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8.16.2009

random and overloaded

there is so much in my heart and mind right now...this experience has been life changing and i can honestly say it is going to be game changing for each of our students who come back with us next summer. i am so excited for the impact it will have on them personally and how their life will never be the same. things here in mozambique are so different that i'm trying to stop comparing it with the united states. it's a different world. but when we can experience it we can begin to put the two very different worlds into a "third culture" which as best i can tell is a very beautiful picture of what heaven will be like. it's going to be a life changing trip and worth every single penny of investment. guaranteed.

i got to preach at the savane church plant this morning - a church plant of dondo baptist church. it is about a 30 minute drive on a bumpy dirt road...some would say it's in the "bush" although it's right close to the railroad tracks. beautiful beautiful people. oh my goodness. here's some of how they do church that i really admire:

1. passionate singing. hands raised, dancing, totally in love with jesus. when one song ends...someone from the audience just starts singing a new one and everyone joins. no instruments but an out of tune guitar faintly playing and a few hand drums. i couldn't understand any word except "jesu" but it was beautiful.

2. grateful hearts. we as americans would struggle to be grateful worshipping in a mud hut with holes in the walls and openings in the roof. but they couldn't stop giving thanks. the depth of spirituality in that place was incredible.

3. no spectators. and i do mean NO spectators - EVERYONE participated in the worship. before the preaching each group in the church (children, youth, adults, young adults, etc.) got up in front of the rest and presented 3-4 songs as their "offering of worship" to God. one group did a drama to emphasize a bible verse. but everyone participated and was a part of the worship.

4. hunger for truth. i cannot put into words the deep hunger for God's Word that is here in these churches. for many they cannot read, and so the message they heard today will be their spiritual food for the entire week. and they ate it up. they will be memorizing the scripture and quoting it all week. they are so hungry for God's Word, and it's something i don't think i could ever forget.

3 comments:

Dana Bea said...

Oh Cory!! Sounds like why I like working with kids, they are there, anywhere, for Him. They sing with their whole heart, even if Mrs. Coiner is the song leader! Brings heaven another step closer. Love you, MOM

Stacy Mariano said...

Isn't it amazing, Cory? I was changed forever during my trip to Africa in 1987. Your comments about the worship service sound so familiar to me. It was amazing to worship with my brothers and sisters there and to see how EVERYONE participated in worship and how hungry they were for God's Word. We as Americans don't realize what it is like in other parts of the world. We are so incredibly blessed and yet often so ungrateful. Make sure that all of you plan to have some time to "debrief" and process all that you've experienced when you get back. If you are like me, it will be a challenge to come back to the U.S. and express what you've experienced. You will probably have moments of frustration as you see certain things here in our culture again.

P.S. I've been reading Dave Gibbons book from the Summit("The Monkey and the Fish"). I think you are definitely seeing what a "third culture" really could look like if the Church really began to move in that direction.

Praying for all of you and for a safe trip back home.

Cory said...

stacy - thanks so much for the comments! i'm almost finished with the monkey and the fish - i brought it with me on the trip and it's been great... :)