Although I haven't posted much to my blog in a while, life in Zambia continues to both awe and inspire me. The problem is how to convey my thoughts in pictures and short writings. Each is multi-faceted requiring communication skills that frankly, I do not possess. And yet, I am the one God has placed here and not a more talented writer.
This particular post is especially near and dear to my heart for it shows what can be accomplished if even a few leaders are dedicated to living as Jesus did when everything and everyone around them says, "It can't be done here." We are privileged to have two such leaders living right here on our property. They are our dear friends Bridget and Augustine
Matamba.
Augustine became the pastor of the "Holy Spirit Church of Zambia" when it began four years ago. He had no formal training nor any books to help him understand the Bible. But he studied the scriptures every day and sought God on how they applied to his personal life. It is from this humble beginning that the church was born.
It sits in one of the poorest areas of
Ndola and is filled with people who struggle daily just to survive. And yet, these people have obtained a plot of land, built a building, and planted several crops from which they will feed many children and their families.
How can this be? How can people worship without fancy sound systems and instruments? How can they "enjoy" a church service when there are no lights, no heat or air conditioning, and no electricity? Until recently, there wasn't even a roof to shield them from the blazing sun or torrential downpours. And it was only this week that the final pieces of roofing were added.
So how do they do it? They worship the Lord with their entire lives. They focus on all that they DO have and not on what they are lacking. Is the church perfect? Well, it is filled with people so you just know it isn't. They struggle with many of the same things that our churches at home continually battle. Most of the work is done by just a few of the people.
Hmmm, that sure sounds familiar.
Bricks are needed to construct a building. Where do they come from? Well, the photo above shows Augustine standing inside a large termite mound (Zambians call them ant hills). These mounds are created by termites over many years and the dirt inside is ideal for brick making. After the bricks are formed, they must be cooked for a week or more to make them strong. I'll post photos of how this is done later this week.
This is the front of the church. The door was added two weeks ago. You will notice in the pictures below that the floor is dirt. Everything is hand made from any scraps that can be found.
The sign reads "Holy Spirit Church of Zambia" and the scripture reference in the center is John 14:6.
This is the view from the front door looking in.
The podium from which each sermon is taught was fashioned with two bed posts splinted by wood scraps and bound with pieces of an old inner tube.
The roofing sheets were added about four weeks ago. The church is built as finances become available. On this day, God had provided the final pieces to cap the roof. Augustine and another church leader put them up after we left. If you look closely, you will see a huge spider web.
This photo was taken from the podium looking toward the back. The men all sit on the left. Women and children sit on the right.
I laughed when I saw the sign above. I guess cell phones interrupting a service is a universal problem these days. You would just have to know how primitive everything around this church is to fully appreciate why this sign caught me by surprise.
This structure is where the security guard lives. Zambia is in the middle of the rainy season. To say that this little house is inadequate is an understatement.
The grounds around the church have been cultivated and planted with vegetables. Augustine and Bridget worked it with very little help. This is in addition to the huge garden they take care of here on our property. Remember, there are no power tools of any kind used here.
I hired a taxi to take us to the church. Augustine loaded his bike (also known as his work truck) into the taxi's trunk so that he could ride it home after finishing the roof peak.
The last two pictures are of a church building just a few feet from the
Matamba's. Ten years ago, its leaders were given several thousand American dollars to build a church. It remains unfinished to this day. The huge mound between the two churches is the termite mound from which all of the bricks for the
Matamba's church were created.
I will post more photos later. This was an emotional experience for me for many reasons. I met a young mother of five small children. Her children spend much of the day combing the countryside from the railroad tracks looking for large rocks. They carry the huge loads on their heads. Their mother uses a heavy sledge hammer to break each rock into small pieces to sell for gravel. I could barely pick up the heavy sledge hammer. When I struck a rock with it, my whole body jolted at the sudden stop of motion.
We all laughed at the weak white lady but inside I wept. One swing was enough for me; yet these mothers do this all day, every day and barely make enough to feed their children. The women I met were all widowed.
It is in the midst of these mothers, their children, and their dilapidated dwellings that the
Matamba's church sprang up. I've shared with all of you before that the Bible truly has come to life for me here in Zambia in a way that can only come from living here day in and day out.
My love and admiration for Zambian women and their precious children knows no bounds. Please pray that God will continue to guide us in His plans for these people.
Thank you to all who continue to support our ministry here in the beautiful country of Zambia. Your partnership with us is such an encouragement not only to us, but to all the people whose lives we touch.
Blessings and joy,
Beckie
