African Church...

Today, we decided to attend Mzuzu Baptist. However, they do have a English service at 8:00 am, but since we are trying to learn Tumbuka, we decided to go to the 9:00 Tumbuka service.

So...we arrive at 9:15, and it hasn't started yet. Okay...that's pretty typical. The benches are wooden that have slits in the seats, so its not that comfortable, and the back of the bench starts about mid-shoulder blades.

Finally about 10 mins later, "Sunday School" begins. There are currently 10 of us in the room. Obviously, I have no idea what's going on. Sunday school lasts till 10:05ish...

Then the flood gates open and probably about 150 pour into the church. Men on one side, women on the other.

We sing a song to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne" I only hope that the words weren't the same.

A quartet of boys sing this beautiful song with beautiful harmony...Lisa leans over and informs me that the song was about "You pregnant girl, you should have waited until you were married to get pregnant." ha.

More choirs singing.

One little kid runs up to the offering plate to make change.

Another hymn and some annoucements...well, alot of annoucements.

The whole church makes us stand up and sings a welcome song to us as first time vistors. Then, we have to introduce ourselves and they all clap for us. They asked Lisa, the mom, to pray and she prays in Chichewa. They were so impressed, some people clapped after she finished praying.

Another baby crawls towards us Mzungus (White people) looks up at us, and immediately starts wailing because he was scared of us. This interrupted the whole service because people were laughing.

Another quartet sang; but this time it was about the Bible.

Then, we sang these two songs that the whole church was singing so loudly, in such perfect harmony, with dancing, that it gave me chill bumps the whole time we sang. I was blown away!

Sermon starts at 11:15.

And finally, at about 12:05ish, church was over.

9:00-12:00....on those wooden benches....whew!