Church on the Beach.

This morning I had originally planned to go to Action Faith Church. I had gone two weeks ago and really enjoyed it, but then Irina ran into my room and asked if I wanted to go with some other people to church on the beach. Seeing that I like exciting & random stuff, I jumped on the opportunity. About 9 of us hopped into a Mercy Ship Land Rover, and Paul (from England) drove us to El Derado Beach.

It cost 1500 CFA (about $3) to go onto the beach…but we got a “free” drink with it. We started off singing with the tiny speakers and ipod that Paul brought, and sang for about half an hour. In between songs, some people would read scripture that really spoke to their hearts. Then one girl asked if everyone could simply share what God had been teaching them over the past week, and that led way to one of the coolest conversations I’ve ever been a part of. It’s so interesting to see how we all know the same God, yet he teaches us ranges of different life lessons at the perfect times. He’s such a personal God….one of the girls of the group read scripture in Psalms talking about “opening your heart to God”. That led to a conversation about how great it is that God literally wants you to open you heart up to him…he WANTS you to tell him everything & anything…and most of all he wants you to be YOURSELF. I found it comforting, because sometimes I feel like I have to sound spiritually intellectual when talking to God, but God wants me to be my goofy self. Just like how I am around my friends.

Anyways, after the “service”, we all got our free drinks & some people enjoyed the ocean water & the African sun until we headed back to the ship. And this girl named Christina and I tumbled on the sand for fun…I found another cheerleader!