Let Them Praise His Name with Dancing

“Let them praise his name with dancing,

making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!”

(Ps. 149:3)

“Praise the LORD!

Praise God in his sanctuary;

praise him in his mighty heavens!

Praise him for his might deeds;

praise him according to his excellent greatness!

Praise him with trumpet sound;

praise him with lute and harp!

Praise him with tambourine and dance;

praise him with strings and pipe!

Praise him with sounding cymbals;

praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!

Praise the LORD!”

(Ps. 150)

I love Sundays in Zambia. Absolutely love them. Here’s a glimpse into a Zambian church service at Siavonga Main Baptist Church.

Sunday as I parked my car at the church (I was the only car in the field, as everyone else walks to church, of course) and opened my car door, I heard my favorite sound in all of Zambia—the harmonies of Zambians pouring out their praises to God in their native tongue. I joined my friends Sara and Martha on a pew on the left side of the church with the rest of the ladies. The men are on the right side. And these are some of the things that the next two and a half hours of my life are filled with:

singing, singing, and more singing

We sing choruses with no screen telling us the words and no hymnbook. We sing hymns from the Tonga hymnbook. We sing hymns from the Nyanja hymnbook. There is lots of singing. And let me tell you, Zambians, they can harmonize like no one’s business. Seriously, it’s beautiful every time. There are no instruments, just voices and clapping and shouts of “Ayyyyeeeeee!” as we worship the Savior in spirit and in truth.

dancing

Where there is singing, there is dancing. In fact, on this particular Sunday, the elder leading the beginning of the service stopped us after singing through one verse of a song and told us we were not really dancing like the song said. It was a song about marching and searching here and there and finding there is no one like Jesus. And so we started again, marching, searching, and dancing around the room, then declaring together that there is no one like Jesus.

choir

Okay, so maybe this could have been included with the singing, singing, and more singing heading, but the choir deserves its own section in my book. When it’s time for the choir to sing a selection of songs, women scattered throughout the pews line up on the far left wall behind the choir director. And then they begin singing, stomping, and swaying their way up to the front of the church. I love it. After they are all in place, the choir director hums a few lines of a song and then they begin to sing that song. They have dances that go along with each of their songs. They sing several songs and then return to their seats in the same way they left them—with singing, stomping, and swaying.

offering

This, of course, is done to a song. The same song every Sunday in fact. And you won’t believe what it is. I promise you’ll be surprised. Every Sunday, as we walk up to the front and place our offerings in the baskets, we sing… “Bringing in the Sheaves.” Every week. I have been to several churches and this is true at all of them. Women take their offering up first, and once all the women have placed their offering and returned to their seats, the men take their offerings up.

prayer

If you’re not a person who likes to pray in public, then be thankful you don’t come to Siavonga Main. Because many times, they just call on someone in the congregation to stand up and pray. This Sunday, a lady was asked to pray after the offering. I’m not sure what she was saying, but I can tell you it was good. It was literally the most heartfelt cry out to God I’ve ever heard, and I didn’t understand a word of it. It was beautiful.

sermon

I have been so impressed with the pastors God has raised up at the churches I’ve visited in Siavonga. They preach the word of God with reckless abandon. They’re not worried about stepping on toes or offending anyone. Last week, our sermon was on the Great Commission. The pastor said at one point, “We Zambians, we have been receivers of the Word for too long. It is time for us to be sharers of the Word too.” And this Sunday the sermon was on Jonah. “We are spared every second of every day because God has a plan for deliverance for all people and He uses us to proclaim that deliverance. If we are not doing that, if we are not sharing the Word of God and His salvation, then we are no better than Jonah because we are running from the very thing He has called us to do with our lives.” Preach it, Roderick.

departing

After the sermon (and a few more songs, of course) it’s time to depart. While singing, the pastor exits the church, followed by the rest of the men and then the women and children. But you don’t just get out the door and start walking home. Oh no, that would not do in this culture. When the pastor exits, he stands just outside the door. The person who follows him shakes his hand, then stands beside him. He is followed by the next man who shakes both of their hands and then joins the line. Everyone in the church follows this pattern. That way, every single person greets every single person. No one could possibly be left out. I kinda love it.  It’s pretty wonderful.

And that’s that. That’s Sunday. That’s church at Siavonga Main.

Faithful in the Small

I get asked for rides on a fairly regular basis here. And to be completely honest, I almost always decline and keep on driving. But sometimes the Spirit tugs on your heart a little.

This morning as I drove up to my property’s gate by the road, I saw a lady walking. She had a large basket of produce on her head, mostly likely on her way into the market to try to sell her goods and make her day’s wages. This is not at all an unusual sight for me to see as I drive through town each day. I smiled and waved at her as I looked for the gate keys in my truck. She smiled and waved in return. She hesitated for a moment, and then continued on her journey.

I went through my routine… get out, unlock and open the gate, get back in the truck, drive through the gate, get out again and lock the gate back behind me.

And of course, as I turned onto the road, the lady had not made it too far ahead of me. She turned as she heard the truck coming up behind her. I slowed down as I neared her and she stuck out her hand. I stopped and rolled down the window. In her broken English she said, “I go to market.” I asked if she wanted a ride. She just smiled. I unlocked the doors on the passenger side of the car. She climbed in the back seat, set her basket in her lap, and shut the door. We exchanged names and I started to drive. It was all I could do to keep from laughing as went over a bumpy part of the road and she went a little airborne, probably wondering why she ever thought to ask the muzungu (white) girl for a ride. Walking does save you from the bumpiness of a car ride if nothing else. I tried to ask her a couple more questions but she just smiled and stared at me blankly. She eventually offered up something along the lines of, “English no bwanji,” meaning her English was not good. 

And then when I reached my turning point off the main road, I stopped to let her out. She tried to open the door but failed. Once again holding back laughter, I reached back and opened the door for her. She got out, placed her basket back on her head and called for some kids to come close the door. I turned to say goodbye and she was standing by the passenger window, clapping her hands together and smiling at me. I returned the gesture and we both went our separate ways.

And that was it. No big conversation that led to her accepting Christ. I even forgot to give her a tract in her heart language when she got out. Just a ride a couple of minutes up the road.

Why I felt led to give this woman a ride this morning, I don’t know. But sometimes I think God can take even the smallest things and use them. So I think it’s important to be faithful even in those small, seemingly meaningless things when we feel God telling us to do something. I think those can be the things we often pass up—the small things we don’t think will make a difference. Maybe God just wanted to use me to bless this woman’s day by giving her a small break from her long daily walk. Maybe it ends there. Maybe God has a bigger plan for it in her life that I’ll never know.

And these small things, they certainly aren’t limited to life here in Zambia. I think the things we like to dub “random acts of kindness” can be used by God in big, not random at all, ways if we’ll only be faithful to do them when He call us. So I encourage you to find those things, those ever so small acts of kindness the Lord places on your heart and do them. Don’t shy back from doing something just because you don’t see how it will make any big difference. Be faithful to do every task God calls you to, no matter how big or small and trust Him with the rest. "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it" (1 Thes. 5:24).

After a long hiatus... I'm BACK!

I keep thinking maybe one day I'll get over the beauty of this place. But I truly hope I never do. I hope I never look out over Lake Kariba without being in absolute awe of the beauty of creation here in Siavonga, Zambia. Let me just give you a little sneak peak to the view from my back porch. I think you'll understand what I'm saying, though it's hard to truly capture the beauty in a picture.

See what I mean? "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork" (Psalm 19:1). And to think, the beauty of the creation doesn't even begin to compare to the beauty of the Creator! All of creation screams out for the glory of God. And I stand in awe of the Creator.

I thought pictures would be the best way to update, because as they say, "a picture is worth a thousand words." Enjoy:

Children at Namumu Primary School waiting for class to start
Namumu Primary School is connected to the Namumu Orphanage in Siavonga.
The orphanage is for older children. The youngest child there now is an 8 year old girl.
Praying for God to show me the ways He would have for me to get involved at Namumu!

Scripture Union at Siavonga High School
Every Wednesday at 4pm, right after school ends, students gather in one of the classroom for a time of worship and Bible study.
Praying for relationships to be built with the girls in this group that will lead to small group Bible studies and discipleship.

The Langston kiddos and their friends singing "Open the Eyes of my Heart"
I am so blessed to spend my days teaching the Langston children.
My students become teachers in the afternoons after we finish as they play school with their friends.
Pray for God to give me wisdom and creativity in my teaching.

My sweet ride :)
You have to love the studded BMZ on the side.
Thanks for your prayers for my adjustment to driving in Zambia. The Lord has answered and I'm a gear-shifting, opposite side of the car and road driving girl now!

Thank you for your prayers for me. I just recently moved to a house with better Internet service than I had before, so I will do my best to update more regularly now so you can stay updated on how to pray for me and the work God is doing here in Siavonga!

It Takes a Village: A Photo Blog

I went into Kawilizhi, a village near my supervisor's house, today to learn how to cook a traditional Zambian meal and learn more about the Tonga culture. Here's some photos from the day:

My kitchen for the day

Making cishu, the side dish to the staple food, nshima

smoke rising

nshima

cooking

washing dishes

time to eat!

the leftovers

bucket and bowl for washing hands

and the truck got stuck in the mud...

More people showed up to help

And then more...

It takes a village....

that face, haha!

success, back in the car!

the mud we were stuck in

and our tools that got us out

Under the African Rain Clouds

How did everything arrive here on earth?

Why are we here? What is the reason we live?

Why is there evil in the world?

What happens when a person dies?

Who buries them? Where are they buried?

What happens to the person's spirit? Where does it go? Does it die with the body?

How does a man choose a wife?

How is the bride price determined? 

If a man wants a second (or third or fourth) wife, how does that work? 

These are just a few of the questions I have been able to spend my afternoons asking the Tonga people. After a morning full of studying the ciTonga language, I go out in the afternoon, either with my supervisor's wife or an interpreter and visit with different women and ask these questions and so many more. It's been another reminder to me of how welcoming this culture is. We can walk up to a person's yard, greet them, and then ask if they have time to help me learn about the baTonga people. And they almost always say yes. I can only think of one lady who was on her way to sell things in the market and didn't have the time. Every other home has welcomed us. And so we sit outside under the African sun (or these days, the African rain clouds that come with the rainy season) and chat. They always bring a wooden bench for me to sit on. They usually sit on the ground or on the concrete porch area outside their house. I sometimes feel silly sitting on the bench when I would be just as happy to sit with them on the ground, but I dare not offend their gesture of hospitality and respect by saying so. And I ask question after question. Some people are more open to talk with me than others. Sometimes things are lost in translation. But still I learn from every single conversation. 

And with each conversation, I fall more in love with the people I will be living with for the next two years. I hope my time here is spent as a learner just as much as it is spent as a teacher. I look forward to getting back to Siavonga in a couple of weeks and getting to build relationships with women and girls that will be my friends and cultural teachers while I am here. 

I do ask that you be praying for my health. I have spent the past several days not feeling well, which has kept me from doing many of the things I was so looking forward to doing during my time of orientation here with my supervisor. I am feeling better today, though trying not to do so much that I backslide tomorrow. Pray I will have really good health these last few days I have here at orientation so I will be able to learn and share more with the Tonga people. 

And because I know you're all dying for some pictures:

Micah, Emily, me, and Taylor at my airport arrival

coming in from the fields

outdoor cooking

These children waited by our car for almost an hour while we talked with people just so they could wave and say "Hello!"

sunset over Lake Kariba from the Langstons' kitchen window

the kids playing church with friends in the yard

Mwa buka buti?

Mwa buka buti? (That would be the morning greeting in Tonga. More literally asking, “How have you risen?”)

I am in love with these people and this place. Truly, I am. I feel so at home here in Siavonga. It’s been hard for me to think of what to write, because it’s hard to put everything into words. And the Internet connection has kept me from posting a blog too J Siavonga is absolutely beautiful though. Here’s the view from the Langstons’ veranda overlooking Lake Kariba:

Everyone I have met has been so wonderful and welcoming. I’ve been to the market a couple of times and I love meeting different women who work in the shops. I even got to practice my Tonga speaking to buy bread from the bakery. (Ndi yanda kuula cinkwa.) The woman laughed and helped me say it a little more accurately. But the smile on her face from my effort made the language learning all worth it.

On Sunday we went to a local church service in Siavonga. I really loved it, though I was a little sore after 3 and a half hours of sitting on a wooden bench. They LOVE their music. And even though I didn’t understand one word of what they were singing most of the time, their love and passion for God was so beautiful and exuberant. It was so wonderful to be a part of worshipping God in their culture. I was just soaking it all in and truly humbled to be a part of it.

I am also filled with anticipation to see what God is going to do here in the next two years. The local elementary school is overflowing with so many students that the children go to school in shifts for just a few hours a day. The high school hosts a Scripture Union where we’ll be able to go in and share the gospel with the next generation. There are some different villages around Siavonga that we’re praying God opens doors for us to enter into.

I’m also excited to see what God has in store for me personally over the next two years. I know there are so many things He has planned to teach me, humble me, stretch me, and grow me over these years as I spend time in Zambia. I’m excited about the friendships He’ll form and use to give me a new perspective on life. I’m anticipating seeing Him work in ways my own life and in the lives of those around me that are different than I’ve experienced before.

Continue praying for me. The Lord has been so faithful through the beginning of this transition to my new life in Africa and I’m praying He continues to sustain me and encourage me through each day. He’s filled me with His joy each morning and I’m so grateful for that.

Twalumba. (Thank you.)