A little country church

Ah...African time. Last night we asked Chief what time church service would start at the church we were visiting. His reply- "there is no time. When the people are there, they will begin". :-) since it was Sunday, people weren't tring to get their crops in or waiting for subsidized fertilizer and seed. That meant that there was a very full church. The preferential treatment of men always amazes me. The church elders (always men) sit in chairs and everyone else sits on the floor. Women ride in the back of the truck and men in cab. Anyway...Pastor Paul gave another great sermon on Matthew's gospel of "go therefore". The congregants paid attention to every word. As is typical in every church we have visited, the service was filled with music. They had band that consisted of a guitar type instrument, a bass type instrument, a "snare" drum set and anAfrican drum. The dancing and music was amazing. We had lunch at member's home it was the most modest of the homes we visited. The foul was guinea hen and we had large amounts of sima. The saving here is "sima is life". I suppose for most Malawians this is a true statement. The boiled maize hard porridge is served at every meal. It is similar to a firm cream of wheat with no seasonings that is eaten with your fingers. After lunch we went back to the church and the band and choir sing and play for us. There music is so inspiring,it brings tears to the eyes. We even had a chance to meet the "old grandmothers" who were tending the children in the shade. They were like the children in that they wanted to have their photos taken. What a great day it was!