We've all done it and really, we all hate it. It's time to visit churches to see where a good fit is for your family. You get recommendations from friends, you look stuff up on line, you read about the theology or programs or who the pastor is, and make the plunge to try one out. You smile and try to be friendly, evaluate music, children's programs, the sermon, and try to get a feel for the congregation. But you are new and that's always hard. But that's not how it works here. This is Africa, so it's a bit harder.
Most churches have no websites. Most of our friends go to one of 2 or 3 nearby Cameroonian churches or to the international church downtown. But when Chris was assigned the Makaa language group, it was suggested that we attend the local church here in Yaoundé that is largely populated by native Makaa speakers. The service is in French, which is not a problem really since we all understand (at least some) French. But the music is mostly in Bulu. It's a long story here's
wikipedia's take on it and this
site has more details if you are interested in church history. So, needless to say, we have no idea what they are singing.
Today I looked on the hymnal with the lady next to me and she asked if I understood Bulu. No, I replied, but I can read the words! In Cameroon you have to purchase your own hymnal and bring it to church. My house help got one for me, but of course it's French, and it from her denomination. Maybe next time!
I don't know yet how many at the church understand Bulu. If they are Makaa speakers, know French and maybe some English, do they understand what they are singing or do they just read it like I would? I know I won't understand-
Today I told the kids to open their Bibles to the Psalms and just to pick one to sing to whatever tune there was. Kinda fun to make the words fit and sometimes it worked surprisingly well! My husband tells me the hierarchy of music is different here. In the US, it's harmony, melody, and then rhythm; while here rhythm is king, then melody, and harmony is a distant last place. The (traditional) drums are loud, the police whistle added, clapping, swaying, all big. You can tell the tune, but the electric piano may have started at a different pitch than the song leader began in. Off key is no big thing and really 'big' singers here would be booed off the stage on the talent search shows in the States.
As for the seating, on stage are molded plastic lawn type chairs. There are lots of low benches with no backs in the main seating area. On the sides for the choir are benches with a back and in the far back of the sanctuary the benches have a high up board for the back. We sat next to a window on a bench. The first week, they invited us to sit up front in the comfortable chairs and we did. But this week we sat towards the back, partially because I have no desire to be 'onstage' or looked at the whole service, and partially because the giant speakers are up there and I'd like to keep the little hearing I have left.
Now for the humor. The first week the pastor asked us (in French) if didn't we sing together. Chris replied yes, sometimes. I said when he left, 'honey, he's going to want us to sing sometime. I'm not singing for the church.' Wouldn't you know it, half way through the service, he introduces us and says we are going to sing! Chris scrambled, read a psalm in French, and then a verse in English. Whew, he made it through. Today halfway through the service, guess what they announced? Yep, he got to sing again. I had a picture of a song we sang in French school on my phone (In Christ alone) and he sang again. I chuckled inside. Glad it wasn't me! After the service I think he told the pastor, no thanks. I think he better have something prepared next time because, you never know and TIA(this is Africa)!
Lots of good things to be said about the experience. It was kind of nice being the only expats at the service. It was good to see smiles on the congregation during the singing and enthusiasm for the music and worship. It was good to see kids sing in the church- they sat in the middle towards the front and just stood in their places for their song. The kids shook our hands after the service and smiled and so did the adults. Babies are cute in every language group and country. One lady introduced herself as Alice and said she lives in our neighborhood, took my phone number and said she'd like to have us over sometime. I understood some of the sermon- today's on the question Jesus had for the disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" I recognized the Lord's prayer, the Apostles Creed, Joy to the World, and a French song the kids sang that my French school teacher sang for us.
There were many different things about this church. When we arrived at 9:30 for the 9:30 Sunday School part, not only were we the first to arrive, they were still sweeping and setting up the sanctuary and wiping down the benches. They close the doors and open them at various times so that latecomers come in batches not in trickles. For the offering, there are four baskets: one for youth, one for children, one for women, one for men. You have to pay attention to where to put your offering. After each person walks up, the tip the basket and the money drops down to a lower section of the basket so it always looks empty when you walk up. Afterwards they announce how much was given by each group. There is a basket of shakers, kind of like rattles, made from woven reeds, and given out to women to use in worship. Only men play the drums. The choir wears robes (wait, that's not different…). Some women leaders in the church wear a light blue robe and a man a light green (looks like hospital scrubs). The pastor wears a robe. I'm not sure who all is supposed to be on stage, but those chairs really are more comfortable- a low wood plank bench is not! To get to the church, you park on a main road and walk back through the neighborhood to get there- think sidewalk sized paths between buildings, homes, and shops for 5 minutes or less.
There were some things I didn't like. I'd love to have a hymnal and know what I'm singing. Reverb on microphones are best left to the Haunted Mansion ride at Disney Florida (thank you Kristin for pointing that out). Loud does not equal better. It's embarrassing to be welcomed by name during announcements, as if you were important, each week. After the service, I can not understand your French. There is too much background noise to hear what you are saying, much less decipher your Cameroonian accent (for the 280 languages spoken here, I'm sure they each have a different accent) or vocabulary. No a/c here except at the Hilton and the supermarkets: fans are good but not good enough if it's over 85. The sewage system in the neighborhood leaves much to be desired + open windows = unpleasant odors occasionally, but it wasn't too bad. 9:30- 12:45 is a LONG time to sit on low wooden benches. They did address us in English once from the pulpit, but only to make sure we knew which week the building fund begins. The kids are less than thrilled at being the only expats (white American) people there.
Thankfully the pastor who keeps announcing that Chris will sing, is working on getting Chris a language partner: someone to help teach Chris Makaa.
This is not the church I would choose in the US. It is not really in my comfort zone, but we felt welcomed. We'll go again. But maybe not next week.
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| I don't really like taking pictures in church. This one is from the stage our first week. I don't think anyone noticed- |
Praise report: Our house rented! Renters since Feb.1. :)
The next shipment has left the JAARS center for the port in Charleston and will make it's way across the sea now.
Everyone is healthy.
The water is on (right now anyway).
The new internet service seems far superior.
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| Sandi did another card workshop and Kristin and I got to go. |
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| Noah and his friends at the NewLand area where many missionaries live. |
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| Noah's Volleyball (B team). The opponents looked like little kids, but they played well! |
Prayer requests:
I'm off to the dentist today. Same tooth. The new crown is loose.
Pray for Chris's work with the Makaa. Pray a good language partner will be found and Chris would successfully learn Makaa. Pray for the Makaa people. That they would read their Bible in their mother tongue when it arrives this summer and that their hearts would be transformed.
Pray for the plans for Chris's summer trip to Thailand for GCoMM conference in July, (Global Consultation on Music and Missions). He still needs to raise some support for the trip and will be buying plane tickets soon. He will be presenting at the conference. This professional development work is important for his Cameroonian visa status.
Pray for the children. For their relationship with Christ, for their maturity, for school, and friendships. They are all doing well, but they all have their moments!
Pray for me as I pray about my role for next year. I have been asked to help out in several capacities. Some of which I said no to right away, and some I am considering. Mostly I know I need to be mom and wife and homemaker, but I'm getting the hang of living here, so I may be able to help in a more formal way next year.
