Sleeping at school and our church experience!
A couple of weekends ago Sarah and Melchiory asked us to go to church with them. As we happened to be in Moshi that weekend we decided that it would fun to go so we arranged to meet at 08.00 at Sarah's home. New volunteers arrived on the Saturday so we had quite a big night out. Our alarm went off and as we had only been in bed for 3 and a half hours church didn't seem quite so appealing but we'd promised to go so we got up and made our way over to Sarah's.
When we arrived the family was waiting for us dressed in their sunday best. Sarah walked with us to church and on the way explained that church didn't actually start till half past 10 but she ran a Sunday school class and she wanted us to see it! Sunday school in Swahili - not really Adam's thing - especially after little sleep and lots of beers!
After what seemed like an eternity Sunday School finished and people started to arrive. We all sat in rows and the singing started as you would expect. We attempted to sing along in swahili - haven't got a clue what we were saying but never mind!
Then the pastor started to speak, obviously in swahili so we didn't understand a word. After a while he paused and the organist stood up and explained in English that the pastor had been welcoming us to the church - we were sitting about half way back so looked around at everyone and said thank you ( or asante sana) and smiled. The organist then said 'now it's your turn - please come to the front'. With that Adam and I had to walk to the front of the church and give a speech about who we were, why were we here and then thank everyone for welcoming us to their church.
With that done we sat back down and the pastor exclaimed 'now it is time to praise the Lord!' With that everyone stood up, put all of their song books down and the organist started to play. The person sitting right at the front of the church turned round and started to improvise - singing words about loving Jesus and praying etc. Everyone else was clapping and whooping and repeating every line that was sung. After a while it was the next persons turn, then the next and the next. Adam and I glanced at each other - we were both clearly thinking the same thing. What on earth were we going to sing when it was our turn! We were both panicking. Before we knew it it was Sarah's turn and I was sitting next to her - it would be my turn next - arghh!! Luckily just as I was about to launch into singing asante sana Jesus (thank you Jesus) over and over the organist stopped playing and everyone sat down. I have never been so relieved!
After several hours the ceremony ended in a maize auction (gambling in the house of the lord!). All in all church lasted for just over 5 hours! Not great considering the night before!
Last weekend a few of us went to the Pare Mountains to do some hiking. The Lonely Planet said that we should arrive at the village in the mountains and ask for Ferdinand - he should be at the local secondary school. We followed the advice dubiously and were surprised when people at the school knew exactly what we meant.
We explained to Ferdinand that we wanted to climb Mount Kinderoko the next day and after arranging to meet us 'hapa' (here) he introduced us to the headteacher. She was very apologetic that there were no beds made up for us but offered to sort some out and then cook us some food. We were slightly confused as were planning to stay in a hostel we had passed but she insited that she would be able to sort things out for us. Some of the pupils of the school then showed us the way to our accomadation which was in a small boarding house within the school! Later that evening the headteacher came to fetch us and took us back to her house to eat dinner which she had prepared when she finshed her school duties!
Had a brilliant weekend hiking during the day and drinking in the teachers on site bar in the evenings.
When we arrived the family was waiting for us dressed in their sunday best. Sarah walked with us to church and on the way explained that church didn't actually start till half past 10 but she ran a Sunday school class and she wanted us to see it! Sunday school in Swahili - not really Adam's thing - especially after little sleep and lots of beers!
After what seemed like an eternity Sunday School finished and people started to arrive. We all sat in rows and the singing started as you would expect. We attempted to sing along in swahili - haven't got a clue what we were saying but never mind!
Then the pastor started to speak, obviously in swahili so we didn't understand a word. After a while he paused and the organist stood up and explained in English that the pastor had been welcoming us to the church - we were sitting about half way back so looked around at everyone and said thank you ( or asante sana) and smiled. The organist then said 'now it's your turn - please come to the front'. With that Adam and I had to walk to the front of the church and give a speech about who we were, why were we here and then thank everyone for welcoming us to their church.
With that done we sat back down and the pastor exclaimed 'now it is time to praise the Lord!' With that everyone stood up, put all of their song books down and the organist started to play. The person sitting right at the front of the church turned round and started to improvise - singing words about loving Jesus and praying etc. Everyone else was clapping and whooping and repeating every line that was sung. After a while it was the next persons turn, then the next and the next. Adam and I glanced at each other - we were both clearly thinking the same thing. What on earth were we going to sing when it was our turn! We were both panicking. Before we knew it it was Sarah's turn and I was sitting next to her - it would be my turn next - arghh!! Luckily just as I was about to launch into singing asante sana Jesus (thank you Jesus) over and over the organist stopped playing and everyone sat down. I have never been so relieved!
After several hours the ceremony ended in a maize auction (gambling in the house of the lord!). All in all church lasted for just over 5 hours! Not great considering the night before!
Last weekend a few of us went to the Pare Mountains to do some hiking. The Lonely Planet said that we should arrive at the village in the mountains and ask for Ferdinand - he should be at the local secondary school. We followed the advice dubiously and were surprised when people at the school knew exactly what we meant.
We explained to Ferdinand that we wanted to climb Mount Kinderoko the next day and after arranging to meet us 'hapa' (here) he introduced us to the headteacher. She was very apologetic that there were no beds made up for us but offered to sort some out and then cook us some food. We were slightly confused as were planning to stay in a hostel we had passed but she insited that she would be able to sort things out for us. Some of the pupils of the school then showed us the way to our accomadation which was in a small boarding house within the school! Later that evening the headteacher came to fetch us and took us back to her house to eat dinner which she had prepared when she finshed her school duties!
Had a brilliant weekend hiking during the day and drinking in the teachers on site bar in the evenings.
posted by Ellie and Adam at
1:08 AM
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