The voices of angelsJanuary 30th, 2006 @ 11:25 am
I was able to visit a local Tongan church yesterday with some friends. I had been there before, but must not have been listening like I was yesterday. Funny that I would say “listening”, since they do all of the service in their native Tongan language. Of which I don’t know a single word of. Not even the word for “Hello”.
When they sang the hymns (also in Tongan) I was so moved. They did this interesting thing where the conductor would sing the first word of each verse of the hymn, then the women in the congregation would join in, and eventually all the men would join in. During the chorus the men would harmonize and follow a few words behind the women. I can not tell you how moving this was to hear. This wasn’t a professional choir. These are just everyday people, who don’t even practice their singing. This is just a cultural thing for them. It’s in their blood.
Since I didn’t know what any of the messages were about during the service, I kept hoping that they would just sing more songs. I may have to go back, just to be a part of that. But next time I’ll get copies of the hymns in Tongan, so I can follow along.
It makes me wish that I had some type of cultural tradition that I had been raised with.
Churchy Stuff
Lisa
said,
January 30, 2006 at 8:00 pm
What a cool place? That would be a neat place to bring the baby. Interesting baby “brain food.”
DeAnn
said,
January 31, 2006 at 1:24 am
Sing it, sister! I want a cultural tradition of my own, too. Any time I see other people doing their own cultural things (see how stupid I sound even trying to talk about it?), their lives seem so rich. And mine feels even emptier in contrast.
That sounds like such an amazing experience. I want to go.
Avorie
said,
January 31, 2006 at 8:18 am
I love learning about other cultures and traditions. They always seem richer than ours.
Jenna
said,
January 31, 2006 at 9:10 am
Sounds very interesting … in a good way!
bon
said,
January 31, 2006 at 3:21 pm
the music… and you want them to feed you, because the FOOD! oh heavens the FOOD! Talk about the cultural whatever….
see if you can get invited to something they serve food at