In Rwanda Sue and I attend the Anglican church across the road from where we live. It is supposed to begin at 9.30 am but people arrive any old time from 9 am to 11 am. It's not easy to plan what time you arrive anywhere in Rwanda because one must rely on public transport like buses or motor bikes or go by foot, as most people in this coutnry do. Very, very few people have cars in Rwanda because they are so poor and cars and licenses are very expensive, even by our standards. Fuel alone is AU$1.60 per litre. But out of about 150 in our congregation a few do have cars.
It's a simple little church with wooden benches and we really feel at home and part of the family there, as Mal and I did 4 years ago.
The pastor usually arrives around 9.40 am or thereabouts! It's quite hard to tell exactly when the service starts because nothing stops or changes when he arrives and praise and worship just keep on going and going for the first hour or so. It's GREAT! Everyone really gets into the swing with singing, dancing and yelling.
When Sue and I arrive someone comes to sit beside us so that they will be able to interpret the service for us. During the service two or three choirs will sing and there will be plenty of communal singing, lots of prayers, Bible readings and a very long sermon.
The church has a number of choirs - for children, youth and several groups of adults. A couple of these sing every week
It all usually lasts several hours, until about 12.30 or 1 pm! We enjoy ourselves. These people REALLY know how to worship God!
I am now in the US but have more things I want to post about Rwanda, so I hope you won't mind that the next few are about Rwanda even if I'm not there any more!!
Then it'll be time to post about the YFC General Assembly in Denver. I wonder if I will have time to do that!
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