To one convention held in the Christmas of 1968 on the Myanmar-Indian border:

May 25, 2014—The new chapel of Nongchang Church, Lushui County

I am sitting at the back row in order to have a better view of the congregation seated in front of me. I expect a lengthier time at today's Sunday noon service, as it will be combined with the dedication ceremony of the new church building (hinshir ddutbair). I know it because students of the Nujiang Christian training center have been rehearsing two dance performances for this special occasion. Although the ceremony is organized by and for the host Nongchang Church, churches in close proximity and from afar are invited to celebrate together the growth of the local faith community. Every seat (around three-hundred capacity) in the chapel is occupied and still a large crowd of several hundred others is standing on three sides of this open space, all looking onto the central podium. After congratulatory speeches, a short sermon, and an enthusiastic church fundraiser—the collec-tion box is passed around and people just throw money into the box—the presider announces the beginning of the praise time (xelgget rriq).

The presider has received piles of paper strips, indicating that several dozen performances have been lined up for the next couple of hours. Participants from the invited churches are welcome to perform as many songs as possible. I often recognize the familiar melodies of mostly Burmese origin that I have heard in other mass gatherings or through recordings.