June 10^th (Sunday)

           We were able to sleep in a little bit this morning. Breaking of bread starts at 9am, so after getting ready we walked over to the church building at approximately 8:45am. We discovered two minutes later that we were in fact quite early for the meeting as there was no one else there. Slowly, people began to arrive. Dorothy Woodside walked over and informed us that people are slow to come, especially in the cold “winter” months and they are also on “Zambian time”. A man wrote down our names on a piece of paper and what assembly we were from as our letters were in our checked luggage that still have yet to arrive. (Chris informed us tonight that our luggage got to Lusaka and is ready for him to pick up). The service was mostly in Lunda and Luvale. When introduced we each had to stand up and the assembly clapped to welcome us. We sang along looking at the words in the hymn books that are two different languages. It helped that the songs were familiar tunes. The singing was wonderful despite a smaller turnout and people not arriving very quickly/on time. The ministry that was given was in Lunda, however, the brother thoughtfully translated to English as a summation of what he had been speaking about throughout his message. So we got to understand the gist of things. We also figured out what the words were over the pulpit at the front. “Yesu Kristu Diyi Mwanta” equals Jesus Christ is Lord, a child later in the day told us that mwanta means chief or Lord as we understood.

After breaking of bread there was approximately a five minute break and then the Gospel meeting commenced and the same brother also spoke a few summaries in English and spoke Lunda. We realized that several of the missionary nurses were not in attendance, only to discover when speaking with Allison that they were at theatre operating on someone with a bowel obstruction. We returned to our home and relaxed, read and enjoyed the sun.

We went to the church building again at 3pm to assist with Sunday school. Only no one who could speak the language to teach showed up. Only Margaret was there and many children. Instead, we sang some of the songs they have been learning in English and Nicole taught them a new version of Jesus loves me that has clapping and a part with “na na na” and then “whooo!” The kids thought it was so great and funny and they wanted to do it again and again. After singing for a while Margaret dismissed them and we started walking to our home, with a small posse of children following us and singing the new song. They followed us right to the door and we had to tell them to go home now.

We played games and then we went to the graves at sunset to take some pictures. Later on at 7:30pm Dorothy hosted the missionaries and us visitors for a little singing and she shared a few thoughts on the topic of the Lord meeting us. Chris gave us the Wi-Fi password so that we could finally send messages home. But it wasn’t correct. We then turned in for the night.//