Note from the editor: Make sure to check out the post for August 14th, as it was missing the write up (unbeknownst to me!) It should give some more context regarding the following posts. My bad!
Sunday breakfast began with a birthday celebration for Katie. A card was purchased from a Connie Magotti's duka (store) which was actually written in English and even played a Happy Birthday tune when opened! Team member Connie Ehgoetz also found chocolate wafer cookies which served as a gift alongside a lovely blossoming branch which Anson picked from a nearby tree and placed in a coke bottle.
As we began eating our breakfast, we could hear loud music coming from the chruch. By the time we finished breakfast and arrived at the door, all seats were full to the sanctuary. Apparently the service began at 8-830 am ish but we had understood 9 am so when we entered the was alot of shuffling and moving and offering seats of for us the obvious visitors. We sat down just in time to be called on to go to to the front where Terry was asked to introduce each of the Shantz Team members by name and bring greetings from our chruch in Canada with General Secretary of the Diocese Richard doing the translations.
The service was full of variety with highlights including:
- the 'choir' consisting of 3 singers ( 2 females and 1 tenor) all singing in beautiful harmony accompanied by a male on an electric keyboard and drum machine. The remaining 20 or so choir members did a most fluid and rhythmically smooth choreography to each piece.
- a sermon by the bishop which included a summary of his recent time spent in Florida at the North American Mennonite Convention. He even noted Anson was wearing the shirt from the conference and had him to stand to show the theme: 'Love is a verb.' Initially Anson thought he was in trouble when he was called on!
- Also during his talk the bishop announced that after careful thought he had decided that women no longer needed to have their heads covered during Communion at church. This resulted in clapping and female uvulation ( calling out in high pitched warbling woo woo'ing sounds!). The female sitting beside Connie and Katie helped to translate the sermon for them and heartily joined in the uvulation even though a pastorin front of them turned around and asked her to be quiet!
- the passionate congregational singing of " I surrender all" as everyone in the chruch individually walked up their cash offering regardless of how minimal and dropped it into a wooden box being supervised at the front of the church by a deacon .
The service ended around 10:15 am allowing time for us to hire driver Kaeesi and go to the nearby fishing village of Soto with guesthouse supervisor Simeon as our guide . Simeon was a welcome translator when Terry negotiated a suitable fee for a boat ride on Lake Victoria. 1 life jacket was offered but was not used.:)
For about an hour we enjoyed a relaxed boat ride and gentle lake breeze viewing many activities along the shoreline such as men and boys fishing, children bathing, and women washing clothes. Eventually we returned to the docking area of the fishery only to note that our driver was nowhere to be seen. After a walk through the village and up a hill to the rocks where dugga (small fish) were being dried, we were able to get a signal and make contact with Fred who reached our driver.
Upon returning from Soto and eating lunch together, some went to their room for a nap. Others stayed up and had an in-depth conversation with Leisha and Fred regarding our insights and questions so far regarding our time here. This couple has wisdom beyond their years and we are so priviledged to work with them as our service project coordinators due to their passion for the people they serve as well as their long term knowledge of the culture and religious beliefs of the community.
For supper our team of 6 as well as Fred, and Leisha and their children Innocent, Wesley and Gretchen were driven in two shifts to the home of Bishop Kateti where we were treated to an amazing feast. Dishes this evening consisted of 3 types of goat, boiled bananas, boiled potatoes, rice, cooked greens, fresh banana and soda all served around two outdoor tables.
The drive back to our guest house was the first time we had experienced a night journey and we quickly understood why driving after dark is avoided due to the combination of animals crossing the road unexpectedly, the inordinately number of large rocks on the path, people walking without flashlights plus bikes and piki pikis( motorcycle taxis) weaving all over the bumpy road. Thankfully we returned to the guest house safely.
Sunday breakfast began with a birthday celebration for Katie. A card was purchased from a Connie Magotti's duka (store) which was actually written in English and even played a Happy Birthday tune when opened! Team member Connie Ehgoetz also found chocolate wafer cookies which served as a gift alongside a lovely blossoming branch which Anson picked from a nearby tree and placed in a coke bottle.
As we began eating our breakfast, we could hear loud music coming from the chruch. By the time we finished breakfast and arrived at the door, all seats were full to the sanctuary. Apparently the service began at 8-830 am ish but we had understood 9 am so when we entered the was alot of shuffling and moving and offering seats of for us the obvious visitors. We sat down just in time to be called on to go to to the front where Terry was asked to introduce each of the Shantz Team members by name and bring greetings from our chruch in Canada with General Secretary of the Diocese Richard doing the translations.
The service was full of variety with highlights including:
- the 'choir' consisting of 3 singers ( 2 females and 1 tenor) all singing in beautiful harmony accompanied by a male on an electric keyboard and drum machine. The remaining 20 or so choir members did a most fluid and rhythmically smooth choreography to each piece.
- a sermon by the bishop which included a summary of his recent time spent in Florida at the North American Mennonite Convention. He even noted Anson was wearing the shirt from the conference and had him to stand to show the theme: 'Love is a verb.' Initially Anson thought he was in trouble when he was called on!
- Also during his talk the bishop announced that after careful thought he had decided that women no longer needed to have their heads covered during Communion at church. This resulted in clapping and female uvulation ( calling out in high pitched warbling woo woo'ing sounds!). The female sitting beside Connie and Katie helped to translate the sermon for them and heartily joined in the uvulation even though a pastorin front of them turned around and asked her to be quiet!
- the passionate congregational singing of " I surrender all" as everyone in the chruch individually walked up their cash offering regardless of how minimal and dropped it into a wooden box being supervised at the front of the church by a deacon .
The service ended around 10:15 am allowing time for us to hire driver Kaeesi and go to the nearby fishing village of Soto with guesthouse supervisor Simeon as our guide . Simeon was a welcome translator when Terry negotiated a suitable fee for a boat ride on Lake Victoria. 1 life jacket was offered but was not used.:)
For about an hour we enjoyed a relaxed boat ride and gentle lake breeze viewing many activities along the shoreline such as men and boys fishing, children bathing, and women washing clothes. Eventually we returned to the docking area of the fishery only to note that our driver was nowhere to be seen. After a walk through the village and up a hill to the rocks where dugga (small fish) were being dried, we were able to get a signal and make contact with Fred who reached our driver.
Upon returning from Soto and eating lunch together, some went to their room for a nap. Others stayed up and had an in-depth conversation with Leisha and Fred regarding our insights and questions so far regarding our time here. This couple has wisdom beyond their years and we are so priviledged to work with them as our service project coordinators due to their passion for the people they serve as well as their long term knowledge of the culture and religious beliefs of the community.
For supper our team of 6 as well as Fred, and Leisha and their children Innocent, Wesley and Gretchen were driven in two shifts to the home of Bishop Kateti where we were treated to an amazing feast. Dishes this evening consisted of 3 types of goat, boiled bananas, boiled potatoes, rice, cooked greens, fresh banana and soda all served around two outdoor tables.
The drive back to our guest house was the first time we had experienced a night journey and we quickly understood why driving after dark is avoided due to the combination of animals crossing the road unexpectedly, the inordinately number of large rocks on the path, people walking without flashlights plus bikes and piki pikis( motorcycle taxis) weaving all over the bumpy road. Thankfully we returned to the guest house safely.