A typical morning in Clarkston

Some super SAD news... I think my camera may be broken. :( NO! Lack of pictures means even more lack of enthusiasm for taking the time to update. Pictures speak a thousand words... that I don't have to write. But ah well...

I have no pictures, so how about a story?

Living in Clarkston, misunderstandings are just a part of life and I'm trying to learn to find the comedy in them.

I've been talking with a Nepali friend (still learning English) about going to church with her; she goes to Sunday school at a Bhutanese church nearby. "What time?" I ask. "8:00. Hat Budgi." I got the English and Nepali. I understood pretty clearly. I was excited! I saw her later that week "Sunday morning, you coming, Hannah? We are going to church?" Yes, of course! I was excited. Amy (one of my housemates) decided to go too and we got two carloads of other Nepali friends who were curious to come along for the ride. I emphasized being ready before 8:00. I'm pretty sure they get the message.

Sunday morning: 7:45

Amy and I leave to go pick up random people. I head over to my friend Monisha's house who is going to ride with us and show us the way. I knock. And knock. And knock again. Nothing. Hm. I pull out my phone and call her dad. After a few rings, he sleepily answers.

"Where is Monisha? Monisha coy?"

He answers, "Another state. With her grandmother."

What?? Struggling through language barriers I try to understand. Apparently she's visiting friends for the weekend. Sure, it's not the dad's fault, and I just rudely awakened him from his Sunday morning sleep, but someone has to help me with the car loads of people I have waiting to go to church! He opens the door and their younger son, also just awakened and still half asleep is up too. I know one other person who knows where the church is - their friend, Arjun. His family goes to the church too. "Where is Arjun?" I ask. The son groggily pulls on his shoes and in a half-dazed state we walk out of the appartment and head to Arjun's apartment.

It's 8:00 now.

We find their family eating a delicious-looking breakfast of rice and I'm not sure what else. I want to try it.

"Arjun! Can you help me get to the church? When are you leaving?"

He looks a little bewildered, but being so sweet he is willing to help.

"Ok. I think... it starts at 9:00. We will leave at 8:30."

In the background, I hear his mom telling him in Nepali that they will leave at 9:00. Starts at 9:00, leaving at 9:00. Okay. Gotcha. I tell him I'll be back to pick him up at 9:00 and thank him.

8:05

I head back to where Amy is picking people up at the other apartment. They're dressed up all spiffy, have gotten the babyseat situated, and everyone was finding their place in her car.

Amy's a bit confused when she sees me alone. "Where's Monisha?"

I laugh so as not to show my frustration too much and explain the story. "So we have an extra hour together!" I feel so bad; the other people were so good about being ready on time and now we have to wait.

So we chill in the apartment for an hour. They kindly bring out apples and grapes, of course. I love Clarkston hospitality! We dance a little, watch them make creative jewelry and play a creative game with rocks - like jacks.

9:00 Finally it's time and we leave. I pick up our guide and we're off!

9:04 We arrive at church; it's much closer than I thought - very near the apartments. We pile out and head into the worship room as other people are arriving as well.

9:10/15 The kids are led over to Sunday School and the adults get started with their program. A kind man sees ignorant white people and explains "We meet at 9:00 for prayer. The service starts at 10:00."

Wow. 45 minutes of prayer? In a language I don't understand? I would be fine, but I feel a bit uneasy for my friends that I brought. This is only their second time to church. What are they thinking? And their young daughter who is 2 - will she last?

For the next 20 minutes, I listen to everyone praying at the same time around me, fervently, and do enjoy the beauty of their devotion that surpasses language barriers. I pray for my friends who are with me. I inwardly laugh every time the 2-year-old daughter Sirjhana comes over, takes my hands, and gazes up at me with a beautiful smile and shining eyes. What a darling.

9:40 I finally decide to take Sirjhana over to the Sunday School as well. We head out and find the kids playing in a small area outside. No Sunday School - just play time! I was hoping they would have a story or activity or something. Maybe that's just very American.

The other children who came with me run over to me. "I'm bore." "We not doing anything." *sigh* I'm sure the parents are bored, probably as well. I stay and play with them for the remaining 20 minutes. I ask the other adults there about the day's schedule. Real church starts at 10:00 and lasts until 12:00 (which probably really means after). I can't make the children be happy that long! It's already been a long morning... and it technically hasn't even started yet!

10:00 I go back into the worship room with the kids and discuss the situation with Amy. We decide to stay 'till 10:30, enjoy some worship, and then quietly slip out.

I do enjoy the singing! They even sang a song I recognized that we sing in English -

King of kings and Lord of lords glory

Hallelulajah

Jesus Prince of Peace glory

Hallelujah

So fun! I'll have to learn that in Nepali!

10:25 I am in the front if the room; I slip out and assume the others will follow suit. The parents don't move - I think they're enjoying the singing. That's a plus!

10:35 One of the girls finds me in the back and complains about being bored again. "I'm ready. Tell the others to come if you want."

We all pile out. I'm spent and ready to go home. My friends have more things they want to do - they show me their cell phone - it's not working and we need to go to the cell store to get help.

I'll cut this story short and condense... so, anyway, we go to the cell phone store. Apparently to change it out, we need to go to another store farther away. We head off there and arrive just after 11:00. It doesn't open until 12:00. Of course. My mind is spent by then and debate whether to stay or leave. We decide to go to the mall nearby to chill for an hour. We come back and find out it wasn't working from water damage. They need to buy a new one. They look at options for a while, can't decide, so we leave. We get back with 15 minutes remaining before Bible study in our apartment at 1:00. My mind spent, my brain not able to think - I was exhausted! My bed felt so good for that 15 minutes.

I thought Sunday mornings were supposed to be mostly relaxing? ;) But we did have fun all-in-all. I'm thankful for the adventure. Misunderstandings are the spice of life, right? Something like that...

And now that took me far too long. I'm off to walk a bit before the events of today.

Happy Monday to you!!!