The building is not church as most understand a church building. The basement is complete with iron work in the window space for security but also to let the heat out and allow the space to have some air and be cool.
We started worship at 9am and finished at 12.25 all perfectly normal. The sight of people gathering for worship is something you don't normally see behind our British church walls. Smiling faces walking up the dirt track, children, young people, young adults and older people. It felt like a family gathering. Yet they were also dressed in their distinctive organisational colours, singing group, choir, women's fellowship. No one would be any doubt where these people were going.
Having shared in worship with them before I didn't feel a stranger in their midst so no need to stand when they made new individuals welcome.
The Singing group had won a competition so we had an offering from them in traditional story telling way.
Preaching was still a challenge to speak at a pace my interpreter could cope with, and finding the language to use very important. Most can speak English but my accent means its hard to follow, let alone Mary interpreting for me has to find the right words in Fanti which is not her mother tongue.
But amazingly I think with gestures, smiles, inflection in the voice the impossible happens and we worship together. And its just a pleasure to lead communion and distribute the bread to these amazing people. They are so poor but they are just so generous. When they give you know its sacrificial having seen the homes from which they come.
The normal three collections took place with dancing. The final one as its communion Sunday is the challenge for those born on different days of the week to try and out give each other. I learnt my lesson from last time and was able to make sure Sunday won much to the delight of the congregation.
The challenge was for the members to then give some time today to continue the building work. This is no joke in this heat but they are committed to the task they have set themselves.
They need to build a toilet block for the new church and pavilion for the children . So energy is going into that and completing the base of the next floor level which will be the new worship space. The walls will be the same as the basement so there is air flowing through the building. Most of this work will be carried out by the members saving enormous amounts of money.
Today I was able in worship give them the financial gifts sent by many individuals whose generosity means they can press on with their building. One day this will be the centre of a new Methodist Circuit which people from Sheffield have played their part in making happen. I felt this morning we really are the body of Christ even when we are thousands of miles a part. It makes real the sense of the one universal church, and this bit is growing by ' the grace of God'
Tonight I will share in confirming seven new members of the church. So everyone will come out again with more singing and dancing. Who knows I may learn to dance at this rate!
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