Friday, October 19, 2012

A case of mistaken identity

Yesterday, a woman came to the door (and the back door of our home is next to the front door of the chapel) and told Debbie that she was there to speak with Pai Celestial--which is Heavenly Father in Portuguese. Well, metaphorically, isn't that why everyone comes to church, to interact with God in some way? Debbie responded in a supportive way and pointed out that our services were on Sunday at ten a.m. The woman, however insisted that she was there to speak with Pai Celestial right then. To help Debbie understand, she added further description: "you know, the fat, white guy".
Well, as the only fat white male in residence, I came out and spoke with her for a few minutes on the veranda (a nice woman, a widow with small children, who has been to church a couple of times and to whom we have given some food in hard times). After much insistence on my part that I was actually more accurately referred to as "Elder Osborn"' she made a small concession and began calling me Elder Pai Celestial.
Other than this bit of confusion, we had a nice discussion with her.

Location:Quelimane, Zambézia, Mocambique

4 comments:

  1. Hillarious! I think we all have a new nickname for you!

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  2. You've been waiting for this moment your whole life.

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    Replies
    1. hilarious--i was thinking i have so many comments to this post that i will just keep to myself:) andrea

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  3. Wait, if you are pai celestial and I'm your eldest son....
    Clearly this woman has the wrong family.

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