As I sit in the predawn Sibley household, the kingdom is quiet as the children have been given a 3 day holiday from school since this is my last 3 days here… they definitely know how to work all the angles!
I am going to try and describe what it is like to be embraced by a people I did not know a month ago and how their love of Jesus has impacted mine. Words will be inadequate… especially as I try to share their worship of God. But perhaps you can grasp a small glimpse of what I have been able to experience in full.
Saying goodbye to the Mufulira MTI class
Saturday, Jason and I made our sixth trip to Mufulira in 22 days for MTI. I must admit that I expected it would be difficult to say goodbye to the class, but I didn’t have any idea how difficult. After graciously allowing me to be their teacher again, I prayed over them and began to say my farewells. These people are so genuine in relationships that you are amazed at the depth to which you get to know them in such a short time. Without some of the modern distractions that make it difficult for we as Americans to form meaningful bonds with each, Zambians are excellent at friendships. Warm hugs were exchanged with Pastors Nkandu and Mwaba, the four brothers who so blessed me in their passion for God and others in the class. Knowing that unless the Lord allows me to return someday I realized that this could be the last time I will see them on ‘this side’. That didn’t fully impact me until we got back and Beckie asked me how the goodbyes went and I just choked up.
Pastor Charles Mwila with a preacher having a wild hair day
Charity (Pastor Mwila's daughter) leading worship
Our brothers dancing before the Lord- Sidney (on the right) has a very tender heart for God
Sunday morning found us arriving at the Ndeke Church (Pastor Mwila) to the sounds of resonant praise at the end of their Bible class time. I was shown a seat at the front as we transistioned into the worship service. Within moments the rich harmony and deep feeling of the worship began to overwhelm me with the presence of the Lord. The Holy Spirit literally invaded my whole being as I began to weep before the throne of His grace. There are really no words to describe the worship of our Zambian brothers and sisters, except to say that it comes the hidden places of souls who have come to know our God intimately as a result of a humble dependence upon Him in their daily life. There is insatiable thirst for God’s presence like David expressed in Psalm 42:1 “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O’ God.” I so often struggle with my worship coming so much from my head and not my gut. My mind can be so easily distracted as the cares of life steal my focus on my redeemer. David commanded his soul in Psalm 103:1 “Bless the Lord, O’ my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy name!” I have been asking the Lord throughout the last month to help me understand worship and enter into God’s throne room in the way Africans do. Sunday I was blessed to experience His desire to meet with Him with everything that was within me.
Pastor's wife Sarah Mwila and an elder preparing the cup during communion.
By the time worship was over I felt like an empowered puddle! I shared an adaptation of a word on the meaning of communion that I have shared before and then we had the tremendous privilege to share the Lord’s table with our Zambian family. Two cultures… different in so many ways and yet united by the culture of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us. This was an incredible moment in my life with Christ.
Growing In Worship!
Dan
What a blessing it is to read your account of your days in Africa. It makes us
ashamed of the “things” we consider important. We go day after day
without telling anyone how important Jesus in our lives. While others are
truly living the ‘great commission’. Thank you for sharing your month
with us. And Welcome Home! Chapel in the Pines will want a first person
account when you have the time.
The Masters