Lizards crawl the walls, chickens and pygmy goats roam the aisle, and Lutherans in Cameroon assemble for worship. The scene is similar every Sunday, though my wife and I don't always worship in the same village or bush community. We arrive at 9 a.m., bringing our little red worship books, our Bibles, and a rag. (The rag is for wiping off layers of red dust from the hard, narrow bench on which we will balance for two or three hours.) We're always the first to arrive, though we may have traveled some distance to get there. We wait for worship to begin.

I used the word "worship" four times in that opening paragraph. Yes, I've read books and studied articles on worship and thought I understood the meaning of the word. But that was when I had a clean, comfortable, stained-glass-windowed sanctuary. After a rousing prelude on the pipe organ and the exuberant singing of "To your temple I draw near; Lord, I love to worship here," it seemed natural to stand in a flowing white gown and announce, "We have come into the presence of God . . ."

Experience, however, is forcing me to stretch beyond my comfort zone and reevaluate my ideas about worship. In America, "bells and whistles" might describe accessories on a new car. But here bells, whistles, drums, and shakers are the instruments used to praise the Lord.

"Early in the morning the house of God is full of joy," sings the family of God over and over as they clap their hands and gather for worship. There are more than 200 catchy choruses, which most seem to know from memory and others quickly learn. "Good morning, Jesus. Good morning, Lord. I know you come from heaven above. The Holy Spirit is now with us. Good morning, Jesus. Good morning, Lord."

Many things happen in worship in the Lutheran Church of Cameroon that may seem unusual to WELS folks in the U.S. In most congregations, children sit in front, women sit on the left with heads covered, and men sit on the right. Worshipers take an active part in the sermon. People are called upon to read Scripture, to pray, or to lead a chorus. (I'm pleasantly amazed at how the men pray unashamedly from their hearts and how loudly and joyously they sing.) There is a great amount of freedom, and "Alleluia!" "Praise the Lord!" is common. Offering plates are not passed, but men, women, and children place their coins in a basket at the altar, while choruses are sung.