dancing in the back with Jo

Early this morning we gathered with the staff and many of the patients from Heal Africa for morning prayers. I took my spot at the back of the church along with Jo Lusi, head surgeon from Heal Africa, and my good friend. Much of the service was either in Swahili, or bad english. I was happy to be out of the fray. Then a group of women, a choir made up of women who are either waiting for or recovering from fistula surgery, rose to sing. Their song, a beautifully harmonized Swahili tune, was about that eternal life was all about dancing - no preaching, no God sitting on his throne - he would be up dancing. The song was pure joy, from a group of women who have experienced anything but.

Next we all stood and, those who could, sang another amazing African tune in swahili. Soon Jo was dancing, and with little encouragement I joined him. We danced, Jo showing me a move, then me making him laugh with mine. It was a moment in time that I won't forget. It was a moment in time where this present eternity makes perfect sense.

This is the contrast of being in Africa. There are times when one is witness to the unspeakable horrors of violence and poverty. Then there are others when you get to dance and sing. Both of these make up the character of the places we have been over the past ten days. It often doesn't make sense. However, I am becoming better and better at living with those questions - not avoiding them, not distracting myself from them, but also realizing, answers to them are elusive.

As we left the church this morning, my hand in Jo's, I told him I really enjoyed the dancing. He responded with a bit of instruction " when you dance, moving your hips side to side is ok, but we say no to forward and back"........