SUNDAY BEST

During the time with our “night visitors” the previous evening, I inquired of our friends, if there was a Filipino-English-speaking church that we could attend the following morning. Lois indicated there was such a church, though their family attended elsewhere.  She added the church was fairly new, an organic-in-nature place of worship. However, the directions were indescribable and someone familiar with the church would have to direct us to said location.

Typical of the folks we have met, Lois texted “Lou,” a friend who attended the church, and asked for her assistance. Lou immediately responded with a return message stating they would swing by and give us a ride. 

Lois was accurate in her assessment of how to navigate to the church. To this day, there is no way I could find my way there. Predictably, Lou and her husband, Aled, and their three children swung by and picked us up. Little did we know, that we would be gifted with this family of five. Lou could not have been any more delightful and her husband was likewise congenial. We quickly knew we were likely to be friends.

I was not prepared for Davao Alive (the church). After we parked, we trekked through a narrow alley with what looked like community pop-up shelters, stores, shacks, and huts lining the street, where the locals were selling their wares and food offerings included skewers of meats, veggies, slices of sweet bread, and ears of corn and rice. 

It felt somewhat like we were imposing on their privacy while traipsing through their dilapidated living areas. Honestly, I wanted to blindfold my eyes to block the heart-rendering scene before me. Because there is so much overt poverty here, I am wondering if I have become tainted, perhaps accepting or even indifferent  to the plight of the poor, while I sip on my artisan cup of coffee, while casually strolling past those who are hoping to generate a pittance for their next meal? This multifaceted matter is bigger than I can get my arms around.

Continuing down the road, we then followed Aled and Lou to a small section of space in a corner of a building, greeted by a few cockroaches, I might add, where we climbed a very narrow staircase to the second floor which measured about 15 by 30 feet. It was fully inhabited by people—adults—young and middle,  toddlers, and teens sitting in a circle of chairs. 

We were immediately approached by a young Filipino man, who, with a stunning, Cheshire grin,  introduced himself as “Pastor Gary.” He couldn’t get to the back table fast enough to prepare and deliver our cups of coffee (of course with cream and sugar as everything is sweet here)  So beautiful.

That particular Sunday “happened” to be a full-on, two-hour-plus, time of song, both in English and Cebuano, praise, Word reciting, and a call to faithfulness. It was a beautiful morning, full of joy, shared with fellow Believers.

Sherry Gregory
Author: Sherry Gregory

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Comments (6)

  1. This day at church sounds amazing! What an honor to be able to worship with people who you will see again in Heaven! Love this experience for you! ❤️

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  2. Oh Sherry, I can only imagine how your heart was moved by the poverty all around. So sweet to be able to worship the same God with those around the world who live so differently than we do. I pray the Lord continues to move in your heart and through your every effort to serve all those you come in contact with. You have such a tender heart of service and I can’t wait to hear how the Lord works though you!

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    1. You are an unbelievable friend! I cannot believe you are willing to read all of my crazy meanderings! So sweet, Jana. We know you are here with us in Spirit—praying all the way, How’s life on your end????

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  3. Isn’t it a beautiful thing that no matter where you guys go you find that worship is a universal language that breaks all the common barriers that all around us…. I believe you a getting a glimpse of what it will look like in heaven. I believe in America we (the church) have made worship a slick performance with lights and sound designed to stimulate our senses which I don’t believe is the main point of worship. Phillips Craig and Deans song says it best “I’m coming back to the heart of worship because it’s all about You…. It’s all about You Jesus”. How beautiful of and experience that must have been for you guys…l

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