Makutano

That is the name of a special kind of church service they have in Congo, one that goes all day and all night and into the next day... basically an all-town party. On Sunday morning (bright and early- 4:00 am) Bettina and I left Isiro and drove 4 and a half hours through the jungle to get to one. It was held in a town called Juba, and it was aimed specifically at women. Bettina was speaking, so we were the honored guests. The drive there was very exciting, we drove past little villages literally right in the middle of the jungle. The road was really not more than a dirt path, and although we left so early in the morning sleeping in the truck was impossible because of the bumps. When we got there it was pouring rain, so we dashed into the first house. It was FILLED with people, there were just women everywhere (and people here are not too big on deoderant...). When we got there everyone started cheering and singing wedding songs (to prepare for Bettina's wedding they said). Juba is in a Swahilli speaking region, so I understood nothing, but it was still very fun.
The rain finally ended around 1:00 in the afternoon so we began the service then. There were at least 5000 people there. Oh my. I have never seen so many people sitting outside together. (And Bettina and I were the only white people there) There were songs and prayers and then Bettina spoke about Mary breaking the jar of oil and pouring it over Jesus' feet. It was a huge success. Afterwards there were introductions, so all the important people there (at least 20 or so) had to be introduced to everyone and say something. I was introduced, it was intimidating in front of so many people! Then there was an offering, separated by the town the people came from. That went on for 45 minutes at least, for the offering they come up to the front, everybody comes, and you dance along the way. It was like a 5000 person conga line!
Then there was music on and on until about 10 at night, probably later. Bettina and I walked around greeting people and then fell into bed exhausted. All the homes were absolutely packed with people. Because we were so special they gave us a bedroom. It was in a mud and stick house and the room was probably 5 feet by 9 feet with one twin bed and one nightstand. Outside the door there were women sleeping everywhere on mats on the floor, so getting up in the middle of the night to go out to the bathroom was very interesting. It was quite the adventure!
The exciting news of the night (I probably shouldn't say exciting...) someone fell into the latrine. Apparently the ground around the wooden seat in the outhouse just kind of caved in while someone was there and they fell right in. Someone outside heard the calls and they got a ladder down there and got him out and washed up. Gross. That is the kind of thing we joke about at home but never actually think will happen... I just praise God it wasn't me!
We left the next morning, with about 13 people in and on the truck. They all wanted rides home. I got to sit on the back of the truck, it was sooo much fun! On the way back we picked up a German missionary named Olga who is twentysomething. She and I talked the whole time, it was really fun! I got an up-close and personal view of the jungle.
I am loving it here, everyday is an adventure! But I do miss home a lot. Please pray for Bettina as she came down with malaria on Monday...