The beginning of this week was a 2-day school holiday, so the Mumena
B school hosted a sports tournament. This means the school building is a
huge slumber party for 250+ kids. Yesterday, the tournament ended
early, and the school teachers wanted Jason, Erin, Jeremy, the interns
and I to play them in a game of volleyball. I was originally really
excited about this idea, until I found out we were going to have to play
with a soccer ball in place of an actual volleyball. We all suffered
through the pain of using a soccer ball and played for two hours out on
the school field. I really loved it, and we are scheduled for our next
match this Saturday.
On Monday, our team celebrated the
holiday by having an evening cook out. The 4th of July, being all about
America, can make everyone a bit homesick so we ate lots of food, sang
the national anthem and then lit corn cobs on fire that created the
words "Happy Fourth!" Two girls that are working here in the peace core a
few miles from us even came to celebrate. It was a great evening, even
without hot dogs, fireworks and apple pie!
This past
Sunday, Jeremy and I went to visit one of the main churches we work with
named Kayonge. It was the best Sunday we have had there yet. Normally,
Kayonge has been meeting in a school building. Their church building has
been built of bricks for some years now, but still lacks a roof. This
particular Sunday, the school where we meet was also having a sports
day, so it forced us to use the roofless, lonely church building. As we
sat on small stools, all huddled together, one of the church leaders
began sharing some of the history of the Kayonge church and the hurt and
abandonment the church members had been feeling. The two Zambian men
who had started Kayonge church ended up leaving the church, giving out a
terrible message, and therefore left only a small group of people
remaining faithful to the Kayonge church. Most of this story we already
knew, but this man couldn't help but get emotional because we were faced
with once again meeting in this building that remained vacant and
unfinished. Kayonge has been working to save money for iron sheets to
build the roof, and they are so close to being ready. They will probably
finish their church building next month-a huge victory!! Now, Kayonge
consists of about five church leading men, four women and lots of
children. One of the women is the wife to one of the church leaders who
abandoned the church and his family. She was sitting in this church with
us on Sunday, not knowing where her husband now lives. She is left with
five children, one of which is not even one year old yet, but she
remains faithful to the church. Jeremy and I were so touched and blessed
by this small group of struggling Christians working to not give up
their faith. Jeremy couldn't help but think of the story in Nehemiah of
rebuilding the walls in Jerusalem and gave that message. He spoke of
coming out of exile, not giving up and making the goal to rebuild. We
left that morning feeling humbled and thankful for what the Lord had
shown us through the Kayonge church that day.
-Whitney
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