Guyana Adventure #8

Okay so I prepare for church and meet the delegation in the lobby of the hotel.  I go outside to get on the mini van and find out that the ride to the church is about 1 hour....huh!  1 hour....huh!  about 1 hour....Remember I told you that they drive on the opposite side of the road.  So here I go hitting the imaginary breaks and turning my imaginary wheel...swirving cars!  At one point, I just closed my eyes and talked to Jesus!!!!  Yeah so imagine riding in a 12 passenger mini van with about 20 folk!  We didn't start out with 20 folk, but we picked people up along the way...I kept saying to myself, where are they gonna sit - we can't fit no one else in this van.  To my surprise, they all fit!  Amazing and a miracle all together....The folk wanted to go to church and the passengers in the van wanted them to be in church as well so they made room!!!!!  A lesson to be learned people!!!!!  I need not say any more about that....The ride was bumpy and long...when I tell you that my knees hurt....whew.  I felt like a person who is clastophobic - I just had to get out, out, and out!  I felt like if I didn't get out to stretch my leg, I was gonna pass out!  My knees were in so much pain and I didn't want to complain, but I was having a bit of an anxiety issue in the mini-van.  Thought I had to have them stop for a "paperbag".  I had to do some serious self talk!!!  SMILE...seriously!  Breathe in, breathe out...relax, relate and release.  Jesus, help me!  I really don't think that this mini-van had any shocks in it...oh my goodness!!! what! Anyway we got to church and the saints were so happy to see us!  The service was awesome, God truly blessed.  The saints of God praised Him like He deserves to be praised.  Things were a little slow getting started and I was concerned because my first thought was...these folk then got Americanized!!!!  Ya'll know how we do in church....sometimes we gotta be pumped up!!!!  hmmmmm, ya'll know it is the truth.  The praise and worship was great!  Most of the songs had a calipso beat and I loved it!!!!!!!  There were a group of young musicians who really really played like their wasn't gonna be church the next day-like that particular service was their last service!  These musicians with the exception of the keyboard player was about 11 years old.  They had drums that weren't in the best condition but they played them with pride!! They had congos and some triangle instrument that they were hitting.  Then there was the keyboard player who played very well.  I loved it!!!!!They sang alot of Hillsong songs which was cool.  The P&W team really gave it there all and worshipped God in the beauty of holiness.  The choir sang the them song: Rise, Shine and Give God the Glory - Guyana style.  The theme of the convention was "Rise Up and Praise Him" Acts 3:1-3.  Bishop Coward began to exhort the people to praise God and they did just that!  Hands went up in the air, feet hit the floor and the praises of God came out of their mouths.  It was a true experience.  There was a guest speaker who was long, but very good!   I was so ready for him to be finish so that I could rest. I think that I was just exhausted from the plane ride and the time difference.  Plus it was so hot in service.  We had church in a school.  It was like having church outside because there really weren't any walls.  Well there were walls, but we could see outside...hard to explain.  Anyway, it was hot.  I was really enjoying myself, but I was so so tired.  I am glad though that he took his time and preached....ummm, yeah I was glad.  LOL  I really enjoyed the message.  After church, I met and talked to alot of the young people.  It was great!  Hmmmmm, now my mind went to the journey back to the hotel....Lawd, Jesus!  Well I endured it...got back to the hotel and rested it up for the next day!  Stay tuned.....