Yea Dalm (Christlike Church) Anniversary Sunday

This is the church we attend some. I have already told you the story of the pastor in a earlier blog. This is the 7th anniversary of the church. It is located just off campus and is easy walking distance from our dorm. This picture was taken early in the service. They do not start like we do in America. About 10 minutes before the announced service time they begin to sing and continue singing as people walk in. It is very effective. The other pictures in the album will show our shoes off. You either go stocking feet or wear sandals like I have learned to do. No street shoes permitted in this church. In some churches, especially the larger ones, you can wear your shoes . It is probably due to the logistics of trying to get 2 or 3 hundred people to take their shoes off and then put them back on at the end of the service. Small churches like Yea Dalm has no problem with people removing their shoes. Notice in the pictures how some of us are sitting on the floor on cushions. It was an overflow crowd. There was the customary dinner after the service as you can see. Good food and plenty of it. Some Sundays the lunch is bread and peanut butter with milk, coffee or tea. Everyone is always invited to stay for lunch. It doesn't take long. They sit portable tables up. Some churches we have attended eat from low tables. You sit on the floor with your shoes off, of course.

The service ended with a youth drama. The pictures don't show much, of course, but the drama was about a girl who received life from God only to yield to temptations from her friends. She gets very sick of heart and kneels on the floor weeping becasue her life is so miserable. Jesus comes up behind her and put His life back into her and she rises dancing and singing again with great joy. It is very effective even if you do not know the language. A guitar plays background music while a narrator speaks .

You can also see our new "daughter" Phuong in the choir. This was her first time attending the church! She knows some Korean, English and of course Vietnamese. She loves the flowers as usual.