Worship At Ihemi

We went back out to Ihemi for worship this morning.  Our first visit here was in 2001-2 when we were part of the first group from Chrisitania to visit our partner parish.  We have been here numerous times in 2005, 2008, and now!  We have visited all of their preaching points on at least 3 occasions – and maybe more!  Tom has even celebrated two of his birthdays here!  Today we were accompanied by Itiweni and a visiting professor from Tumaini.

When we went to Ihemi today it was a little like visiting distant relatives!  We were greeted by the Sunday School children singing and dancing.  They hadn’t forgotten that Tom likes to visit the Sunday School when he comes.  It was an honor to be greeted by all their smiling faces and enthusiastic songs. 

On the way to coffee with the pastor we saw many old friends.  There was Mama Mchungaji (the district pastor’s wife), Mama Mbembe (widow of the former pastor), Aloyce and his wife, Pastor Kadege, who is the new Ihemi pastor, the chairman of the partnership committee, and many others!  Mama got Tom in a hug and would not let go!  We hugged Aloyce and his wife, Mama Mchungaji, and many more.  It took a long time to settle down to tea!

Pastor Benito Mdembo, who has visited Christiania, was there.  We keep talking about going over to his house to see Mama and the children – but we both have been so busy going places that it has not yet happened.  Benito had been giving a seminar at Ihemi the past few days and left shortly after church for a meeting to plan his oldest daughter’s wedding.

Everyone waited for church to begin until we were finished with tea.  The word was out that this was our last visit this year so the church was packed.  After the service started the pastor called on Tom to give a short talk.  The clapping, ululating, and applause made it hard to hear – we hope it does not go to his head. 

Benito gave the sermon.  He is a fiery speaker and he kept everyone on edge – for the full 50 minutes he used.  The service lasted about 2 ½ hours – what do you expect???

After the service Tom set up his projector to show a couple of videos he made.  The first was the stewardship video from Christiana, the second was the DVD we made after our 2008 Tanzania, which mostly was about Ihemi.  The room was packed for the first video.  Everyone seemed fascinated to see what things were like at our congregation.  When Tom started the video of our last trip to Ihemi there was a great deal of laughter.  People seemed really interested in seeing themselves and found some of the things we had recorded hilarious. 

The rains started as we were having lunch at the pastor’s house.  When we left for home we almost had an extra passenger along to Iringa.  An old man walked back to the truck with Tom (in the rain) and kept saying “Iringa”, which Tom took to mean that he wanted to go to Iringa.  He invited him into the truck and the two of them drove back to the pastor’s house to pick us up.  When Aloyce got into the truck to ride back to his farm with us, he told Tom that this old man lives in Ihemi, he’s senile and goes around asking everyone for money, and he shouldn’t go to Iringa .  Guess Tom needs to brush up on his Swahili!!

After lunch we drove over to Aloyce’s home to buy some eggs.  Among his many businesses Aloyce raises chickens and sells eggs.  We bought 60 eggs from him (30 for us and 30 for Itiweni) and we were given a large sack of potatoes that his wife had prepared for us.  A truly gracious gift and a warm gesture indeed, when we can’t use words to communicate our thoughts and feelings. 

Sometimes words are superfluous. 

The Sunday School children had come out to welcome us!

On the walk to the pastor's house we met many, many friends.

Sandy and Mama Mbembe hugged for awhile and then did a little dance.

Mama Mchungaji had had a dress made for Sandy that matched hers.  We had a hard time telling them apart!

Benito gave a fiery sermon (he is the one standing).

At one point in the service the Ihemi congregation wrapped us in a konga - it was a gift.

The chairman of the partnership committee had had a bad accident last fall.  He has had surgery on his arm so he is not working right now (he is a teacher).

We stopped by Aloyce's house to buy eggs.  He has a lovely family.