Sunday, December 11, 2005

Sunday at Siamonkuli

Today we made our third visit to Siamonkuli, a new congregation that started in September as a result of the medical mission. Our first visit was in October when we met with a handful of people gathered in a schoolroom. In November, we visited again and saw a few more people attending. I had 14 children in Bible class that day. Today we were pleased to find that the numbers have doubled. I had 30 children in class and there was a corresponding increase in the number of adults. Two women requested prayers after the sermon.

Even the trip to Siamonkuli was different today. Since our last visit the rains have been plentiful and the countryside that was dry and brown is now a lush green. The roads were even more jolting than last time due to new potholes formed by erosion from the rains. David had to use four-wheel drive through some of the huge mud puddles. Another bit of excitement occurred when a four-foot long monitor lizard ran across the road in front of us.

We took six of our Zambian friends from Namiwanga with us to serve as translators and to encourage the members at Siamonkuli. We made the circuit of houses picking them up early this morning. As soon as the vehicle was headed down the main road they started singing, and they sang non-stop for the next hour and a half as we traveled. After two hours of the worship service, I was sure they would be too tired to sing on the way home, but I was wrong. They sang all the way back to Namwianga. What a blessing it is to work with people who joyfully live out the scriptural command in Ephesians 5:19 as they “speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. “

1 comment:

Ginger said...

what would the world be like if all Christians could keep that enthusiam for worship! I guarentee that the US would not be in the condition it is in.