We had the privilege of greeting
the Dawari village Lutheran Church (one of seven daughter churches of the Gendabi
village Lutheran Church, under the oversight of Gabriel Magang). What a heart-warming
experience for us to join with the family of faith in this remote village! As
we have worshipped with various denominations in the Mt. Hanang area, we have
the privilege of experiencing the richness and diversity of worship styles. We
can see some of the "customization" that each church has: different
music styles, different backgrounds, different tribes. However, there is a
certain sense of commonality when we realize that we (American, Iraqw,
Barabaig, Gogo) are family--children of God.
Once again, during the service, a
time of prayer was designated for the small bags of grain brought by the
congregants. Because this is a subsistence farming area, every kernel and every
seed represent the potential of food. These believers brought their potential
to the church for prayers of blessing, since planting will begin in the coming
days as the fall rains are anticipated.
(Sorry, I did not feel the
freedom to take pictures in this church. Because it is a very remote village,
even our presence as strange, white foreigners seemed to be enough of a
distraction. We in no way wished to draw attention away from the service.)
The time of Sunday offerings is a
very formal time in the Lutheran church here, with each person coming one at a
time to bring their offering to the designated basket in the front. Many of
these people do not deal with money in their day-to-day lives; thus, for those
without money, an offering is still brought--mats woven from the grass plains,
bags of beans or grain, even chickens and goats, presented to the Lord as an
offering of their means.
When the service had finished, the congregation spilled out to the shade of the surrounding trees. Non-monetary items received in the offering were then presented in a sort of
auction style, and anyone in need of these items had the opportunity to
purchase the beans...or maize...or chicken. Money gathered in this manner was
then added to the offering money, and the family in need was privileged with
this special blessing.
Even I was able to purchase an intricately woven grass mat--my new prayer mat!. I met the elderly woman
who made it. I thanked her for the detailed work and for her gift to the Lord.
She felt honored to have given it to the Lord. I felt honored to be blessed
with it. And the church was blessed to add to its offering.
Note: Neema, to whom I
introduced you in the previous post, is one of two evangelists at this church.
