Celebration and Dedication

A time to celebrate... September has been a month of celebration and dedication with the church.

Earlier this month the Zimba Mission Hospital celebrated it's 50th anniversary. There were government health officials, missionaries (both current and those who have worked at the hospital over the years), hospital staff, people from the community and other invited guests. The Sianankanga choir led the opening procession of VIP's with a song written for the hospital. There were speeches about the history, present and where the hospital is going, entertainment such as traditional instruments played by headmen and skits about what life was like before and after the hospital was built in Zimba (Photo Below: skit about visiting a witch doctor for healing). It was a great time of remembering the past and celebrating the future with laughter and good food.

The following week, the Sianankanga Pilgrim Wesleyan Church held a dedication service for their new building. It was a busy week of preparation and anticipation for this event. Again, many special guests were invited. Our praise team was joined by one from another church. The church was packed! It was a good service with lots of good food afterwards.

The part I enjoyed the most about the dedication was how the ladies had me working with them. About a week before, I was notified I was on the decorating and serving committees. I wasn't sure what exactly this meant, but soon found out when it came down to working. I gathered water (carrying it on my head), mopped and waxed the church floor (on my hands and knees), helped cook nsima (staple of boiled corn meal) and relish (leafy greens), and served the food with and beside the ladies of the church. It was all hard work and my muscles ached the following day, but as we worked together on each job, we talked (they taught me more Tonga) and sang. That day we worked as sisters and I felt a deeper connection with those ladies and pray that God used that time to touch their lives as well. I believe that ministry happens both ways we all are free to teach, to learn, and to truly fellowship with each other!

We praise God that both days went well! We pray that His work at the hospital and in the local church will continue to be and grow strong and bring Him glory and light to the community. We not only celebrated what has been done, but what God has yet to do!