In America, I am accustomed to paved roads, trustworthy food (for the most part), zoning, and predictable church services. Today was probably the most unlike-America day we’ve experienced so far.
During our church experience, Pastor Phyllis, the pastor of Karima Church just up the road from Tumaini, said something that struck me right to the core. She has been to the US once before, and she came back thinking (and saying) that she will never try and make an American comfortable again. We live too luxurious, comfortable lives where everything is absolutely perfect. All of our roads are perfect, we drive everywhere, our homes are so large with so much in them… everything is just so far superior to African standards.
While it is hard to ignore that America has better roads, homes and a slue of other things, there is a lot that is terribly missing. In Kiswahili (national language) there is a word that sums up the one thing that America lacks terribly – “Karibu,” meaning, “Welcome”. I suspect that this word is very similar in meaning as “Shalom” in Hebrew.
Today I had the privilege of speaking in Karima Church’s service. It wasn’t exactly clear to me what they were asking for, but I ended up on speaking for biblical reasons for cell or small groups (of course). I had a wonderful time!
Other members of the team spent time with the kids singing and dancing, Megan Sullivan lead a mixed-team of the church’s choir and Frank Sullivan and Jon Gallagher in some music. It was absolutely amazing to be able to spend this morning with so many from another culture worshiping the same God. Something divine happens when cultures come together in worship.
Rob also spoke, delivering a wonderful story of his life and how no sin is never forgivable. It appeared to speak both to me and many others there.
After service, we spent some time eating lunch with the entire congregation. We shared stories of experiences both in America and in Africa. Then we went off in many different directions to visit people in their homes. I was accompanied by a gentleman named Daniel, a lady named Marian (a single teacher at Tumaini Children’s Home), and Zach and Shelia from our team. We walked a few kilometers along a very slippery and muddy road. Along our way, Marian made the same comment that Pastor Phyllis had made in church (above) regarding the way Zach tip-toed around the mud and manure (not that we all wouldn’t if it were in our own land). She noted that he seemed uncomfortable and there was nothing she could do to make him feel at home. While that isn’t necessarily true, the point again stuck with me.
Karibu/Shalom/Welcome – a word with a meaning more powerful than can be expressed in the word alone. The people in Africa as so welcoming that everything they lack in social and civil order they make up for in love. I will gladly overlook the roads for another day spent with an African.
11/23/08
