Our first Sunday was, not surprisingly, a new experience. We arrived at the city Baptist Church during the Sunday School hour, while adults were still studying the Bible together. Then, a bit after 9 more people started arriving for church. Eliana needed the bathroom at this point, so I took her outside to the church 'toilets' out the back. Picture a small outhouse with a broken cement floor and a hole in the middle. Eliana
almost attempted using this, but in the end decided not to. I took Eliana back inside and asked our team leader if she could go to his house, which would be the closest western style toilet. So Nate, Eliana and our team leader left to take Eliana to the bathroom while I stayed at church with Lilah as the service was beginning.
Not long after they left, the person leading the service said it was time to introduce their new guests. So I stood up and tried to explain the situation to the whole church with the little portuguese I knew. Later I realised I said, "My male daughter I need the toilet" Thankfully, our team leader's son was there who explained the situation a little better :). The people were very understanding and commenced singing and dancing. I think the church consisted of about 30 people that day, but their singing was full and beautiful. It's fair to say that their singing would compete with a congregation of 300 in most Western churches!
Lilah walked around the back of the church a lot and some Mozambican children decided to take charge of her. They picked her up and played with her and then eventually left the building with Lilah in their arms. I chased after them, calling out, but with all of the activity outside they didn't hear me. The children were almost about to round a corner into a biro (community) when they finally heard me and stopped. I took Lilah back with a smile, not really sure how to say I wanted to be able to see her at all times. Lilah and I went back to church while the children went their way. They soon returned with their purchase of a few lollies and gave Lilah a piece of gum and a lollypop! I didn't know what to do but thankfully Lilah didn't realize they were for eating and just held onto them. As soon as she dropped the gum I gave it to the oldest girl who happily put it in her mouth. I eventually distracted Lilah with something else and hid the lollypop out of site, lest she pop it into her mouth and discover the delights of processed, coloured sugar at the age of 1 :)
Nate and Eliana eventually returned, we were introduced to the church and then everyone came and shook Nate's hand while singing a song. They would have shaken mine too but I was already out the back with Eliana. She wanted to try using the church bathroom again! The rest of the service I was up the back or outside watching Eliana and Lilah play with the other children, which involved a lot of dirt. When we arrived home at about midday, the first thing we all wanted to do was wash our hands, face and feet. I turned the tap on, but discovered that the electricity and water were off for the day. We were very thankful for our full 10 litre water filter that day!
