Mukaziwa Outreach

Last Sunday Lauren and I went on an outreach with the Heavenly Echoes choir from the college. (David and Rodgers were doing medical mission follow up somewhere else.) I had arranged for the group to take the Coaster bus which has seating for 24 people in addition to the driver. I explained to the person who was in charge that Lauren and I were going as well as two Zambian evangelists who had just planted the congregation, and that he should recruit up to 20 others who would go along. In typical Zambian fashion, we managed to cram a few more than the 24 seats were made for, but no one seemed to mind doubling up.

Our destination was Mukaziwa, a commercial farm a few kilometers away from Sandy Hill. A church had been started there in the 90's, but it died out until just last week when one of the Zambian bicycle evangelists planted a new congregation there. Our outreach group was there to encourage the new group on its second meeting date.

Lauren and I got two of the college guys to help us translate for the children's class, and we did the children's class before the regular service began. The college students conducted the entire morning worship assembly. Then the special singing began. The Heavenly Echoes were first with five of their songs. Next came "Fishers of Men," a group of six college guys who are also in the Heavenly Echoes. Finally, the Mukaziwa women shared their own gift of song.

The church leaders insisted that we stay for chibwantu, "the brew you chew" made from maize and "certain roots of the forest." The Zambians love this drink that looks like milk with clumps of cornmeal. I've tried it many times but still haven't developed a real taste for it. Lauren and I had our water bottles anyway, and no one seemed to mind.

It was 2:30 before we arrived home--tired, dusty, and starving, but renewed in spirit by the fellowship we shared with the college students and our fellow Christians at Mukaziwa.