Fairford Farm

Last Sunday my church decided to take church to a new location- Fairford Farm. It's a neighboring farm to Chabwino Farm where our church is located. So people walked as far as 8 kilometers to reach this new location and meet with strangers there.

It's rainy season here in Zambia. This year we've gotten more rain than usual and this past week has been one of the rainiest I've seen in my 20 years here in Zambia. Rainy season means growing season for Zambians in the rural areas. Even the employees on large farms keep a small field of maize during the rains in addition to their regular jobs. For example Pastor Muchinga is the head butcher at Chabwino farm, but he along with his wife and children have a one acre maize field. Employees working for large farms work 6 days a week making Sunday their only day off and in rainy season they have to use that day to care for their fields.

I had never been to Fairford Farm before Sunday. All I knew about it was that there were no churches on the farm and ours was the closest being only about 3 kilometers away. We pulled up to find a large area of dirt that had been swept clean of all leaves, sticks, etc by Pastor Kaomba who had arrived early to get things ready. The entire pastoral staff including myself had been fasting and praying for this meeting and hoping not to be rained out as the dark clouds lurked above us. As we began singing the people began to trickle in. They kept coming until we numbered more than one hundred people.

As the service began so did the rains. Thankfully it wasn't hard rains just a steady constant drizzle but enough to make you wet and cold. I looked out at all the people sitting on the dirt ground and wondered if they would retreat to their homes to avoid the rain. To my amazement the people refused to leave. They found umbrellas and huddled together to try to avoid getting soaked, but no one left. I could see how hungry they were for the things of God in their eyes. It was obvious how much they were enjoying the opportunity to worship together.

After the service was over people came up to us one by one and thanked us profusely for coming and giving them the opportunity to go to church. They begged us to not forget about them. Their words hit me straight in the heart. There are so many places in rural Africa were there are no churches. I was amazed by their excitement and hunger for church as it should be. Not a building, we were after all meeting outside in the rain, but a community of people who can worship and grow together while supporting one another.

As soon as we started off in the vehicle to return home it began to down pour. If the downpour had come earlier I doubt anyone would have even been able to hear what was going on even if they had decided to stay. God's grace, faithfulness, and timing are more wonderful than words can describe.

We've invited everyone at Fairford Farm to take the walk and meet at our church on Sunday mornings. It will be a sacrifice for any who choose to do so since it will be giving up half of their only day off when their fields are crying out for cultivation, but I know many will make that sacrifice because they understand the parable of the pearl of great price.

The Meaning of Christmas

I was asked to speak at a friend's church about the meaning of Christmas. I've been thinking a lot about it and what would be a good sermon. Christmas is so rich with meaning, beauty, glory, and power. After much thought I decided that at least for this year the meaning of Christmas is sacrifice.

Jesus sacrificed everything to save us, to show us the way, and to destroy the works of the devil. Because he gave up everything we gained everything. The magi sacrificed to travel from the east to see a baby they somehow new would change the world. And they gave that baby gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Why did they give the baby they believed would save the world something used for burial? They must have known and grasped that Jesus would be a suffering servant. He would save us by sacrificing his own life.

When we think about giving things up or sacrificing it tends to leave a bad feeling in our gut. But we're told Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before him. The story of Christmas is a celebration. The kingdom of God is so radical because it teaches us to put ourselves at the bottom. The way of the kingdom is to consider others more important than yourself. What if we stopped working so hard to build our own lives constantly defending ourselves, talking about ourselves, spending our money on ourselves, spending our time on ourselves, and started working hard to build up others and not only our friends but even the undeserving. After all can any of us say we are deserving of Christ's sacrifice? What if our attitude was one of sacrifice, one of willingness to give everything for those around us for the sake of God's Kingdom?

Perhaps you've sacrificed in the past and it left you miserable. Perhaps you want to sacrifice because you feel guilty or because you want to win points with God. Those reasons have nothing to do with the Christmas message. What we need is transformation, and our only motivation should be love. God wants to change us so that sacrificing for others is a joy. So this Christmas I'm remembering that the way up is down, that giving is so much better than receiving, and that it's not about me and my rights. It's all about Jesus.

Only by God's Grace

I've known Kelvin and Azuriah Siabukandu for over 5 years now. I can't tell you how many things they have taught me and how much they have encouraged and inspired my relationship with God. One of the biggest lessons I've been learning from them now is humility. Kelvin is an uneducated man from the bush who had no interest in God or church. Somehow over the past 7 years God has completely transformed his life. He can now speak English, is a shop owner, and a pastor. When he opened his shop he named it "Choolwe" (Lucky). I was surprised he hadn't selected a Bible verse or a family name or something less common. He explained to me that he had selected the name because there was no good reason why he, an uneducated man from the rural area, could be a shop owner. "I'm telling you it can only be by the grace of God."

Grace is something I've been contemplating a lot lately. Some times it's easy to think that I've gotten where I am by pulling myself up by my own bootstraps. I work hard therefore I see good results. I'm a Christian striving to follow God and have been consistently from childhood because I'm intelligent, I work at it, or maybe I just have more faith than others. But it hit me that kind of thinking is completely void of grace.

Kelvin could have said he had worked really hard to learn English and that had helped him get ahead. He could have said he started reading books and trying to educate himself. He could have said he did his research from other shop owners to learn how to do the job. He could have said he managed his money wisely and scrupulously saved every penny to afford to open a shop. He could have said he just had more faith than other people and read the Bible and prayed more or that he had a better grasp on spiritual truths. But instead he proudly proclaims to anyone who will listen that he's just a nobody who got lucky. Of course Kelvin is always quick to couple his explanation with how everything good in his life is only by the grace of God.

So I started to think about what happens when we attribute all of our successes to our own goodness and ability. We become judgmental and proud. But people like Kelvin have an unshakable confidence and a deep seated humility, because their confidence comes from Christ not from within.

I'm not really a Calvinist, but in this area I think Calvinistic theology may be a bit more on point with my experience. If God hadn't called me how would I have become a Christian? If the Holy Spirit hadn't worked in my life how would I be striving to follow Christ? If God hadn't given me revelation and strength how would I have not stumbled or fallen away from God at some point? If God wasn't leading my life and blessing me with gifts and abilities how would I be intelligent, or gifted, or successful in any way? Apart from Christ I truly am nothing, but with Him I am everything! If I truly view every good thing in my life as something I haven't earned but just a blessing from God because of his unmerited grace how can I ever be prideful? How can I look down on anyone unless I feel superior to them and how can I feel superior to them unless I forget that anything that may make me seem superior is unmerited on my part, just a free gift, just me getting lucky? I thank God for His grace and pray that others may experience it too.

Just Another Day at Church

I grasp my hands together tighter as I desperately try to keep the flailing woman somewhat still and upright as she forcefully attempts to knock herself, me, and several others down on the dirt floor of the small church in Chabwino (a chinyanja word meaning "it is good"). She's probably around my age, but much smaller. At that moment she seemed to have the strength of 10 people though. Luckily she was more interested in taunting us than escaping. And by "she" I don't actually mean the woman who is named Prisca, I mean the demonic spirits who have taken over her body.

Demon possession and exorcism may seem more like topics for horror movies to many Americans, but having grown up in Africa demons manifesting in church seem as normal to me as flowers blooming in spring. Prisca isn't a member of our small church in Chabwino. A friend had convinced her to come since we had a special guest worship leader, Keswel Malimba, who thanks to Namwianga radio has become popular in the area. We had a powerful service and the pastor invited those with special needs to come forward for prayer. Prisca along with dozens of others came forward. She knew she was possessed and came forward to ask for deliverance. As soon as Keswel started praying for her I guess in a sense literally "all hell broke lose."

Because dealing with demon possession in a Bible believing African church becomes so routine we have it down to a science. Our faithful members spring into action to help. If it's a woman she probably has a baby tied to her back who needs to be removed and cared for first of all. Sound easy enough but when the woman has supernatural strength and is flailing around it takes a few people. We need the men for their strength. You would never believe how strong these people get unless you've experienced it. We need the women because of the modesty issues. Women tie chitenge material at the bottom of the woman's skirt to try to keep it from riding up. They also wrap chitenge material around the woman's waist to keep her stomach from being exposed. Woman push down the woman's knees and thighs to keep her from hurting herself or others and also to keep her from getting away. Men hold the woman by her arms desperately trying to keep her somewhat still.

By the end of it I sat down with Prisca who was visibly shaken by the experience. I asked her in my broken Tonga about her life. She thanked me for casting out the demons and asked if I'd be in prayer for her family. She told me she was going to become our member and be in church every Sunday and that she wanted me to pray that her husband would agree to start coming with her. She thanked me, we shared some chibwantu (a genius drink made from water, maize porridge, and a root called munkoyo), and then she went home.

There were over a hundred people in our tiny little church on Sunday. Our church 6 months ago had 20 people on a good Sunday. It's been so encouraging to be a part of it. I also thank God that although we still deal with plenty of demon possessed people they are nearly always visitors and not our members. I think we are doing something right and the people are learning a life given completely to Jesus is the best way to live.

Rain

Although I lived in Maryland when I was very young, I have mainly lived in Zambia, Kenya, Oklahoma, Texas, and Congo. Where I lived in Zambia is on the border of being a drought area. Most of my friends and neighbors were farmers so we always prayed for rain and thanked God each time it fell. Somehow the beautiful afternoon showers that cooled down the weather always left you wanting a bit more. I then moved to Kenya when it was going through a period of drought. We rejoiced when we would get randomly soaked through and through because the rain was such a blessing. Then I moved to Oklahoma and Texas while they were experiencing drought. The rain seemed to rarely make an appearance and whenever it did I was always grateful. Of course I could have done without the snow.

But now I live in Congo when the rain shows up far too often and seems to accomplish nothing. By the time August comes around there is so much dust everywhere it’s almost unbelievable. Having spent nearly all of my life on the African continent I’ve become well accustomed to dirt and dust, but Congo dirt is special. Somehow there is just more of it and it sticks and clings to you unrelentingly no matter how hard you scrub. I’ve literally walked in dust over a foot deep here. So when September rolls around and we get a few rain showers it’s beautiful. It cools things down, gets rid of the dust, and miraculously turns brown into green nearly everywhere.

October is fine, but there is always a point in November when the rain becomes annoying. Now is that point. It starts to rain through the night and nearly every afternoon. The temperature never seems to get higher than 75 (which over here is winter weather!). We have crazy lightning storms that hit mostly trees but occasionally people. Mud is everywhere! The roads become impassible (even the main highways since they aren’t paved) without 4 wheel drive and even then people are getting stuck everywhere you look.

Then when you don’t think it could get any worse December comes along. It starts to rain some mornings as well as every afternoon and most nights. Usually January seems to be the worst but some times it carries into February. It rains all morning, all afternoon, and all night. We literally had 3 weeks of straight rain last year.

Almost no one in this area is a farmer. Nearly everyone does mining. The rains causes hand dug artisanal pits to collapse killing lots of people. The rains drive up the mining companies’ expenses because the roads cannot transport the minerals they are producing, dilutes acid used for producing hydroxides, and prevents machinery from running safely. People can’t get their clothes dry on a clothes line. Mosquitoes are breading in every nearby puddle taunting us all with their malaria and dengue fever carrying potential. Cholera and typhoid fever break out all over the place due to the water run off spreading sewage. Because people are inside more to avoid the rain colds and the flu spread like wild fire. Satellite internet goes out due to the storms. Our jobs come to a stand still, everyone looses money, people are unhealthy, and it’s just plain miserable.

My wise friend, Albert, a Congolese businessperson, informed me “We have only 2 seasons in Congo, the dust season and the mud season. I don’t know which is worse.” So for the first time in my life I’m hoping the rain will go away! March cannot come soon enough!

Hospital

On Monday I started to feel sick after lunch. I figured it was nothing. Sadly, the pain became worse and worse and I couldn’t sleep at all. It hurt to stand, to sit, but even worse to lie down. I had fever and chills and the worst pain in my abdomen. Finally at 2pm I couldn’t take it any longer so I got our on site doctor. I had to walk about 300 yards to our clinic and I barely made it. It hurt to breath and much worse to walk. The doctor thought it was appendicitis. He gave me a shot that did absolutely nothing for me. The pain just kept getting worse. Finally when my boss woke up I told him I had to go to a hospital. At 9am we left.

It’s rainy season and the main highways here are dirt roads so that means the roads are in terrible condition right now. Every bump was excruciatingly painful. I was wincing and grimacing like I never had before. Then the car broke down for no apparent reason. We were stuck in the middle of nowhere with no plan for what to do. Luckily, not 10 minutes after we broke down an expat friend of mine was driving past and offered to take me to the hospital. I endured more terrible bumps and slipping and sliding in the mud until we finally reached the hospital.

I went to Mumi Hospital which is run by Glencore, a Swiss company that is the world’s largest mineral trading company. It was supposed to be the best in the area and happened to be the closest as well. I filled out the paper work and then started answering questions in Swahili. The problem is when you’re learning a language if you’ve never been in a situation before you won’t have the vocabulary to deal with it. It was so frustrating trying to communicate what I was feeling in Swahili. All I could say was “My stomach really hurts!”

They ran some tests and concluded I had an infection that had caused the inflammation of my abdomen muscle. They started treating me with antibiotics and anti inflammatory drugs. They wanted to keep me for 4 days until I had finished the meds they needed to inject into my veins. Since we have an on site doctor I convinced them to release me into his care.

So the next day I went back to the mine feeling better. I woke up on Thursday morning with pain in my back. I hoped it would go away but it just got worse and worse. The pain continued to be terrible until Saturday. From them on I’ve felt human again. I am so happy to be feeling better!

I’ve had a lot of strange, scary, stressful experiences in Congo, but I think this one takes the cake. It’s horrible to be alone when you’re sick. It’s horrible to be in a third world country when you’re sick. It’s horrible to deal with health care in a foreign language. The worse part was just not knowing what was wrong or how serious it actually was. I am so grateful for all of my friends who prayed for me. I know God healed me from whatever it was that I had. Thank you all and thank you Jesus!

Rock of Ages Part 2

Nothing in my hand I bring,

simply to the cross I cling;

naked, come to thee for dress;

helpless, look to thee for grace;

foul, I to the fountain fly;

wash me, Savior, or I die.

Nothing in my hand I bring reminded me of something I was taught while at college. I was taught the concept of “receipting” and no I’m not making it up. Apparently if you want God to heal you or bless you or give you more money you need to do good things like tithe, pray, read your Bible, help the old lady across the street, etc. After you do a good deed you need to write it down. Then when you pray you can show God your “receipt” and tell Him He has to bless you since you did good things. In case you didn’t catch that it’s called salvation through works and probably more resembles the idea of karma than anything Christianity teaches. But what makes Christianity so beautiful is grace. Jesus didn’t heal people because they deserved it! Jesus healed people because he had mercy on them and because they had the faith to receive it. Jesus didn’t die on the cross because we deserved it! There is nothing in my hand I bring but simply to the cross I cling! It would be like if someone brought filthy rags to pay for gold! I don’t come to God with anything in my hand or with any need to remind God of my righteousness. I come clinging to the cross. I come hidden with God in Christ.

Naked come to thee for dress will always make me think of the letter to the church in Laodicea from Revelation 3. “You say, 'I am rich and well off; I have all I need.' But you do not know how miserable and pitiful you are! You are poor, naked, and blind.” God is saying to all people regardless of your material wealth you can still be poor, naked, and blind spiritually. “I advise you, then, to buy gold from me, pure gold, in order to be rich. Buy also white clothing to dress yourself and cover up your shameful nakedness. Buy also some ointment to put on your eyes, so that you may see.” Only God can provide the solution to these spiritual problems.

Helpless look to thee for grace makes me think of Romans 7. Paul says “For even though the desire to do good is in me, I am not able to do it.” We must all recognize how hopelessly lost we are without God, the sacrifice of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit. The church has taught us to be people of discipline. We are told to use will power and discipline to prevent ourselves from sinning. We will do better, but we will never succeed. The only hope we have is that the Holy Spirit will transform our hearts so we can desire the right things. By ourselves we are helpless but with the grace of God nothing is impossible.

Foul… how often have you thought of yourself as foul? You know people say when you’re drunk you’re always the last person to realize it. I don’t know how many conversations I’ve had with intoxicated people who swore they were sober. There are so many people Christian and non Christian who swear they’re righteous but none are righteous no not one. We need a wake up call to see ourselves as we are- foul. And only after we see just how disgusting we actually are we will “fly” or go without hesitation as quickly as possible to the fountain of God. When we see our sin as disgusting we will run from it and allow Christ to save us from it. My favorite line of the song is “Wash me Savior or I die.” We far too often think “I’m a good person.” “God’s lucky to have me.” But the truth is no matter how evil or how good you consider yourself unless you’re washed in the blood of the lamb you will die spiritually in hell the second death. And consequently if we have seen how fowl we actually are we will no longer be able to judge the horrible sinners out there. We would accept what the Bible teaches us in Romans 2 that we are just as bad as those we are judging with disgust. If we could only be people who recognize apart from Christ we are foul we could lose our reputation as judgmental people and be seen as people of love as Christ foresaw.

While I draw this fleeting breath,

when mine eyes shall close in death,

when I soar to worlds unknown,

see thee on thy judgment throne,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

let me hide myself in thee.

The Bible is clear that all people will be judged after death. Again we see the same theme of this hymn. On that judgment day I do not come with my own list of good deeds. I do not come saying “you can’t accuse me devil because Jesus forgave me.” On that day I’ll have nothing to say and nothing to offer God. All I will be able to do is look to Jesus and ask if I can hide myself in him. Only by the grace of God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ my Lord will I be saved from sin and hell.