Church in South Africa

Some days when we are stuck in the office all day it is easy to forget we are in South Africa.

When the week end comes we have the opportunity to leave Johannesburg and travel 30 miles or so to our little church in Orange Farm. 

 As we exit the freeway and turn into the small community we are quickly reminded that

 

THIS IS SOUTH AFRICA

 

we begin to see black women walking along the side of the road with large items on their heads,

or babies strapped to their backs.

We see families dressed in their Sunday best,

 and small groups of people visiting on the side of the road.

 

When we pull off the main road and head down the dirt road to the school where our church services are held,

 we pass small homes with black men or women standing in the yard who greet us with a friendly smile and wave as we pass by.

Once we park the car and enter the school yard we are greeted with big smiles and hugs from the members who are gathered outside waiting for church to begin.

 Last week a young man dressed in dark pants and a clean white shirt was straddled over a water facet as he rinsed the sacrament trays.

It is quite obvious that we are the minority here. Most Sundays the only other white faces are those of the two young missionaries who attend church in our little branch.

After church last Sunday I snapped this picture as I saw the members beginning their walk home.

 

Then I met this sweet little girl twirling around a pole and asked if I could take her picture

Then I saw these two handsome young men loading the Sacrament Podium in the car along with the Sacrament trays and white table cloths.