Sunday Church Service

I looked up the closest Protestant church to our place and Maná Christian Fellowship popped up. I thought it might be English by the name, but not so. I did not understand much of what the priest said at the wedding, so I was hoping there might be an English component to this one.

It was a fairly informal setting, in the basement level of a four storey office/apartment building. We thought we were on time according to Google but we walked in at the tail end of a service. We decided to stay and we were warmly welcomed and promised a translator. That turned out to be Loes (as in Lucy), an exuberant Dutch expat who has been living in Portugal the last 47 years. We also met Paula, 15, and her sister Shelcia, 17, from Mozambique who spoke English very well.

The service was a combination of Brethren, Pentecostal and Full Gospel, if you can even imagine that. It was a rich experience.

The preacher was in his twenties, full of energy and focused on engaging the congregants. He met us after the services and was very warm and welcoming. When Scripture was read he asked Paula to read the passage in English, while Loes tried to keep up with the message, translating it for Ruth and me.Read more