Church!

Our Make (the Mom of the homestead) really wanted us to go to her church. We brought her grandsons (shiwn in the pic -all dressed up) to the chiurch - i carried the 2 year old. Didn't feel free to take pix in or around the church. 

1st an hour of "praise and worship."  A dozen or more men and women singing, exclaiming emotionally, and kind of running-in-place dancing, surrounded by the rest. Pentecostal - 40% of SZ.  Then lots of prayers. Then to the front of the church, Mark is repeatedly,insistently  shown to the bench up front, beside the alter, facing the congregation, men (about 25) on benches on left, children on mats in the middle, women ( around 40)  on floor on right; older women against the wall - fortunate for KUF.   The brother in our household (around age 28) translated the lesson & sermon line by line for KUF & me while congregation listened patiently. 

No chance to sneak out or even yawn in front facing everyone. Then i was asked to speak!  My brother (works at reception at fanciest hotel in capital) translated my (moving & eloquent, except when I couldn't recall KUF's siSwati name - you try quickly coming up with Nomphumolelo facing 80 some amused strangers) siSwati into intelligible siSwati thanking them for their welcome. 

A short (2 hour+) service so all could then go to house where a young mother died died yesterday - AIDs related. Her 2 young children had recently died- also of AIDs.  We were excused. 

  Friends and family: we can get emails now every few days. Sending is a little harder. We get cell phones Friday and hope to use them to connect computer to the Internet.  Tests thurs. this weekend a get-away to nearby game preserve with many cool new birds, we believe.