sunday morning

As for today, we went to church. it was really different from attending mass in singapore. firstly, there is no procession. the priest just walks in and straight onto the altar. then, before the processional hymn, which is strange cos there is no procession, the priest asks if there are any visitors or first timers in the congregation that day. i stood up and they asked where i was from and then they gave me an aloha welcoming lei. also, the wardens for the mass were all youths and were all Sheri's friends. so at least it isn't as bad as the state of the church in australia since there were a few youths there. it was a really small church though. it was about maybe three times the size of the SJI chapel.


Next, when the mass began everything was normal until the Eucharistic prayer. they don't kneel. they stand through the parts that we kneel through in Singapore. Even after communion they stand and wait until everybody is done and then they sit. OK, some people do kneel during that part but not many. they also sing a version of the lamb of God which is about 5 or 6 stanzas long and doesn't say lamb of God til the last one. and for communion, they don't use the host but actual brown bread. i wasn't sure if i could bite the bread but it was really dry and so i felt like i had to. sorry Jesus.

After communion they had a family prayer where a family would go up and receive a blessing for the whole community. i thought that that was nice. that was the thing about mass here in hawaii. it was just so comfortable and family oriented and everybody smiles. widely.

anyway, after mass, sheri and i went to meet up with her friends for lunch. we ate at a place called jack in the box which was like burger king just slightly different. we bought the paper but didn't see the article or our pictures on it. oh thinking about the article reminds me of the photographer who was really friendly and told us of like his life story and how he spent 10 years in UH and was studying for his masters in zoology but realised that he was making too much money taking pictures and so he quit school and began working as a photographer. he also told us that within walking distance was a place called mcgoo's which serves the cheapest beers on the island. i know now where i'll be spending just a little bit too much of my time in the future. he said the most expensive thing there was a pitcher of guiness which goes for about 8 bucks. my eyes lit up and i was happy. hahaha...

after the lunch, we went back to sheri's and she took a nap cos she's not feeling well. she showed me the soccer channel and they were showing the community shield. i am worried that jose has spent so much on attack that he has neglected his defence. i hope gallas changes his attitude. we need him bad. after watching the match i just decided to start writing my blogs for this past week so i have nothing left to clear when tomorrow begins.


oh, remember in a previous post i talked about going to a christian bookstore? well, Sheri's friend Clyde works there and can give me a discount on the books there. so if anybody wants a book u can tell me and i'll tell you how much it is and you can wait til january to get it. deal?

Oh yeah, talk about localisation... Mother Mary's wearing a lei...

alright, i'll sign off now...
tata