Gatherings

Yesterday we attended the monthly MAF BBQ. There were lots of people there, but probably not even half the MAF team showed up. (have i mentioned how huge this programme is?!) I made Naomi's Slice (pronounced with an Aussie accent) and it was a hit. :-)

This morning we attended the Sunday morning Hymn Sing at the Mennonite guest house across town from us. They do this every month on the first Sunday. It was bittersweet, to be sure. I could hardly sing, to be honest, i was so choked up by the fact that we were singing hymns for the first time in probably 3 years! (even when we came home for mid-term break we didnt get to sing many hymns, as i remember). I requested "Low in the Grave He Lay" even though it's only Palm Sunday today. When the song leader asked if i had any special reason for requesting this song I told the group that i was tired of singing it all by myself for 3 years straight. Not many people i know in Madagascar know that song. Alas. So anyway, we sang it and it was good. We've definitely missed 4-part harmony these last few years even though we love our new church so much. There's just something about returning to one's roots and the human tradition that lies there that is so powerful. Sort of like finally being able to worship in one's "heart language" as opposed to any foreign languages one may be fluent in. I did note, however, that Judah was quite facinated by the hymnals and realized that hymn singing will not be one of his memories of growing up in the church. Perhaps once he's grown hymns will have become a new "trend" in church practice. A natural cycle of the human traditions of worship.

Contrary to my "arguments" on Sabbath Keeping I wrote for my paper, we went this afternoon to the Masai market. (Good thing my thesis included note of the freedom of the command rather than the bondage). Anyway, the Masai market is like the Digue market in Tana, a place to buy crafts: jewlery, decorative items, baskets, etc. It was nice to see new things, but i tell you, those sellers were bullies!! I've never encountered such agressive marketting, and to make matters worse, we could understand each other since they all spoke english. :-D Josh wisely went back to the car and put all our money back so i could honestly say that i hadnt any cash to spend today. Amazing how they back off when they know you have no cash to spend! I did also see some booths there with Madagascar made hats and baskets and bags. I didnt ask how much they were selling them for, but i can imagine they are expensive here!! Everything here is expensive!