We had a special celebration on Trinity Sunday, the induction of Deaconess Given Nanyangwe at Mwandi. It was a joyful time with the presence of the Western Presbytery Bishop, Secretary and Ministers from neighbouring Consistories of Livingstone and Sesheke and their wives.
There were three combined choirs from Mwandi and the outlying congregations who provided a wonderful musical accompaniment to the proceedings. After the service and charge by the Bishop, Deaconess Nanyangwe was presented with gifts from various bodies in the consistory to welcome her, these included an electric stove, a mattress, cooking pots, mealiemeal, chickens (live) and blankets. Deaconess Nanyangwe served at Senanga prior to coming to Mwandi. Deaconesses in the United Church of Zambia often take on the role as Social Workers. A celebration lunch of fried fish, chicken, stewed beef, cabbage buhobe and rice was then served to over 100 invited guests.
This year’s Mission Centre Programme continues at Sooka Church. This is the church that was roofed by Houston and Killellan. Fourteen young people are living there by faith for four months of hard work and study, a balanced combination of the practical and theoretical. It is a call to service, equipping them for incarnational work that is a reflection of the work of God in Christ in the Church and in the world. They are called to be expressions of his transforming love and to be his Body, a Church in Mission, through engagement and involvement in their local communities.
Two weekends ago the Anamoyo met at Sikuzu for a weekend of prayer and fellowship. Ida and the Deaconess and other ladies from congregations through out the Consistory walked there. Keith was drafted in to transport all the supplies and baggage that was needed there and back. It was a memorable occasion holding devotions in the dark round the campfire and sleeping in the church. There was nowhere to hang a mosquito-net so it was a new experience learning to sleep under a blanket with it covering your head. This is what is done in many rural households where there are no mosquito nets. Fortunately at this time of year, the cold season, the mosquitoes are fewer than at other times.
Gregor has just got engaged to Sarah, a lovely Welsh girl he first met at Mwandi where she was a volunteer. Mwandi is gaining a growing reputation as a place where matches are made. To our knowledge there are at least five couples who have married after meeting each other at Mwandi during our time here.
Finally, following the death of the Second President of the Republic of Zambia Frederick Chiluba on Saturday 18 June there are seven days of national mourning. The former President was a strong Pentecostal Christian and came from a background in the Trade Union Movement. He stood against President Kenneth Kaunda in 1991 in the first multi-party election held as the period of the one party African Socialist State, called Humanism in Zambia, was coming to a close. Under his presidency, freedom of expression was guaranteed for the first time, and more controversially the structural adjustment plan to liberalise the economy was implemented and Zambia was declared a Christian nation. On leaving office he was troubled for a long time by allegations of corruption.
We leave you with a number of prayer points:
- We give thanks for Deaconess Given Nayangwe and pray that she and her dependants will settle down and she will be blessed in her role as deaconess ministering to those in need.
- We give thanks for the young people at the Mission Centre at Sooka and ask God’s blessing on them and on Pastor Percy Muleba as he runs the programme.
- We give thanks for provision of funds to build the Community School at Sikuzu and ask God to bless its construction and keep the workers and members of the community working there safe from any injury. We pray that the Lord will continue to meet the other needs to complete the project.
- We pray for continued peace in Zambia as we head towards the election campaign
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