Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: COLOR (07/30/20)
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TITLE: Welcome | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lusungu Muyangana
08/06/20 -
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I had been in Messina for one week and did not relish the idea of sitting at home on Sunday. It was my first time in South Africa, and I was giddy at the experience. Who would have thought that I would step into the land that I had only read about in my textbooks? I had travelled to other countries before as a child. This was my first time without my parents.
We prayed for guidance just before we set out to town. My instruction to my cousin was to look out for a church with a sign in English. I was certain that God would lead us to the right place, especially if we could understand the language. After much walking and dismissing a few places of worship because we could neither understand Afrikaans nor Venda, we finally saw a Church sign in English. It was a Baptist Church near the hospital. I felt at peace in my heart. My cousin and I noted the time the service began and walked back home. That was Friday.
When Sunday came, I eagerly prepared for the service. My cousin, who is a quiet person, just followed my lead. We got to the Church just in time. We found an empty aisle and sat down. There were a few people of colour in that church. I was there to worship, so I decided to focus on God. Soon enough, a couple joined us in that aisle. The lady was white, and the gentleman was Indian. There was an empty seat in between the lady and me. The offering bag was passed around, and she struggled to extend it to me. She had a strange expression on her face like that of fear mixed with something else. She leaned back against the gentleman seated next to her all the time holding out the bag as if I might accidentally touch her when I reached out to receive it. I had never seen anyone bothered by my colour before then. I silently received the bag and passed it on. In no time, she exchanged places with the gentleman. I then turned around to see if I was the only black person experiencing this. My cousin was oblivious to what had happened. After the service, I went home disturbed. I vowed to go back there to worship but not disturb any white person in any way possible. I would keep my distance.
One Sunday as I walked out of the Church with my face downcast as usual and my cousin in tow, I realized that for the first time we were unable to escape from the Pastor at the door. He stood there and held out his hand to greet us.
“Where are you from?” he inquired after the initial greeting.
“Zambia,” I replied.
“Ah, you are like me. I am from Zimbabwe.”
Looking into his face, my eyes brightened. Here was someone I identified with. Our skin colour was different, but we were the same. There was nothing wrong with my colour. I did not have to feel misplaced. I was welcome there.
Galatians 3:28 (ESV) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male or female, for you are one in Christ Jesus.
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However, perhaps the lady in question had a fear of strangers, and felt uncomfortable having to pass an item on from female to a male person, as this is not allowed in some cultures and believes (I am not sure if it has changed in the last few years). It could be the reason she exchanged seats with her Indian husband. However, thank you for sharing.