“Laughing with the saints” – a missionary moment

Serving amongst people in a cultural context different from yours can be exciting and challenging, sometimes embarrassing and irritating! I had goosebumps at a pastors’ conference in Minembwe, Congo Democratic Republic. As one of the speakers, we relied on locals to interpret our presentations from English to the Kinyamulenge language. We had just returned from a tea break and it was my turn to speak.

I went to the lectern with the confidence to start, but unknown to me, the man who would interpret was unavailable. I prayed and started with greetings, Muraho neza (hello everyone). There was a loud response from the audience as they all stared at me in amazement for suddently speaking their language, and I froze in embarrassment. Seeing the look on my face, they laughed even harder! Freaked out, I searched in vain for my interpreter, then he suddenly ran in. I was relieved and joined the congregation in laughter with “holy glee.”
-Nigerian missionary to DRC