Sunday, March 15, 2009

Sunday in Isimani











We knew that today was the day we would go to Isimani. We knew that today was the day we would present the bicycles. We knew that the day would begin with breakfast at the pastor's home, followed by the worship service, and lunch, again at the pastor's home. We knew that there would be singing and dancing and clapping of hands.
What we didn't know is that the following conversation would ensue over breakfast.
Russ: Pastor Chaula, since we do not have an interpreter, I hope we will be able to discuss the content of your sermon over lunch.
Dot: Pastor Chaula, what is your sermon going to be about?
Pastor Chaula (to Dot and Russ): It is customary that when we have visitors that they give the sermon.
Dot (gulp, gulp): What is the gospel lesson?
Pastor Chaula: It is the story in John about the woman adultress and the people who wanted to stone her.
Dot (looking at Russ): Sure; we can do that. You betcha.
An hour later we preached the sermon. It included a dramatic portrayal with Dot playing the part of the woman about to be stoned and Russ doing dual duty as the Pharisees and Jesus. It didn't lose anything in translation, and when we return to Holy Trinity, we'll be glad to do an encore presentation.
Seriously, we "preached" about sin being separation from Jesus, and that each one of us, either privately or collectively, are sinners who have been brought back into fellowship through Jesus' death. We talked about how nations also can be guilty of sin, how nations then can come back into fellowship with one another through partnerships in Jesus, and how those partnerships strengthen both sides.

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