The Simakakata Story

I can almost hear Ruhtt's singsong voice: "Shepherd, what's wrong with those people?"

"I'm sure it's nothing, Ruhtt," Shepherd replied, "let's go home."

It was 1998. Ruhtt and Shepherd Mbumwae were returning from a long day of work in Simakakata, laying the ground work for a church plant. They had brought a group of students with them to go door to door, speaking to the residents of the village about Jesus. Now they were tired and on their way home, but Ruhtt was disturbed by the behavior of some people walking in the bush just off the highway.

"They look like zombies; what's wrong with them?! Pull over, Shepherd."

Shepherd knew well that when Ruhtt get's her mind set on something, she latches onto it like a pitbull to a favorite toy. Shepherd pulled over.

The people walking like Zombies were blind people. They walked with their hands in front of them, feeling their way around an unknown area. The government had uprooted them from their homes in several cities in the Southern Province, promising them land of their own. They dropped them off in the bush near Simakakata with nothing; they had no food and no hope to get any. When the Mbumwaes pulled over the people asked them, "Where are we? We can hear cars, but we don't know how far or how to get to them to ask for help."

Ruhtt and Shepherd rushed home and gathered food for them. On Monday of that week (and Tuesday and Wednesday and for several weeks) they appealed to the government on their behalf, but the bureaucrats were unable to help. So, Ruhtt and Shepherd organized a group of students to help clear the land and build some rudimentary shelter.

Now, fourteen years later, there is a community of ten families with at least one blind family member.  They living in their own little village with their own church building. Our team was blessed with an opportunity to visit these faithful people last Tuesday to leave them a gift. We brought them a Proclaimer from Faith Comes by Hearing. 

Grayson explains to one of the church leaders how to use the proclaimer.

Angie and Emma pass out gifts to ladies from the community.

We brought frisbees for the young people, but this woman caught the bug.  Here Marti teaches her, but before long she was teaching others.  We were all smiling and laughing.

 

Winter Means Dry

Grayson plays soccer with the elementary kids on the "football pitch."

Did we say that it's winter in Zambia?  And winter means it's the dry season.  Apparently the rainy season lasts about four months and then it doesn't rain again for eight months.  Can you say dry?

Worship with the Sinde Church of Christ

We rode to Sinde Mission on a bus with about forty children from Heart Spring Orphanage.  They sang both English and Tonga choruses for us most of the way.

The Sinde Church of Christ meets in this building, which was originally a house, built in the 1940's by the first Church of Christ missionaries in Zambia.

Chris, as a visiting preacher, was asked to preach as we walked in the door.  He chose a text from 1 Tim. 1:12-17 to talk about how an understanding of God's grace leads to worship.

This is a typical Zambian clothesline.

Twelve girls who attend high school at the Sinde Mission board in this room. Another room like it holds twelve boys.

Sinde Mission Tomorrow

We had planned for a laid back day tomorrow, our last day in Zambia.  (On Monday we begin the long journey home, with a three day layover in Germany.) We had planned to walk around the corner to the Livingstone Central Church of Christ.  Instead we'll be traveling with Jacob Sianungu to Sinde Mission, about 45 minutes from our hotel.

Jacob is the founder and director of Heart Spring Orphanage. He'll be picking us up with a bus along with nineteen children from the orphanage.

Faces

Making due with few resources

Resourceful teachers and kids used stones from the schoolyard to learn division and almost microscopic pencils (see below).

Can you see the pencil in this child's right hand?

Sharon's class

Angie, Grayson, Rachel and Emma enjoyed working with Sharon and her preschool class at Siabalumbi.  Angie connected with her so well that she gave Sharon her Bible as a gift on their last day together.  She underlined Gen. 31:49.

More photos

Chris preached at Siabalumbi our first Sunday in Zambia.  Samuel Moono did a masterful job translating.

Our first morning at Seven Fountains, holding babies and singing songs during morning devotional.

 

 

Thoughts from Gray

So of all the positive things we've gained from Africa no one really hears of the negatives. Its been very interesting learning to use some of the "toilets" or holes in the ground surrounded by a few bricks for privacy. Or riding everywhere in the back of a pick up truck on the "roads". Over all it really hasn't been bad at all tho. Rugged Africa has been a thrilling view into the lives of people who live to work and work to live. I've been greatly humbled seeing these people who will never experience luxury. Or even understand it. Let alone enjoy it. They say, "A day without nshima (the bland ground corn meal they eat) is a day without food." That's something I will never be able to understand. But they have taught me a great deal about humility and hard work. Something that I WILL carry with me back to America.

Random thoughts by Angie

by Angie 

 
I don't even know how to describe the emotions in my heart after being in Zambia for the past three weeks!!!

God has overwhelmed me with his faithfulness in this place, with his love in the warm greeting from the people, his deep love in the faces of the children and babies as they stop and stare at the "makua"... (white people), and then as they warm up and all try to high 5 or hold our hands at once! 

Ruhtt and Shepherd Mbumwae have made a deep impression on my heart in their generous hospitality, fabulous food, life changing teaching in their daily example, and the fellowship we enjoyed daily. 

My emotions are very near the surface as I think of the Mbumwae's, Ba Wilson, and his infectious smile and jovial attitude, his story telling and contagious laugh. Joan and the precious babies at 7fountains orphan care.  Of dinners by candlelight... Stories at the fire.  Siabalumbi school with Sharon Mulanga, and Clinton, mestridah, josphat, rhoyd, mapenzi... Of nalabumba and God's blessing of finding water in a village that needed a source of life and encouragement, that came at the end of a week of much prayer for them and the good news being shared... Of see you laters.... When they are so far away... And Emma's baptism in Zambia is the cherry on the top... Sweet surrender....

God has been good to us.  Words cannot describe. We are all changed. My prayer is that we will be different because of what He has shown us in his grace.
Keep praying 

Sunday, 17 June, 2012: Seven Fountains

by Chris

Zamtime has begun to seep into our daily routine. We arrived for church at Seven Fountains about ten minutes late, expecting Bible class to begin at 9:00. Wilson Siazilo, the elder statesman of the church, greeted us in the churchyard. Being the guest speaker for the morning, I was embarrassed and so I apologized. We made our way to the entrance of the church, stepping over the numerous cowpatties in the church yard, and walked inside to find that no one else had arrived yet. Gotta love Zamtime.

Bible study started at about 9:30. We discussed Deuteronomy 8. We celebrated the Lord's Supper with saltine crackers and watery wine, and listened to Chris and Shepherd preach a bilingual sermon on spiritual growth from Phil. 1:6. Seventy two people were present, contributing a total of 139,150 kwacha (about $28). At the end of the services a quartet of young men honored our team by singing three beautiful songs in Tonga. (Wow, the Tonga people have a gift for singing!)

Finally we participated in a wonderful tradition. Wilson asked our team to exit the church first, as honored guests, and we stood just outside the door. Then, as one of the ladies led an echoing song of good bye, the congregation sang and filed past, shaking our hands, one at a time.

Loving On Babies at Seven Fountains

by Emma

To say we haven't been changed by our time in Zambia would be a lie. From the smiling faces at Siabalumbi, to the warm handshakes of the blind people at Simakakata, we have been welcomed with love. It is for this reason that I am not particularly keen to leave this place. All are happy to greet us by saying "Mwabuka buti!" And and all hold out their hands with gratitude at the gifts we bring.

At the beginning of our trip, we stayed at Seven Fountains orphanage. It was here that we faced no hesitation about the "makua," no curious stares. To my surprise, the aunties left us alone with the babies- on the first day no less! The aunties, patient, kind, compassionate, and joyful, looked genuinely glad to meet us. We were outside- in the spacious courtyard, the babies' playpen. Instantly I bonded with Sibajene. They call her Jene, pronounced Janie. She's a toothless, consistently happy, sweet eight month old., impossible to not befriend. I not only bonded with Jene, but became attached to Abigail. As a sassy almost two year old, Abi's cirrhosis, toddling steps, and silly inconsistencies immediately captivated me.

On Sunday, after church, we walked to the orphanage for one last visit- we had been invited to lunch. During final preparations for lunch, Rachel, Grayson, and I waited patiently in the room outside the nurseries. The only one awake was Cornolius- Gray's little buddy. After peeking consistently into the nursery containing Abi's crib, for maybe ten minutes, I finally saw sweet chocolate brown eyes peeking out at me. With permission, I picked up my Abi, despite her leggings being soaked through (as they wear cloth diapers). She and I very patiently waited our turn as the aunty changed Lumamba. When she had on a dry dress and leggings, we sat out on the ABC mat. Here we practiced saying our favorite word "Emma", "yeah yeah yeah", and also "boop boop boop boop!" while gently tapping each other on the nose.

After lunch, with the dishes washed, and put away, Rachel and I immediately found our way to the other kitchen. Hearing laughter, and baby chatter, we grinned and hurried to join in. Practically sitting under the table, I motioned for Abi to crawl over into my lap. It seemed that not two minutes later, Gray came and impatiently told us to say farewell. Tears welled up in my eyes as I kissed Abi's cheek for the last time. I will probably never see my sweet, independent, crazy toddler again. When I tried to put her down, I could no longer blink them back: Abi did NOT want to be put down. Clinging to my arms, and wrapping her legs around me, she made a desperate exclamation. As I hugged her for the last time, I prayed that God would watch over my baby girl, keep her safe, and hopefully send her back to her family. Then, before leaving, I prayed this same prayer for each of the little one as I kissed their head, sleepy or wide awake, and said my final goodbye. 

Although we are not related by blood, I am now connected to each of these children. I will never forget their smiling faces, as God has used them to make an imprint on my heart.

Mural

Angie, Grayson, Emma, and Rachel painted this mural inside two of the five churches we visited, in Nalabumba and Siabalumbi.  They were going to paint it in Mutala also, but the workers who were asked to paint the undercoat misunderstood the instructions to paint an area "at the front of the church." Instead, they painted the front facade of the church.  We're considering painting the mural on a banner when we return to the States and then sending it with the next team to come over.

It's a timeline of the Bible.

Saturday, 16 June 2012: Gathering to Listen to the Makua

by Chris

I was told before we left Topeka that our white skin would be an attraction. We've felt the stares of the people almost the entire time. It was most blatant, however, when we returned to The Plateau after lunch. Mr. Kajolo said, "Why don't you and your family stay here and we'll send the people to you?" He and the rest of the men walked through the compound, inviting the people to come listen to the makua preach. Makua means "white people." We have heard that word often as we walk through the villages.

The children came first. We sat in the middle of the "football pitch," the soccer field, and sang Bible songs. Mostly the children just stared at us. After about thirty minutes the adults started to arrive. I got up to move to the adult group and Abson came to join Angie and the kids in order to translate for them. They sang more songs and told a Bible story.

Mr. Kajolo had Joseph lead a couple of songs for the adults and then introduced me. I preached with a translator again, breaking my sentences up into brief thoughts. I told them a little about my own experience with a messenger of God, people who came to point me to Christ. I shared with them what the Bible says about sin and separation from God. We were created by God to be with him and he is our greatest joy, our greatest satisfaction. Without him we will always be dissatisfied. And there's nothing we can do about it. But Jesus has already done everything about it. He volunteered to be sacrificed on a Roman cross in order to bring us to God.

With the winter sun hanging low on the Zambian horizon, burning the back of my pale neck and turning the elephant grass into waving gold, twelve people stood and wanted to be restored to him.

Photos from Zambia

We have access to a good internet signal for the first time in weeks.  Here are a few photos of our work.

Chris receives a gift of ground nuts from a village leader at Nalabumba Community School.

Marti receives a gift of a chicken from Tryness after our work at Nalabumba.

Children carrying water from the community well.  They have to carry it about half a mile for drinking, cooking, bathing.

This is one of the "taxis" that ferry people to and from some of the villages we've visited.

About 25 students from the teachers' college gather at the Mbumwae's home every Monday night.

Saturday, 16 June 2012: Lunch

by Chris

After Patson's baptism we returned to Seven Fountains for a break. The men who were leading us had not planned to eat any lunch: "We're not working hard, so we don't really need food," Abson told me. We plump Americans, however, bit our tongues so that we would not complain about hunger pains.

We had prepared peanut butter sandwiches, granola bars and a bag of trail mix. I walked around offering to share our lunch with the men. When I offered the trail mix, one of the younger men, named Wisdom, was hesitant: "I'll give it a trial," he said with an accent. I gave him a small handful and moved on to the rest of the men. By the time I came to the end of the line he was said with a smile, "Mmmm, I'm ready to eat some now!"

A Prayer for Mutala

by Angie 

Psalm 46 (see below) was my prayer today after we visited Mutala and saw the discouragement in the teachers there.  The village has a power hungry chief and demands money, persecutes his people, and leads poorly.  The people here don't want to build the school, which means making bricks by hand, harvesting river sand, etc... So the school has two teachers left.  
This Psalm was in my read the the bible in a year palm this week and I was a few days late in reading it... But it was God's timing... As it was just what I needed to pray for them and lift them to the throne room.
Pray for Mutala and the people there.

 

Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Do not put your trust in princes,
in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the foreigner
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. The Lord reigns forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord. (Psalm 146:1-10 NIV) 

Door to Door at The Plateau

Saturday, 16 June, 2012

by Chris

The five Stewarts loaded into the king cab of Mbumwae's Isuzu pickup at 8:45am on Saturday, June 16.* Grayson and I were glad to be able to ride in the front of the truck as we drove for fifteen minutes over the sandy, rocky, rutted path to Seven Fountains church building.  On many of these trips, as we've bounced along, I wonder what the roads are like during the rainy season.  I'm told that many of the villages we've visited are inaccessible.  

When we arrive Mr. Kajolo and Abson Muumbe were there waiting to lead us.  We walked twenty minutes through the bush to The Plateau, a small residential community established by a neighboring farmer for his workers. The plan was to walk from house to house, meeting the residents, asking for permission to speak with them about the things of God, and to invite them to an afternoon gathering for preaching and singing.

We divided into three groups. Grayson, Emma, and Rachel formed a group with Richard Jabinika to work in an open field with the children. Angie went to the right with Abson and a few other men, while I joined Mr. Kajolo, Mr. Muntanga, and Joseph going to the left.

We spent about three hours talking with the people, sharing the Bible and inviting them to return for a gathering at 15 hours (3:00pm). The two groups came back together at about 12:30pm as Mr. Kajolo's group joined Abson's group at the home of a man named Patson. Patson confessed belief in Christ and expressed interest in baptism.

We sent for Richard and the Stewart kids, who had grown a little tired of singing and playing games with nearly fifty children after 3 hours, walked back through the bush to Seven Fountains. Thirteen of us packed into the Isuzu and drove to Namwianga Dam, where Patson was baptized. I was happy for Patson, but I was also a little nervous for him and Joseph who baptized him. We had heard a report of a crocodile eating a dog during a baptism some time ago.

*We've been praying for Marti as she strives to be faithful to our mission here while also finishing writing for her doctoral comps by the 20th. The team decided it would be good and right for her to stay behind today to write. It's going to be tight.

**I'm not sure why it's called The Plateau. We did not climb any hills to get there.

Workshop for Teachers

Eight teachers from 5 different community schools gathered at the Seven Fountains Church for a day of equipping and encouragement. Marti masterfully led the five hour workshop. The rest of the team provided support, including the preparation of a lunch of chicken salad sandwiches on home baked rolls. We couldn't tell if they liked our food or not--most Zambian don't eat much other than the traditional Zambian meal of nshima and relish.

Some of the teachers walked as far as seven miles to attend. Consequently we started on Zamtime: We had planned to start at 9am, but got it going at about 10, with two of the teachers arriving at 2pm.

After the workshop we exchanged contact information; we won't see most of these teachers again.  Then, before returning to the Mbumwae's, we loved on the babies and the "aunties" at Seven Fountains orphan care home. Emma said, "I either want to stay here and love on babies forever, or take them all back with me. It's going to be heartbreaking to leave them."

Power Outage Again

Thursday night we spent several hours waiting for the power to come back on. Every Monday and Thursday nights the power company imposes a "load sharing" blackout from 6-8pm. (Though we're learning to always be ready for the power to go out.  It is unreliable at best.)  We gathered in the living room around the fire when the sun set shortly after 6pm.  We began to tell stories as the blackout stretched longer than usual. We heated water for tea in the fireplace and got to hear the stories of how both Ruhtt and Shepherd came to Christ and how they later met in college. We finally gave up and went to bed around 10pm. Unfortunately we failed to turn off the light switches and almost every light in the house was on when the power came back at 11:30pm.