African church and mother’s day

 

Today I felt a little sad and home sick, being mother’s day and all. I hadn’t really felt home sick while I was there, until this morning. I txt my mum and she said one of my friends had txt her and wished her a happy mother’s day on my behalf that morning, which I felt so blessed to hear, I have a really sweet friend. 

But I sucked up my tears and we headed to church, for an African church experience; which was a lot of fun. We turned up and we were asked to pray with the people next to us and then introduce ourselves so that (as the pastor put it) the congregation wasn’t distracted with thoughts of; who are they? Where are they from? Why are they here? 

And said we are one because all have one God which it really did feel like that, tonnes of people from different tribes, countries and languages but we were one people in this place. 

We had some worship which was LOUD, but fun and we did some dancing. :D

The leader of our team Pastor Shane got to share and did a great talk about grace. How there is a difference between God’s being upon us and being in us. 

But the coolest moment happened later, when we got up to share a song as a team, after each individual team member went around the room praying for people and I wanted to be involved but all of a sudden felt like I don’t know what to do what do I say I don’t know these people and they probably won’t be able to understand what I am praying for. Which I know it’s silly, but that’s how I felt and so I prayed and moved out into the congregation and realised the person I had been standing next to was a young 10 year old girl and no one had prayed for and so I went over to her and asked her if I could pray for her, she said yes so I prayed for her and it was a really beautiful moment. Then a girl who had been playing outside the church came in the side door and came up to me and introduced herself and then I got to pray for her and then I went outside and there were about 8 children playing outside so I sung some songs and played some games and then when we were in a group holding hands I asked the eldest who understood English the best, is it ok if I pray for you all before we play the next game. He said yes then translated into Bemba and the children all closed our eyes and I thanked God for each one of them, these precious children I had the pleasure of meeting. I loved how God could use me and make something beautiful come of my first off insecurity. I am not telling this to boast that I prayed but boast that God can use your weakness and be at work, and he knows you better than you know yourself and you may think you can’t do anything but you can if you let God work through you.