Fellowship

Robin and I have started to get involved with a very small Free Methodist Church that some of our co-workers go to. Some of them have a Bible study on Friday nights just a couple blocks from our house. The group is a real mix of couples, singles, kids and people from different cultures (though we’re the only whites). It’s nice to have some fellowship with other adults who are committed with their faith.

Possibly my favorite thing about the church is the children and how they pretty much run wild during the services. They crawl around under the chairs, shout out during the songs and will walk up to anyone to be picked up and danced with. There’s one little boy, Frank, about five years old, who I’m starting to develop a special bond with. One Sunday he got my attention during the singing and told me, “your skin is white!” I responded affirmatively, to which he replied, “who changed it?” I told him God did, but he wasn’t buying it, “You’re lying! The doctor did it!” The next time I saw this boy he asked again about my skin and when I tried to explain that I was born this way he said he knew I’d had a surgery like Michael Jackson. I guess there’s no fooling him!

One of the other kids, Togozo, is about a year and a half old. He and Frank provide endless distraction during Bible studies, which are very thoughtful and interesting. But how can you listen to someone’s story when alittle boy is growling in your face or shouting “Amen! Amen!” I wonder if this was Togozo’s first word, because it’s definitely his favorite. When he’s not shouting it, he’s generally making dinosaur noises and jumping until he falls down on his diaper padded little butt.