Worship.

(Kevin posted this this morning from Zambia)

The Chapel at Westminster Abbey

We have had so many chances to participate in worship over the past week – to lead, to be lead by others, sometimes formally, sometimes informally.  Really, our entire effort here for the past week and next few days is an act of worship.  As you can imagine, much of the worship style that is seen in this land is different in so many ways to our own traditions, but actually much is very similar as well.  In all, it has been so moving to know that no matter where we are or how we worship, we all praise the same God!

Yesterday (Sunday), the work team had an opportunity to worship among several congregations here in Nyangwena (the name of the village in Chongwe district nearest the Esther School).  I joined Gerardus and Machteld Kollenhoven and their daughters Lucinda and Elise at the Word of Life Church, just down the road some.  I obviously didn’t take any pictures during the service, but I hope to get down there again later to capture the building where the service was held.  Very different from my church, and certainly from the cathedral at Westminster Abbey where I had stood just a week prior.  But this building was beautiful in it’s own way, especially once worship began.

This is actually a church we visited in Kalingalinga - a slum in Lusaka where GEMS is thriving through clubs

The congregation was seated on wooden slats balancing on piles of rocks within the open, one room dirt-floor building.  Gert (who is even taller than I am) and I perched on a 2X4 that was open and available.  We later realilzed that it was the only “pew” directly in line with the open window area that allowed the morning sunlight in for the duration of the 2 1/2 hour service.

As with most of what we are experiencing here, I couldn’t begin to describe what the experience in that little church was like.  I guess like the pictures of the sunsets I’ve been taking, words and pictures could hardly capture what this is like.  I will say that there is nothing quite like the music here.  The richness and beauty of the vocals is literally heavenly.  I couldn’t have imagined being moved to tears by songs that I couldn’t even understand the words to.  Then, in the midst of it all, the congregation broke out into a rendition of “How Great Thou Art” in English that would have rivalled any professional choir.

The messages (there were two) could have been preached in any American church othere than the fact that they were simultaneously given in English and the local Nyanja dialect.  The teaching was offered by the local Government School headmaster and covered themes of Creation, Fall, Salvation, and Redemption.  We used the same Bible and followed a similar format to worship, but there was a depth and a richness to the service that was beyond what I have seen before.  After the service, we were asked to line up outside so we could be greeted formally, but very warmly, by each of the congregations 60 or so attendants.

Later in the day we hosted our own Bible School program for the local village children.  We sang worship songs, did a puppet show, had some fun outside, and did two craft stations including the Salvation bracelet.  Despite the controlled chaos and a few children upended at the sight of the puppets 😦  we experienced much joy sharing with the children here.  Hopefully, Tina will post a picture from that event later as I have had a weak internet signal here and uploading pictures has been difficult.  Notice in the picture the three young girls or so who carried thier young siblings in on their backs.  The girls were so young that the only slightly smaller children’s feet were nearly dragging on the ground.

All beautiful sights.  Thanks for following and for the many prayers you are sending.  I can feel them across the ocean!

Breakfast time…

K