out loud for that specific person. Their prayers would last from what seemed like five to ten minutes each. It was really heart warming to see a congregation that spent so much time in prayer during the service, and that the pastor included the congregation in these prayers. The last time we went to that church they had the team stand up and they laid hands on us and prayed for a safe return home. It was so kind.
On Wednesday nights we were blessed to attend what was called "cell groups" or small groups. At the first one Chad and I attended (a married couple study) there was a woman named Joy who had been suffering from debilitating migraines, intestinal pain, depression and other ailments. At the end of our study the former pastor of the church named Pip asked the small group to pray for Joy. He had joy come kneel down in the middle of the group and asked her "Joy do you believe that God can heal you?" She said "yes" and Pip asked everybody in the small group to come around her and lay a hand on her and pray for her healing. The last Sunday we were in attendance at the church the pastor had Joy come and give her testimony in front of the church for about 20 minutes. During that time she shared her struggles with her ailments, her suicidal thoughts and struggles with her faith. She then shared that after we all prayed over her, her migraines were gone for 10 days. What I appreciated about her testimony was that she still glorified God even though her migraines came back. She said that she would serve Him and trust in Him even though she is in pain. It was such a touching testimony and one I will always remember.
On a random side note they served food at each cell group meeting. The first meeting chad had a crumpet. Now in South Africa they have crumpets with butter, raspberry jelly, cheddar cheese and whipped cream.....SO chad being the adventurous type decided to try one. Im not too sure it was his favorite but the locals loved them! The next meeting we had two South African Afrikaans treats called "Koek Sister" pronounced: "coke sisters" and "vet koeks" pronounced: "fat cakes" which Chad loved! The coke sisters are a sweet fried pastry, with a sweet sauce, coconut and sugar on top. The fat cakes were a sweet bread, filled with a meat and vegetable mix. Both were full of lovely gluten which I cannot eat so I enjoyed some mutton stew that they had. It was delicious and salty! Right up my alley :) I really miss the kindness of that cell group and the fact that we were welcomed in and never felt awkward or uncomfortable! Everybody hugged us, even the kids who came. What a difference from American churches. I came back to America wanting to be more warm and welcoming to others I come in contact with.
~N
We drove to a specific township and parked in the grass parking lot across the street from the church. The church was a small brick building with a fence around it (due to high crime in the city we stayed in). There were people milling around outside, greeting us with smiles, hugs and handshakes as we walked in. Upon walking inside the church we were greeted by the very strong smell of gas. I found this humorous, but it did give some of those on the team a headache. The gas was from two stand up heaters that were used to heat up the church (really it just heated up those who sat near it lol). There was no central air or heat in the building. We all took our seats in wooden folding chairs sent into rows. After a few minutes the worship team started. They were not a fancy band, or well trained singers but they sang with all their heart. They sang songs in Afrikaans and English. After a few songs the pastor came up to the pulpit. He mentioned various people in the congregation that needed prayer and would call on somebody in the congregation to pray out loud for that specific person. Their prayers would last from what seemed like five to ten minutes each. It was really heart warming to see a congregation that spent so much time in prayer during the service, and that the pastor included the congregation in these prayers. The last time we went to that church they had the team stand up and they laid hands on us and prayed for a safe return home. It was so kind.
On Wednesday nights we were blessed to attend what was called "cell groups" or small groups. At the first one Chad and I attended (a married couple study) there was a woman named Joy who had been suffering from debilitating migraines, intestinal pain, depression and other ailments. At the end of our study the former pastor of the church named Pip asked the small group to pray for Joy. He had joy come kneel down in the middle of the group and asked her "Joy do you believe that God can heal you?" She said "yes" and Pip asked everybody in the small group to come around her and lay a hand on her and pray for her healing. The last Sunday we were in attendance at the church the pastor had Joy come and give her testimony in front of the church for about 20 minutes. During that time she shared her struggles with her ailments, her suicidal thoughts and struggles with her faith. She then shared that after we all prayed over her, her migraines were gone for 10 days. What I appreciated about her testimony was that she still glorified God even though her migraines came back. She said that she would serve Him and trust in Him even though she is in pain. It was such a touching testimony and one I will always remember.On a random side note they served food at each cell group meeting. The first meeting chad had a crumpet. Now in South Africa they have crumpets with butter, raspberry jelly, cheddar cheese and whipped cream.....SO chad being the adventurous type decided to try one. Im not too sure it was his favorite but the locals loved them! The next meeting we had two South African Afrikaans treats called "Koek Sister" pronounced: "coke sisters" and "vet koeks" pronounced: "fat cakes" which Chad loved! The coke sisters are a sweet fried pastry, with a sweet sauce, coconut and sugar on top. The fat cakes were a sweet bread, filled with a meat and vegetable mix. Both were full of lovely gluten which I cannot eat so I enjoyed some mutton stew that they had. It was delicious and salty! Right up my alley :) I really miss the kindness of that cell group and the fact that we were welcomed in and never felt awkward or uncomfortable! Everybody hugged us, even the kids who came. What a difference from American churches. I came back to America wanting to be more warm and welcoming to others I come in contact with.
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| This was the fat cake....the ones chad had were not as long and a little fatter, but similar |
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| Coke sisters! |
~N
