A Typical Sunday...

A few ladies have asked what a day in our lives looks like, so I thought I'd write about our Sundays.

Sundays are our busiest days. This is true of preachers and their families too. Usually we start our day earlier on Sundays than any other day in order to have time to prepare our hearts, our selves, and our home for the busy day ahead. Most Sundays, we are greeted by sunshine and a chorus of birds, already intent on praising the Lord! One of my favorite things about South Africa is the plentiful sunshine and beautiful exquisite mornings. Sundays are usually always quiet, peaceful days in our neighborhood as well, which I appreciate. We live near a primary school, so it can get really noisy during the week. Our Sunday schedule constantly changes depending on which villages we’re having services in at the time. Right now, George leaves in the morning to pick up Fels at the taxi. He lives the opposite direction of where the morning services have been. He and Fels then drive about 20 minutes to meet David. Currently, because of the situation, the children and I stay home in the morning. We have our own Sunday School time complete with songs, Bible story, coloring, and even an offering. The kids like to bring a stuff animal as a visitor. We have a 2’s and 3’s curriculum and it has been good for them to go through it. That usually takes most of the morning. At times, I miss the American schedule of 9am, 1015am, and 6pm – but I must remember – it is simply that…American. Although not wrong, those ‘times’ aren’t in the Bible! :o) The guys are back around lunchtime. So, I try to have Sunday lunch ready when they get home. After lunch, we hurry the kids to bed, and clean up, while the guys fellowship in the living room. They share blessings from the week, do a Bible Study, or do some translation work. Sometimes, they all fall asleep!

After just a short time, we all load up for the afternoon service. It’s about a 30 minute drive to this village. The guys are in the back having a lively discussion in Sotho, and our kids are half-asleep yet because their naps weren’t quite long enough. :o) Arriving a bit early allows the kids to run off some energy before sitting for a l-o-n-g service! We are currently meeting in a primary school. But there are always lots of goats and chickens roaming the property for the kids to chase, and lots and lots of dirt. We jokingly say that you know you’re a missionary to Africa in the village when…your kids get dirtier at church than they do when they play outside at home. :o)

Village sounds waft through the air as we make our way to the dusty, sun-baked school room we use; distant sounds of music, children screaming and laughing, cows bellowing, and the simultaneous chord of their cow-bells. The birds fly overhead. The wind blows and sends a cloud of red dust everywhere. People are walking everywhere. People are sitting everywhere - always wise to congregate in the coolness of the shade. If you watch for any time at all, you will see several struggling to haul their water or firewood – by hand, by wheelbarrow, or conveniently on their heads. Service begins as David greets us all in Sotho. It is a joy now as we watch the people we love lead their own service – and lead it well. We basically set ourselves up in the back and watch. David leads most of the service – we are grateful to be a part of it. It’s a blessing to be able to sing songs in both Sotho and English. Joel joins in heartily, as he is now learning the songs in Sotho.

We enjoy the service, although if David only is preaching, then it’s all in Sotho. If George is preaching, then we hear it in both languages. Yet after 3 years (George more so than myself) we can follow along enough to know what they’re talking about even in Sotho. When the service is over, we spend time fellowshipping with those who have gathered. We say good-bye in 4 different languages right now: Sotho, Tsonga, Shona, and English. We repack the kombi (van) and begin our trek home. This time it’s just with David since Fels lives nearby this village. As we head back to town, we are weary and tired. Sundays are full but we are grateful to be serving the Lord – and we usually end up the ones being blessed.

Later on in the evening, we will download a service from our home church’s website. Because of the time difference now, we are unable to catch the live broadcasts. However, because Africa does not have Daylight Savings, when the clocks change in November, we will get home in enough time to join into to some of our home church’s Sunday Morning Service LIVE!