Sunday Sunday

Sundays are always good here... I just love going to Church. Everyone makes such an effort to attend the services, the churches are always packed and even though its in Shona, I understand every word of the service. We speak a common language in the Church I guess?! This is the first time I have been INSIDE the actual Church building at Highfield (an extremely poor and high density suburb or Harare), because last time I came the police had stopped the use of that building because of political issues within the church, so we were forced to use a tiny community hall. The Church is nicer than I thought it was going to be, and at least it seated the WHOLE 1,000 people rather than having to have people look in through the windows, stand outside and so on. The priest was able to wear his robes again and the servers were able to use all their 'equipment' during the service once more. The past two years for Christians here has been difficult, but they have remained together and supported each other, and now two years on they are able to use their church again, and they are bigger and stronger for it. I gave Communion to about 500 people, and on the other side of the church was someone else giving Communion to another 500 people! Not only did I get allocated this task, which is always a pleasure and joy, but also I got to dance to some songs I am now singing along to and getting the hang of. I love the way the collection is taken... the church is split into about 20 sections and each section has a basket. People bring their donations, however small or big, to the front and place them in their basket according to the area in which they live... does this make any sense? To see it in action is amazing, and the system actually works!

This afternoon I went for a walk with Gift to a local shopping centre and flea market, not too far from here. We had a good nosey around for bits and pieces, I got a jumper because its winter here and although the days are hot, the nights are quite cold! I admit I came unprepared for this! Then we ended up getting a pizza, I was craving for fast food and a can of coke! I couldn't help feel a bit guilty afterwards eating a pizza when I know just down the road are thousands of desperate people. But then I thought, surely this isn't the point... we mustn't feel guilty of what we have or what we are able to have, unstead give thanks and be grateful. I was certainly greteful for it anyway! The sin isn't eating the pizza in a poor country, rather the feeling guilty part. After all, I am working to help conditions for others, it was money I had earned. If we are to feel guilty about this sort of thing, then perhaps we ought not to eat at all because millions around the world are hungry, or not drink water, because millions don't have clean drinking water, or even wear clothes when I wake up or go out, because thousands don't have decent clothes, or even a pair of shoes. The point, I feel, is the ability not to be greedy in these things, it is about how we share with others, live with others and live in such a way that helps others and helps conditions of people in this place. After we finished eating the pizza and drinking the cola, I put all the rubbish in the bin, instead of sopying what most people are doing here and throwing it on the floor. I shared my pizza with someone who hadn't had one for years. You can only help others when the guilt is gone. I hope and plan to share in the sufferings of the people here, and I have already experienced some, but refuse to feel guilty for having a bit of money to spend on a pizza or cola once in a while. How can my living benefit others? Not by my money or pizza, but through my time and just being here.

This week is going to be a LONG week I feel, so to begin the week with a good start this morning was good.