Ukraine #4
I danced for 3 hours. We all did. Three hours at least. It all started when we had to take the offering and they leaders said, “ok, you can play music, but it has to be quiet because there’s a leader’s meeting happening in the room next door.” So it started quiet. And for 15 – 30 minutes remained as such. Then everything changed. It gets loud. People start dancing. It’s Jewish so there’s all these circles where you hold hands, and conga lines that are like follow the leader. Guys with guys and girls with girls. The guys are a little rough. Some of their dancing is just organized rough-housing. Everyone is sweating. I see sweat dripping off the chins of some of the men. The women glisten. I sit on the sidelines at first. These are my only clothes. My luggage is still lost. Someone grabs me and I’m in the circle dancing. It’s hot. We’re all sweating. I think of sitting down. The woman still won’t let go, so I give in and start to sweat.
What can I do? I’m only here once. Suddenly clown wigs and whistles come out. Christmas decorations. We’re wearing wigs and Christmas decorations. I have a garland around my neck. The songs are getting fast. Now they’re slow. Faster, slow. Stop. A new one starts. A lady decides to translate for me. I’m sweaty, she’s sweaty, she’s yelling in my ear and I can barely understand. Something about a rabbit and a tree. It’s a Russian folk song. Three hours later we’re still going. I ask if this is something that they do every retreat. “Yes, we do it at many retreats, but it comes when it comes. We never know when it’s going to happen” the translator says. And after all the rowdiness and fun, it’s time to preach. These things can go on forever, but I’ve never had more fun. In life. At church. I can’t stop smiling.
I danced for 3 hours. We all did. Three hours at least. It all started when we had to take the offering and they leaders said, “ok, you can play music, but it has to be quiet because there’s a leader’s meeting happening in the room next door.” So it started quiet. And for 15 – 30 minutes remained as such. Then everything changed. It gets loud. People start dancing. It’s Jewish so there’s all these circles where you hold hands, and conga lines that are like follow the leader. Guys with guys and girls with girls. The guys are a little rough. Some of their dancing is just organized rough-housing. Everyone is sweating. I see sweat dripping off the chins of some of the men. The women glisten. I sit on the sidelines at first. These are my only clothes. My luggage is still lost. Someone grabs me and I’m in the circle dancing. It’s hot. We’re all sweating. I think of sitting down. The woman still won’t let go, so I give in and start to sweat.
What can I do? I’m only here once. Suddenly clown wigs and whistles come out. Christmas decorations. We’re wearing wigs and Christmas decorations. I have a garland around my neck. The songs are getting fast. Now they’re slow. Faster, slow. Stop. A new one starts. A lady decides to translate for me. I’m sweaty, she’s sweaty, she’s yelling in my ear and I can barely understand. Something about a rabbit and a tree. It’s a Russian folk song. Three hours later we’re still going. I ask if this is something that they do every retreat. “Yes, we do it at many retreats, but it comes when it comes. We never know when it’s going to happen” the translator says. And after all the rowdiness and fun, it’s time to preach. These things can go on forever, but I’ve never had more fun. In life. At church. I can’t stop smiling. 
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