Today I went to a women's house church in a community called Masiphumalele here in South Africa. I was one of two white women in a room of Africans and one Trinidadian. I was so excited to be with them and begin to get to know them all. I knew a couple of the women in the room but most of them were new faces to me.
As we ate our meal together and talked and shared, there was one woman across the room who just stared at me constantly. I tried smiling a bit to her but her appearance did not change. No smile in return. We all opened our Bibles and began to discuss the Word of God together and still there was no change in her demeanor. I wondered what she was thinking. Did she not like me? Why doesn't she return my smiles? I felt a little afraid that maybe she was offended at my presence there.
As our church time was coming to an end, the women began to sing a song in the Chichewa language of Malawi. They began to teach the song to me and I began to sing a nice harmony with them. There we were, two white women from the U.S., a couple of Malawians, and a bunch of South Africans all singing and worshiping God together! Then, finally I saw the faintest of smiles on the woman's face.
After church was over, some of us went to another location to practice some worship for a large celebration gathering that would take place later that weekend. The woman who would not smile back at me was coming with us to the rehearsal. As it turned out, we were riding to the other location in the same car. I figured since we were going to be sharing the back seat of a car together I should learn her name. So I asked her. She timidly answered me that her name was Sheila.
On the way to the rehearsal there were four of us women sitting in the back seat of the car. Each of us had one leg almost in the air and half way resting on the person behind us and one leg actually on the seat. It was a very intimate situation! Sheila was next to me and I could tell she felt quite awkward. We did have a laugh or two on the way but I discerned from her that she still wasn't quite sure what to make of me.
Once we arrived to the rehearsal the singing began almost immediately. I was one of only three white people in the room, the rest all black Africans. They were teaching us more songs in African languages. One thing I love about African Praise is that it is always a celebration. Full of life, sound, movement and rich harmonies.
After singing the first few songs (one song can go for half an hour some times!!) along with the dancing and laughing; I looked over at Sheila and she was laughing and smiling too! I told her I loved learning songs in her language. Somehow we got on the subject of families and she was surprised to learn that I had no husband or children, only Jesus. She told me that she needed me to help her to learn to love Jesus more. She told me she was a new believer and that she really wanted to love Jesus.
I was so surprised that she opened up to me like that. This was the same woman that just two hours before would not even smile back at me from across the room! What had changed in that short time to cause her to open up to me like that? I assured her that Jesus wanted to be the lover of her heart. Her hero and protector. I told her I looked forward to walking a journey with her and getting to know her more.
But again I ask, what changed in those 2 hours? I think what broke down the barriers was my willingness to be real, to relax, to have fun with them. To learn their songs and their language. I didn't try to make myself above them but was just who I am; a woman who loves the Lord, loves people, loves languages, loves to sing and dance. Just a woman who loves!!!
That love broke down the barriers as Sheila watched me through out the night. And in the end a new relationship has been born that I am so excited about. I can't wait to see why God has allowed our journeys to coincide with each other. What is in store for Sheila and I? Only God knows!!
As we ate our meal together and talked and shared, there was one woman across the room who just stared at me constantly. I tried smiling a bit to her but her appearance did not change. No smile in return. We all opened our Bibles and began to discuss the Word of God together and still there was no change in her demeanor. I wondered what she was thinking. Did she not like me? Why doesn't she return my smiles? I felt a little afraid that maybe she was offended at my presence there.
As our church time was coming to an end, the women began to sing a song in the Chichewa language of Malawi. They began to teach the song to me and I began to sing a nice harmony with them. There we were, two white women from the U.S., a couple of Malawians, and a bunch of South Africans all singing and worshiping God together! Then, finally I saw the faintest of smiles on the woman's face.
After church was over, some of us went to another location to practice some worship for a large celebration gathering that would take place later that weekend. The woman who would not smile back at me was coming with us to the rehearsal. As it turned out, we were riding to the other location in the same car. I figured since we were going to be sharing the back seat of a car together I should learn her name. So I asked her. She timidly answered me that her name was Sheila.
On the way to the rehearsal there were four of us women sitting in the back seat of the car. Each of us had one leg almost in the air and half way resting on the person behind us and one leg actually on the seat. It was a very intimate situation! Sheila was next to me and I could tell she felt quite awkward. We did have a laugh or two on the way but I discerned from her that she still wasn't quite sure what to make of me.
Once we arrived to the rehearsal the singing began almost immediately. I was one of only three white people in the room, the rest all black Africans. They were teaching us more songs in African languages. One thing I love about African Praise is that it is always a celebration. Full of life, sound, movement and rich harmonies.
After singing the first few songs (one song can go for half an hour some times!!) along with the dancing and laughing; I looked over at Sheila and she was laughing and smiling too! I told her I loved learning songs in her language. Somehow we got on the subject of families and she was surprised to learn that I had no husband or children, only Jesus. She told me that she needed me to help her to learn to love Jesus more. She told me she was a new believer and that she really wanted to love Jesus.
I was so surprised that she opened up to me like that. This was the same woman that just two hours before would not even smile back at me from across the room! What had changed in that short time to cause her to open up to me like that? I assured her that Jesus wanted to be the lover of her heart. Her hero and protector. I told her I looked forward to walking a journey with her and getting to know her more.
But again I ask, what changed in those 2 hours? I think what broke down the barriers was my willingness to be real, to relax, to have fun with them. To learn their songs and their language. I didn't try to make myself above them but was just who I am; a woman who loves the Lord, loves people, loves languages, loves to sing and dance. Just a woman who loves!!!
That love broke down the barriers as Sheila watched me through out the night. And in the end a new relationship has been born that I am so excited about. I can't wait to see why God has allowed our journeys to coincide with each other. What is in store for Sheila and I? Only God knows!!
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