Agape on Love Street

Last night I was searching online for a church to attend on my first Sunday in the South. So many options to choose from! I had no particular method of selection, but my choice was dependent upon how far the walk would be since I do not have a car here. Khaatim expressed slight interest in going to church with me, which was quite exciting because he drove here (and it'd be fun to have a church buddy). He told me that we needed to go to a Black church since we're in the South. We found a church nearby called Agape Church of Jesus Christ. While Khaatim had told me that he considers himself agnostic, he was still very willing to introduce me to a real Black church. I was excited!

This morning...
It was already raining again when I woke up. Surprise surprise. The church building is in the midst of a run-down neighborhood. As we drove down Love Street, I wondered if the church service was held in a home, but it wasn't. Upon entering the building, we were greeted by a sweet couple and then an usher led us to our seats. The service began with a powerful confession of who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for us. The congregation repeated what the woman said. The worship portion lasted for over an hour! The Holy Spirit's presence was very strong. I am accustomed to charismatic churches, but this was unlike many church services I have been to before. Everyone was so full of faith and excitement. Did I mention that I was the only white person there? I was so touched by the pastor's words and by the warm family environment. The service began at 10:30am and didn't get dismissed until 1:00pm. People were so eager to give hugs after the service. One man even chased us out to our car to thank us for coming. It was a fantastic experience and I left with a smile on my face and a refreshed spirit.

Sunday Afternoon...
More exploring around Downtown with Amy, Courtney, and Jen (a friend of Amy's that lives in Savannah and has now become our personal tour guide). We went to Firefly Cafe for lunch where I ate a delicious creation called Sweet Potato Tofu Scramble. In the South, there are these things called "hoe cakes" served on the side. I would compare it to a pancake, but it's slightly firmer and it has a cornbread-y taste. I only had a bite of a hoe cake, just so I could say I ate something truly southern. We walked around a couple squares (there are 22 historic squares in Savannah), and Forsyth Park. The park is huge and beautiful! We even saw a wedding taking place near a gorgeous fountain. Oh... and one of the highlights of my day was meeting a couple from California! You would have thought I was just reunited with some long lost friends by the excitement on my face. I even jumped up and down when I heard them say, "California." Silly, I know. One more landmark I witnessed today was the house that was used for the movie, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." The natives refer to it as "the movie" over here because the storyline takes place in Savannah. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I may watch it tonight so I can be a little more Savannan (yes, I just made up that word). I'll post pictures when I get wireless again. Happy Sunday!