What an absolute privilege it is to be here in Zambia. For the past few days we have been learning about missions and what it really means to be a missionary. Once we had done the theory side of it all, it was time to really put it all into practice. Each of our teams had the opportunity to go and stay in a local village for two days. The yellow team had the blessing of going to the Kampundu village.
After walking about 4Km’s we eventually arrived at the village and we were very warmly welcomed by our host family, Leonard and Grama. After taking our bags off our backs Leonard showed us his new house that they have just recently moved into and told us more about himself. He has four lovely children, two boys and two girls, of which his latest daughter, Joy is only a month old. Leonard is a very Godly man and a true disciple of Jesus Christ.
We then had a tour of the village and met more of the locals while enjoying a nice braaied meilie. We then came back to his house and started helping with some of the work around the house. We helped put nets up at some of the windows while the girls sowed maize bags together in order to put around the new long drop, for some privacy.
Later in the day our missions training
teacher Jannie came to visit us at the village. We were then really blessed with a lovely meal of rice and some vegetables. However once we had finished eating Leonard came inside with another full meal of Kapentas and mshima(almost like pap), which his wife had prepared for us. After we had completed our two full course meals we spent time in intercessory prayer for Kampundu village and all its people.
During the rest of the afternoon Jaart and I helped Leonard chop some trees down in order to build a table which they could place outside their hut in order to put their dishes on. The girls spent time playing and singing with the village children. Once we had almost completed the table we saw the boys of the village playing soccer and could not resist but to join in on the game. However after playing for a couple of minutes I would wish I hadn’t joined. The reason is we were playing with a flat basketball and I by accident kicked the ball with full force into a little boys face. The boy was
probably only about 3 or 4 years old and after I kicked him in the face with the ball he literally flew through the air for a few metres back! After a hard landing and I guess whiplash he burst out into a thundering scream and showers of tears. I felt really bad but end of the story is he survived with no serious injuries, praise the Lord! Well the soccer continued and after a good game on not your average soccer field with some of Africa’s future “Drogba’s” it was almost dark and time for a quick dip in the river.
After getting my towel we ran down to the river and quickly had a swim and “bath”. Little did we know that we can almost walk on water when a snake swam right past the one boy and then headed past my head, this forced us to extra-ordinarily run out of the river What a blessed and adventures day we had so far but it would only get better.
Once we had a lovely supper of beans and mshima we headed off to one of the familie’s huts,
where they had bible study for the village. When we arrived we were treated like royalty. They had brought their couches out of their hut and said that we must sit on them while they sat on the floor. We sat around a fire and the stars where in full view. We were then welcomed by the people through a song that they sang for us. We then sang a song for them but it sounded nothing like the perfect harmonies of their African voices. For the next half an hour we had praise and worship in Lamba( the local language) and danced around the fire. It was a real blessing to experience and worship God with them. After singing we had a Bible study on 1 John 4:20-21. Through this study I realized that the village people have the exact same challenges as I do and many of the questions that they asked are questions we also ask. God blessed and after 2 and ½ hours of studying, the people said they need to go tomorrow and if they have anything against a brother or enemy they must go and correct it. They would
then meet the next night to hear what had happened. Amen to real practical theology! What an experience and unique time this was.
The next day we had a great time in the village again but time flu and before we knew it, it was evening again. One of the highlights in the day was going to the market about a 30 minute walk from Kampundu. Here we bought some fresh tomatoes, cooking oil, ground nuts and some really cheap but great toffees. We also tried some of the scones that the ladies sold and they were yummy!
We again were spoiled that evening with great food, some “fretas” like sweet vetkoek, meilies and fried chips. During supper the headman of the village, Pascal came to visit us. He explained to us that the purpose of his visit is to build a relationship with us and that it was a privilege to have had us in Kampundu. We then prayed for him and the leadership he has that God will guide and use him in mighty ways.
Before we knew it the two days were up and we were
saying goodbye to Kampundu village and Leonard’s family. We had breakfast together for our last time and then prayed for Leonard and his whole family. He also then prayed for the yellow team and the ministry we have been called to do this year. We then quickly went to help pack some charcoal in bags from the place that they make it in the village. It was then a very sad and solemn occasion to say goodbye to them but what an extremely blessed time it was.
When God calls us He calls us out of our comfort zone and for me that’s exactly what it was like at Kampundu, however when you accept the call the blessings are GIGANTIC!! I pray that God will challenge us daily to come out of our comfort zones and materialistic lives in order to really reap the benefits and joy of serving others. A big lesson I learnt during these two days was how content these people are with just their needs being filled. Looks as if they have so little but they have everything, those that know Jesus. He
is the one that satisfies and brings the joy and good things in our lives.
God satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Psalms 107:9
Wesley