Wednesday After

OK so clearly I've given my sermon. I was well prepared but yet very nervous. The church was full and I was standing on an elevated pulpit so I was looking down on everyone there. I told the congregation at both services that they were the largest crowds I have ever preached in front of. They did laugh at the jokes I made from time to time in the sermon so I knew they were listening. Giving a sermon on stewardship is never an easy task, you know how much people do not want to hear anything to make them feel guilty about what they do with their money.

In both services there was an awkward transition after the sermon. I wasn't supposed to do anything but the elder that was supposed to call for the tithes and offerings didn't get up to do that for what seemed to be too long. During both services there was a wedding. In the first service we dedicated the team that visits the hospitals and during the second we welcomed new members and even had a new member be baptized. With all that was happening in both services I think everyone was glad it was the American preaching because my sermons are much shorter than the typical African sermon. They told me to preach for 20-25 minutes. I think I ended up coming very close to 20 minutes, maybe 18-19 minutes.

At the end of each service I walked out the center aisle and waited to greet the congregation. Not that I totally trust what people say to the preacher as they leave but the feedback was positive. I had mentioned in both services how nervous I was and many people told me that the sermon was good and that I shouldn't be nervous. Other said they would not have know how nervous I was if I hadn't said anything. They said I spoke with authority and even if I am nervous don't mention it to people. I checked with the moderator of St. Andrew's between services if he was happy with the sermon because I was preaching to his congregation, and he said he was very happy with the sermon. Mondays I don't work so yesterday was the first day back to the church and still people were telling me they want to hear another sermon from me. So, all this to say, the sermon went well, I still get so nervous. I thought the message was good and it seemed to be well received. Praise God that it's over!

So with my Monday off I went to customs to get a package from my parents. The Kenyan postal system did not impress me much. It took me over an hour to get the package. I had my slip which said Cindy Harris and when I showed my passport it said Cynthia Harris. They didn't believe me that Cindy is the short name for Cynthia so I had to go see someone extra to plead my case. After that they did give me the package to open and they took an inventory of the contents of my package. Then they stamped my slip and said leave the package and go to the customs supervisor. She looked at my slip, signed and stamped it and said to go back to the last person. I go back, that person then starts typing all these things into a calculator and writing on the back of my slip. She said to go back to the customs supervisor. This time the customs supervisor prints out an invoice of the taxes and duty charges that I owe. She tells me to go to the bank to pay my fees. She had to give me directions to the bank as I didn't know which one she meant. So I walk to the bank. I go in the the front door and they tell me all banking transactions happen in the back on the building. So I walk around the building and look for the window that deals with taxes. I wait in line there. I pay my 1588 Kenyan shillings of taxes and they stamp the invoice and I go back to the post office. Once back I go to the customs fees window and they give me a new slip as the one I came with is covered in stamps. I take the new slip to where my package is and they say have to pay 70 shillings in postal fees. After I pay that finally give me my package. I take the package to someone else who asks me to open the package again so she can write down what is in there. After that I go see a man who tells me that I can go but why carry the box and why don't I empty the contents into my backpack. So I do, put the box in a recycling pile and go. All that took over an hour.

I am happy to have the package as my parents sent snacks, vitamins, EmergenC, Echanacia Tea, a word search book, and a scarf. They Kenyans asked why I would need tea in a country that is always serving tea so I tried to explain this tea helps keep a person from getting sick. I don't think they understand and/or really prefer their own tea. So now I will share some of my snacks with my coworkers as they are really curious what sort of food my parents would send me.

It looks as if I will have a quiet week at work. I am so glad. I can use the rest.