Signs and Wonders

we went to the Kampakete Village outside Lusaka. this was the Africa I think many of us envision when we see things on tv. the villagers live in small huts, bath in community wells and eat from the community pot. the children outnumber the adults 4 to 1. they all are fed one meal of porridge - a mixture of cornmeal, soya and sugar- a day, sharing bowls and eating without utensils. i sensed the children were in a surreal state - many have only hear stories of the mazungu or 'white man.' this was their first live encounter with them.

we played games and shared our stories. we held the children who were looking for comfort. afterwards, Pastor Benson gathered up all the children under an alluminum shack for the church building was destroyed by vandals. i was blessed to see that these children were faithful and obedient. the Bible says the joy of the Lord is the strength of his people. this was never more apparent than now - these children, with little to eat, wearing worn and torn rags, many of them without shoes, were delighted to play, have the clothes that Americans no longer deemed 'in season', and eat the one meal that they know day in and day out. and still, they know the sequential order of the books of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and all in between, they sang songs of praise and recited poems that they worked on as a village. they performed dramas that explained the HIV virus, and how witch doctors have told myths to the people that the cure is to lay with young virgins - the younger the better.

it was hard to leave the children, and while they all feel they were blessed, each and every one of us on the team had mutual blessings. people believe that signs and wonders dilute the power of God and the teaching of the Lord because the sign becomes idolatry. however, while i have held onto finding confirmation in the small things in life, this village was the miraculous sign and wonder that many seek for confirmation - i encourage those to seek far away from the U.S. should they require water to be turned into wine.

Opening the Eyes of My Heart

we prepared for Sunday services as a team of young adults (including myself) were to perform a mime that would be performed for the church. The mime is called Creation to Crucifixion which outlines God the Father as He created the Earth and Man, to Man's fall and to God the Son's redemption of man. we made it to church around 8:45 am to the sound of multiple prayers - zambians in all corners of the building pacing, praying, praising...apparently they had been there for several hours. some ladies, with babies strapped to their backs walked two hours to the church.

the worship in Zambia is a definite joy to the Lord - both harmonic and fluid- which makes churches back home seem like a distant second even on our best days. shouting to the Lord the way the Bible speaks of - all in unison- a beautiful sight.

we performed the mime drama - what better way to convey the Good News where language is a barrier? Bishop Peter asked the audience to explain the mime, and in a native tongue a gentleman retold the story using many gestures. i think he got it.

one of the most amazing sights was the offering. at home, I call and pray over the offering, which seems like a chore more than a blessing. the same old givers give and the consumers consume. in Zambia, the offering filled 7 baskets with men, women and children giving. after the offering was taken, i was preparing for the message only to have a call for the poor. the same people gave again. it lasted 4 minutes - which is a very long time for offering. i was amazaed and blessed at the same time.

the culmination of todays services was the call for prayer. at first, no one stood. then the holy spirit flooded the house and many came. i prayed over those that needed financial support - something that everyone needs in Zambia. however, this prayer request only comes after the Zambian people have sacrificed the little money they had to the church offering and the poor. i prayed on a woman who hoped her husband would be saved and was ailed by head and stomach aches. i prayed for a man who was backslidden and wanted to turn 180 back upstream and no longer be with the dead fish who flow down it. i prayed for a man who prays every day, but felt a need for a revival - this man is already a prayer warrior but wants to be better! Oh, to know a man of this heart back home. after prayer he wept, and I held him - something that i don't know if i could do back home.

it was an amazing experience. i spoke with Reverend Winston Churchhill - (nickname given to him by British Friends). he is a christian apologetic who is petitioning to censor the viewing of Dan Brown's affront on Chrisitianity. Pastor Ted sent him my way as I have been studying Brown's work and preparing a defense to teach to the young adults back home. Rev. Churchill proclaimed me the christian ambassador of his Zambian Ministry. not much of a declaration back home, but an honor for me here.

the crusades are next week. with what i saw today, i am sure it has only begun.