One thing that we are learning here in Africa is that prayer is an important part of life. Often at 4:30 am and throughout the day we hear a call for “prayer” coming from different areas in the community. Our church has scheduled prayer meeting three times a week to specifically pray for Africa, our country, city, neighborhood and church family. On Tuesdays and Thursdays prayer time begins at 5:00 am and for those who can’t make it during the week there is a Sunday afternoon meeting. I have been going on Thursday mornings. Even though only a couple of us have been in attendance it has been a special time of seeking the Lord together and getting to one another better. I am thankful the church is only a 10-minute walk from our house. I walk past a public high school on my way to and from the church and there is usually quite a bit of activity going on early in the morning. On my way back last Thursday I walked by two teenage young men dressed in their school uniforms who were hanging out underneath one of the “Imbondeiro” trees that are growing in the street. One of the young men was sitting on a root with his head bowed towards the tree while the other was standing nearby apparently waiting for his friend. Even though I am still learning about these things, I am pretty positive this was another kind of “prayer meeting”.
We have been told that the “Imbondeiro” tree is sacred; so much so that it won’t be cut down even if it happens to be growing in the street. We have had a couple people tell us that it is common for people to bring food or other items to the tree as an offering to their dead ancestors if things are not going well in their lives. They trust that their ancestors will somehow be able to change their fortune and make them successful or healthy whatever the request may be. I was impressed with the young man’s diligence but was saddened to think that here I was leaving a time of prayer to a living, caring, almighty Father who is willing and ABLE to answer prayer and this young man would leave his prayer time no better off (maybe even worse off) than he was before. We continue to ask God to help us understand the belief system and worldview of those around us so that we can better communicate truth when God gives us opportunity.