8:49 Sunday morning I woke up to the smell of pancakes and two of my teammates cooking some goodness in the kitchen while the others were on our plaid couch, listening to music and soaking up some quite time before our house filled with people at 10:00 for church. 9:21: Picture five girls in a tiny African kitchen. The sink was filled with dishes (which we couldn’t do because the water was out), pancake batter and cut up bananas were everywhere, our beds (sleeping pads, bags, and travel pillows) were still covering the entire living room floor, the couch was in the middle of the room, and each of us looked like we just rolled out of bed.
As I was standing at the kitchen sink, I looked through the gated windows and saw (barely because I didn’t even have my contacts in yet) what looked like a crowd of people walking in. It was 9:21!! Church started at 10?!? Since when are people ever early in Africa!!! We panicked, because we still had to sweep, throw our beds into another room, put on our maxi skirts, and attempt to make ourselves look presentable. So while our host was talking to the people outside the kitchen door, we managed to get ready. They walked in to a kitchen with dishes piled high in the sink, pancakes being freshly flipped on the stove, and five scattered girls standing in the kitchen.
Our host Lineo walked in wearing sweatpants, a plaid coat, and some bunny slippers. She looked us up and down and said, “Why are you all stressing to clean up and put on your skirts? Go change back into pants. The Lord looks at your heart, not how you are dressed or what this place looks like.”
Her words hit me, because it made me wonder about the motives of our hearts. It reminded me that it’s easy to focus on the presentation of church and ourselves while missing out on the genuine presence of the Lord.
So as the people trickled in, we started to worship in prayer and songs. I couldn’t help but smile as I sat listening the harmony of the voices surrounding me singing praises to our Father. There were two women sitting on the couch, one in the chair, and the rest of us sitting on the floor or standing in our tiny little living room, and it was such a beautiful thing.
I remember sitting in my little corner on the floor, listening to Lineo pray.
“Thank you Jesus. You are our everything. Thank you Jesus for loving us and giving us this gift of love. Thank you for loving us first when we did not love you. Help us to have that same love towards everyone in our lives. You alone are our desire and you alone are the one we need. Thank you for your presence. You are the sunshine and the brightest morning star. Nothing can make our hearts rejoice except you. May our lives belong to you and you alone. Help us to worship you to the extent that you deserve. Fill our mouths with your praises.“ Lineo broke into tears as she continued to thank the Lord for this beautiful, messy life.
She didn’t even realize it, but as she poured out her heart to the Lord, she was inspiring me. She encouraged me with her heart of abandon and spirit of thankfulness.
Eventually, they announced that our host was leading church that day, and she quickly turned it around and said, “Today we have guests from the states, and they will actually be leading us”… sooo, our team, feeling unprepared, led worship and each of us preached a little of what the Lord laid on our hearts.
As we were closing, Lineo laughed about how ironic God was, because before we had spoken, during our time of prayer and worship, she was praying in her language over the exact scriptures we read and over the exact struggles we shared about. We sat in awe as the woman next to her shared how our simple words of encouragement were exactly what she needed.
I am learning that the Lord is always moving and working through us whether we notice it or not. Church is simply a group of hungry souls gathering in worship towards the father. This church gathering was so raw and genuine. Church looks different all around the world, and it doesn’t always have to be a gathering with hundreds of people, flashy lights and loud worship.
“If you make a church you will sometimes get disciples, but if you make disciples you will always get the church.”
The Lord shows up wherever his people are. Willing and open hearts are where the Lord moves, and as we sat in this tiny little African living room, smaller than an average bedroom in the states, we had church.
Thanks so much for reading it means the world to me 🙂
much love always, Amanda
