The Value of a Life

What is the value of a life? A few thousand kwacha? An article of clothing? It's hard to understand why a man is beaten to death for the little money he was carrying and the pants he was wearing.

A father of six and husband to one, Mr. Mudenda was found dead in Kalomo, a town just 50km from Zimba, where he had gone to buy sweet potatoes. In reality, he wouldn't have had much money on him, but someone thought it was worth his life. Mr. Mudenda was a pillar in the Sianankanga Pilgrim Wesleyan Church, where I attend, and that loss was evident in the Sunday services following his burial.

After having picked up the body and filled trucks with mourners from the hospital, the procession headed to the funeral house. The hundred, or more, people errupted into wailing upon our arrival. The moans and crying sounded like something straight from a horror film and seemed to reverberate through the homestead out into the surrounding fields. It was almost deafening and like nothing I have ever heard.

People made their way to the grave site, just a short walk from the house, and a solemn silence encircled all present as the family made their way to the grave after being the last to view the body. Immediately the body was laid in the ground and, after a few prayers, some brief words about the deceased and the committal, the men proceeded to prepare cement and covered it with dirt. Beginning with the immediate family, flowers were laid and all was over. Having spent the night before (or more) at the buriel house, there was no more to be done. People returned home, leaving only a remnant to help the family.

This is reality in Zambia. People here deal with death all too often; whether from sickness, accident, or at the hand of another. The wailing of mourners can be heard almost every week at some place around here. Please pray for the Mudenda family and others like them that have needlessly lost a loved one. Pray for the missionaries and the church as we work together to come along side people in those times and spread the hope and love of Christ.

Forgive me if this letter is depressing, but this is also part of life over here. There are times that we celebrate the projects completed by teams, lives saved by the doctors, hearts turning to Jesus, but as in life anywhere, there are some hard times. Thank you for joining me on this journey, in this work, through the highs and the lows.