It started with a book

Several weeks ago a man from church asked if I had a book of English
songs that I could give to the choir, it just so happened that I did.
African culture is very opportunistic, if you don't ask you might not
receive. So I gave him the book, what I didn't realize is that this gift
came or rather went with strings attached. The next week the choir came
to me saying that a book of English songs was only so good if they
didn't know how to sing them properly, they asked if sometime in the
future I would be willing to help them learn a new song. Not knowing
that meant soon, I said sure, I would love to teach them a new song. A
few Sundays later Rachel and I were recruited to teach them a new song
from 'the book'. They were very gracious and maybe a little timid about
taking initiative, they let us lead and even had us pick the song, it
was nothing like their past songs, it didn't have a unique African beat,
it didn't have quick tempo or a special flair, it was very old and plain
and so..... American, at least to my ears. They seemed to enjoy it
because we were invited back the following week. I was again asked to
choose the song. After selecting one and teaching them the basics of the
song I let them loose, its my hope that they will get the idea, that
they will take the song and run with it, choosing to make it theirs and
not just something straight from the book, there seems to be this
awkward balance between respecting us and letting us lead and taking the
initiative themselves and making it their own. When asked if I would
return for a third week to teach, I tried my best to convey to them that
I don't have my week planned, that I wasn't sure of the 'program' for
the next weekend but that I would try to be there. Tuesday morning
arrived with a knock on our door and a written invitation to choir
practice which would include a coca and a group photo. I thought this
was a bit odd and a little formal but that's how cultral can be
sometimes, a little different. When we arrived tonight for choir
practice the room was decorated with special fabric on every wall, the
floor had been mopped and the Christmas Lights hung. I was still hoping
that it would be just a choir practice but when they went to get the FM
Superintendent I knew I was only fooling myself. They had gone through
so much trouble to honor us, as they brought out the spread of African
dishes I had to ask myself 'Where are you?' that this group would go
through so much trouble for you? They would express their love is such a
real way, all because of some songs. This was definitely not America,
here they surprise me with dinner and ask me to give words and want to
have their picture taken with me, like I'm Mickey Mouse at Disneyland. I
was honored, I was blessed. A student and I were discussing the
difference in cultural and how nothing that formal has happened to me in
the US, he said it was because they want to honor me as their guest, I
said I have been here for 4 months, how long until I am no long a guest?
He just laughed. Next time I'll think about what can happen, all because
of a book.