sleep in or you’re risen by the sun
braving a shower that wakes you up
pb+j’s made to munch on while walking to church.
a caravan of my people marching up the road
passing our neighbors
waves thrown
saubona’s shouted
yebo’s shouted right back.
fifteen minutes later
we turn into church
kids run out
high fives are our hello’s
you walk into a concrete building
a place of worship
a church is a people
chairs lined up but with room to dance
and shout his praise
a community of welcome.
there’s a kid plunking his own beautiful tune
on a keyboard in “organ” setting.
shouts of “amen” after praises in eswati are said.
the making of your own worship flows
as they proclaim His name and tell of His glory
all you understand is “rejoice”
so that’s what you do.
worship looks like
dancing and hands clapping wildly
you grasp onto the translated words
my God is good.
angelic voices praising Abba
shouting hallelujah
nods of understanding
hugs of welcome
the Holy Spirit evident.
leaving taught
even when the message sounded foreign.
same creator-
all one body.
the walk home there’s talk about the service
people peeling off from the crowd to go to their own homes
see you’s exchanged.
back at the key lime buildings
we debrief the week-
the growth
the struggles
the change
the constants.
dinner’s ready!
bellies full
hearts full
spicy uno goes past dark
you ache from laughing
tuck yourself into bed
headlamp on your head
finishing your chapter
scribble down your thoughts on the day.
you fall asleep to the sound of your sisters settling in
the wind through the tin roof
the crickets-
it’s all rejoicing in Your name.
my swazi sunday is over.
