I Loved the Church!

I loved the church!

I was once a Scout. Rather, a Pathfinder. I had the complete uniform: green shorts, white shirt, yellow scarf, a green beret, plain socks matching the shirt, and the Kiwi polished black shoes. I followed the orders obediently: quick marched perfectly; saluted admirably; swiftly took all the turns: about, left, right – before I easily stood at ease.

The year was 1993. The weeklong Pathfinder Camp was at Palapye, a village in the eastern part of Botswana, near the Lotsane River – four hours drive from my home village of Kanye. Although, I’m sure Tlhoms and I took less. He is a fast driver. I was the last one to join my church mates. Tlhoms and I arrived late in the dark night. I remember the boys clapping and shouting my name the moment I finally entered that pitch-dark classroom, where some of the boys slept, at the Radisele Community Junior Secondary School:

’’Bless! Bless! Bless!’’

Majestically, my noisy friends welcomed me, however, our classroom captains were not amused for being abruptly disturbed from their sweet dreams. Shouting, they demanded the Tlhoms- switched-lights to be turned off at once, Tlhoms had just left to captain a different classroom.

My church, Mafhikana SDA, was selected that late afternoon to quick march during service in front of a multitude of other Pathfinders from churches across Botswana; as well as our various leaders and Pastors. There were four Pathfinders representing Mafhikana. I was in the chosen team. Another boy, Abis was in the team, as well as two beautiful girls. We were to march just after the final all-Pathfinders parade, late in the afternoon – the following day.

I had observed during the previous days the other churches’ Pathfinders marching; that, whoever was in the front on the left-hand side, was always responsible for the lowering of the white, blue, red, and yellow Pathfinder flag. Our leaders, Gabori and Tlhoms, placed me on the flag lowering position. The night before the Mafhikana parade marching, I could not sleep – my nightmare being not knowing how to lower down the multi-coloured massive flag. I never confessed to anyone until just before the quartet marched when I worryingly pleaded with Abis to occupy the front left-hand side and myself the back right-hand side. Luckily, he easily agreed.

‘’Left right left! Left right left!’’

With his military precision command, the very tall Gabori loudly instructed the marching quartet. We marched perfectly. Abis lowered down the Pathfinder flag brilliantly. I was smiling with pleasure and satisfaction the whole time, of course, concealed.

I would go on to perfectly learn of knots; and later in the year, during the morning assembly, I assuredly addressed the whole Mafhikana Primary School on how to tie and untie a knot; as part of my Standard 6’s class Public English Speaking Presentation.

I loved the church.

©