Sunday morning, Melanie, Ilse and I want to go to a church. A little boy shows us the way to an English Church. We enter a low building and are welcomed by a man who tells us where to sit. Plastic chairs put up in rows face a board in the front part of the room. It is time for bible study and the topic is Divorce and Re-marriage. A woman leads the discussion with the six present parishioners about the causes and effects of divorce. They talk about money, expectations, cooking skills and interfering in-laws. After some time more people come and the service starts. Four young men in bright shirts attend to the music, improvising on a keyboard and drums, a woman begins to sing. The congregation get up, sing and dance, clapping in their hands. Occasionally the singing changes to praying before shifting back to a song again, always accompanied by the music. During one song, everyone starts walking around the chairs to a box in the front and donates some money. When everyone is seated again, one man begins a speech about the responsibility parents have towards their children, emphasising points with Hallelujah and Amen. I don‘t really understand what he is saying. In the back of the room, children have their own service and from next door we hear the singing of a second community. However, everyone seems to listen closely and from time to time shows his or her approval shouting Yes, Hallelujah or Amen. The speaker walks along the aisle between the rows of chairs while telling stories to show that parents should be a good example for their children. Now and then, he asks one of the attendees to read from the bible. When he has finished, another man among the listeners is asked to start the prayer. The music starts again, the listeners stand up and join a loud murmur of prayer, lead by the first man who prays with his arms raised, shouting with fervour, clapping his hands. The praying becomes singing and then praying again. Someone brings the box and a second round of donation starts. Finally, the rising and fading murmur stops. Another man takes the microphone and formally welcomes us, the three white guests, in this community. Then we are accompanied outside and, after three hours, the service is over.
