On our last Sunday in Rwanda, we went to church thinking it was going to be a normal service. It started out normal – we sang a few songs and several people from the congregation gave testimonies of what God is doing in their lives.
As a sweet little old lady was giving a testimony, the tornado-like weather began. The wind suddenly picked up to a crazy speed. Red dirt started blowing into the church and into everyone’s eyes. Half of the ceiling that was made out of small tarps tied together began blowing down to the ground. Then came the rain. It started out as a light sprinkle and then began to pour. Everyone that was under the once tarp roof came rushing under the small tin part of the church’s structure. Even though we were crowded under the tin roof, the rain and wind were so strong that we were all getting wet.
If a situation would have occurred like this in America, everyone would have immediately rushed home to get inside a decent shelter. But instead of rushing home, everyone simultaneously stood to their feet and lifted their hands in prayer to God. People began shouting out to God to stop the powerful storm.
After the entire congregation intensely prayed for ten minutes or so, the keyboard player began to play an upbeat praise song. As soon as the music started, everyone in the church began dancing and singing to the Lord.
It didn’t matter that the rain was still blowing in our faces. It didn’t matter that the weather had suddenly dropped 20 degrees from its hot summer temperature, causing everyone to shiver. It didn’t matter that there was a mini tornado going on outside the little tin church that only had two walls up. Nothing mattered to the people except praising their God that Sunday morning.
This was one of the most beautiful things I have seen.
Everyone’s faces were flooded with joy, regardless of the circumstances. People had come to give God glory, to give Him the highest praise He deserves, to worship Him wholeheartedly. And that is what they did…in the midst of the storm.
We kept dancing and praising God for an hour straight! By the time we left the church several hours later, the sun was shining.
