"Dressing like a Christian"
Olga wanted us to accompany her to church today. Rob was hesitant since we did not have any nice clothes with us, but Olga assured us that we would be fine in our casual travel clothes, and I was keen to experience the singing and dancing.
We arrived late but just in time for the Priest's sermon on "dressing like a Christian". He preached the virtues of being well dressed, exemplifying one of his uncle's two wives who was so preoccupied with money that she dressed in rags. One day she accompanied a daughter of the uncle's other wife to school. The girl was so embarrassed by her poorly dressed step-mother that she introduced her as the family's house maid! The priest went on to shame the members of the congregation who showed up in church wearing "the same clothes that they would wear to the cattle ranch". (Rob and I sunk lower and lower in the pew.) The priest drew everyone's attention to a young man in the audience, wearing a three piece suit. "Now this man was dressed like a Christian!" The suited man raised his fists in the air, basking in the recognition.
Rob and I hoped to make a quiet exit after the service however before the service was over, Olga had arranged for the priest to announce the attendance of her guests from Canada. We had to go to the front of the church (in our "cattle ranch clothes"), were handed a microphone and asked to address the 200 people in the congregation. Luckily, the members of the church seemed less concerned about clothes than the priest, and were kind and welcoming.
Olga - "Dressed like a Christian"
There are different "clubs" in Olga's church (can't remember the correct name) and the members wear matching uniforms. Unfortunately, these costumes, made of think material, and including heavy capes and matching wool hats, were not designed for the African winter, let alone the African summer!
We arrived late but just in time for the Priest's sermon on "dressing like a Christian". He preached the virtues of being well dressed, exemplifying one of his uncle's two wives who was so preoccupied with money that she dressed in rags. One day she accompanied a daughter of the uncle's other wife to school. The girl was so embarrassed by her poorly dressed step-mother that she introduced her as the family's house maid! The priest went on to shame the members of the congregation who showed up in church wearing "the same clothes that they would wear to the cattle ranch". (Rob and I sunk lower and lower in the pew.) The priest drew everyone's attention to a young man in the audience, wearing a three piece suit. "Now this man was dressed like a Christian!" The suited man raised his fists in the air, basking in the recognition.
Rob and I hoped to make a quiet exit after the service however before the service was over, Olga had arranged for the priest to announce the attendance of her guests from Canada. We had to go to the front of the church (in our "cattle ranch clothes"), were handed a microphone and asked to address the 200 people in the congregation. Luckily, the members of the church seemed less concerned about clothes than the priest, and were kind and welcoming.
Olga - "Dressed like a Christian"
There are different "clubs" in Olga's church (can't remember the correct name) and the members wear matching uniforms. Unfortunately, these costumes, made of think material, and including heavy capes and matching wool hats, were not designed for the African winter, let alone the African summer!
posted by ~chill~ at
3:39 AM
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