Navy Showers and Worshipping with Joy

Saturday- Arrival Day

We arrived at the IMB Guest house to find that the power had been out. After a couple of days of traveling, showers were in order but many found that there was no hot water in their bathrooms. So, some learned to take a Navy shower: get wet…turn the water off…lather up…rinse…and repeat.

I have to admit that it was pretty cool to be putting the finishing touches on my sermon by candlelight.

We had dinner together at the Guest House. It was Pizza Hut and they delivered! Only the second Pizza Hut in all of Africa (the first being in South Africa) has just been built here in Lusaka. Laura and Rachael went and did some grocery shopping and we all got to bed super early to sleep off the jet lag.

Sunday- Worshiping with Joy 

We got up this morning and found that the power had come back on during the night so most of our team finally got a hot shower. Rachael, Laura, Claudia and Libbie surprised everyone with breakfast Tacos this morning. The power came back on just long enough to cook the eggs (but not long enough to finish making coffee). It paid off to be an early riser- I did get a hot shower and cup of hot tea before the power went off. Huge blessings. Someone called it: Glamping (glamorous camping) at it’s best.

We went to church this morning to worship with Joy Baptist Church, the church that will be sponsoring the new church plant. At orientation last night we had been told to expect at least a 3 hour service  and Jeff reminded me that unless I speak for at least 45 minutes to an hour the people will feel cheated. (not a problem!)

Jeff taught a large group Sunday School and then the service began. Music is a huge part of the Zambian culture and truly shows in worship. The little church we were in had four different choirs that led in worship and then the introduced us as the “Visitor’s Choir” (Each choir had a very formal name like: Bethel Choir and New Jerusalem choir). We sang a couple of simple songs we learned during previous trips to Africa and by the second verse a group from their youth choir ran up front and joined us. They were overjoyed that we sang and the room was filled with the African shrills that serve as an Amen.

The service including Sunday School went four hours and afterward we were all guests at the Pastor’s home for a traditional African meal. This meal was delicious and included: shredded cabbage, tomato sauce, fried chicken, and enshema. Enshema is basically grits with all the water cooked out. It resembles mashed potatoes but is very thick. It is rolled into a ball and used  as the basic food item with the cabbage and chicken being called “relish”. It was interesting to see everyone eating with their hands and although it was quite different people seemed to truly love it and had their fill.

Please join us in prayer for:

Hut to Hut Evangelism Teams- this begins tomorrow- Ask for boldness for team members

Mission VBS- also begins tomorrow- Pray for a good number of children

Rachael- experiencing some headaches

Wayne- having discomfort in his lower back

Libbie- doing well but for continued clear breathing