Sunday, November 3, 2019

Shianda Sunday Soundtrack!

Today is Sunday and you feel it in the air! Why?

Because since around 5 a.m. the vibrant music and voices enter through the room window to wake you up with blessings! In Kenya, every day is a good day to pray, but definitely Sunday is the most special one.

Being a predominant Cristian country (more than 80% of the population), the presence of worship places is noticed everywhere. Christianity, with Roman Catholicism, was brought by the Portuguese in the fifteen century and was spread with the missionaries’ through the 20 century. But nowadays the most common Christian church we see in Kenya is Protestant. And it can diverse from Anglican, Gospel, Presbyterian, Reformed, Baptist, Lutheran, Pentecostal churches and even more.

If you say you went to the church, the most common question that follows is "which one?" Personally, I totally get lost in such diversity, so I just say… “I don’t know… it was a Church” The question that follows is “And which one you go in your country” and then the answer can vary with what you feel, and how comfortable you are with the person… so sometimes I might say "Roman Catholic", others I just say "I don’t go to church I pray at home". :)

But even if you are not religious, to have a Church experience in Shianda is quite interesting. Being raised in the Roman Catholic Church back in Portugal to experience the energy of service here was really interesting. While a Roman Catholic mess normally lasts 1h maximum, here the service can go from 5 a.m. until afternoon. This allows people to go early morning and then still go to work in the market at 8h... or go later and then open their business in the afternoon.

Last Sunday I was invited by a friend to attend a Pentecostal Service with his family, and it was an amazing experience. The joy, the energy that is spread by singing, dancing praying out loud, the verbal expression of gratefulness, the feeling of hope that emanates through all the persons, the strength of their faith and how they vibrate in the service is super powerful, I had goosebumps!

When you vibrate your religion in this manner, for sure it will reflect in all aspects of life.

Here God is present everywhere… in the Matatus (minibus) is quite common to see religious citations and in the hotels/guesthouses you find a bible or in the room or the common room. In the community, you always have prayers before you start the workshop/campaign and when you finish. Also to inspire and motivate action it’s common to say that your actions will be paid by Gods will, and if you perform well you will get consequent blessings in your life. Or to put your own wish our desire in God’s hands through your prayers.

In schools, Christianity is part of the curriculum and it’s common to see teachers (especially women) reading the bible in the break time.

Something I found super funny last Sunday was to see people during the church service looking at their phone and swiping up and down. In Roman Catholic Church in Portugal this would be considered quite disrespectful, but here is totally fine since your simply checking your E-bible! J When the service was finished, we went home for lunch, we talked… and guess what? Watched Cristian TV music channels until evening! Because this is the…

Shianda Sunday soundtrack!