Wedding

I am finally getting around to updating my blog. Thanks for your patience.

I had a neat opportunity last month. I got to attend a wedding of one of our Church members. It was about 45 kilometers from where I stay-way out in the bush. Selinda and I jumped into the back of the Lorrie truck with about 75 other people. We were scrunched together very tightly. It took us about two hours to get to the marriage house because of the road and also no brakes on the truck.
This wedding was not held in a church because the church building that was there was too small for all the people. It was held at the bride’s house. After arriving, I was ushered to sit with the bapati (the very important people). These were the pastors that were part of the service. We sat, chatted, and drank cibontu, waiting for the ceremony to start. The ceremony was to start about 9 hours, but in usual African fashion did not start until 13 hours. Before the service started, the place was a bustle of activity. The guests were constantly streaming in; some of the ladies were cooking nsima, chicken, vegetables, and goat for the wedding reception. The participants in the wedding were dressing and getting ready to dance. The wedding itself took place under a tent in the middle of the yard. The bapati and I sat in front while under the tent was left empty for dancing. The guests/spectators were seated all around the edge of the tent. The music was extremely loud and there was lots of dancing.
Everyone was so excited and happy to be part of this monumental occasion. The whole ceremony and dancing took four hours.
Going to this event, I learned the power of presence. The family was just so happy that we came. I did not do anything, but just being there meant so much to them. I was very blessed to be part of this-spending time with the people and being part of this special time in their lives.

December/January Update

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I hope that your Christmas and New Year's celebrations were Christ filled and spent with family and friends. Christmas for us here in Zambia was pretty quiet and restful. The four of us missionaries in Zimba had a meal together and took a much needed nap. I cooked up a rack of lamb and it turned out very tasty.
The way the Zambians celebrate Christmas is somewhat different than how it is celebrated in the US . For them it all revolves around the Church. In each Church, people give a few Kwacha so some food can be bought. They have a meal together on Christmas Day. There is a church service that is held on Christmas Day itself. It usually lasts all day or most of it anyway. They sing and dance, do some skits and have a message. After all these are finished, they have the meal. The meal consists of nsima, chicken, and vegetables. By the time they are done eating, it is getting dark so everyone heads for home. They usually do not exchange gifts with one another.
There is an extreme split here. There are those who go to Church on Christmas Day, and those who go to the bar. That is how the day is spent. Very few people stay home for Christmas. So the town is loud with music and the people at the bars.
How did you celebrate Christmas?
The New Year's celebration was very similar. Those who go to Church usually go on New Year's Eve, in the evening, and spend the night. They have an overnight prayer meeting. The night is filled with prayers of thanksgiving for allowing them to see the New Year, and prayers for the upcoming year. Other people go to the bar. The town is loud with people yelling and firecrackers going off all night.
The four of us just visited with each other and had a New Year's BBQ. It was a good time, and again we got some much needed rest. I think we were all in bed by 9:00 pm.
How did you welcome in the New Year?
Thank you for your continued support. The prayer and the financial support is very much appreciated