Easter in Africa

           The morning of Easter Sunday, us girls woke up extra early to climb the water tower before dawn.  Cindy was there too and we sat for a while just soaking the scenery in and listening to songs of praise.  Cindy read Matthew 28 and we reflected on Jesus’ resurrection as the sun rose. 

Expecting a big crowd for the Easter Sunday service, we set up chairs outside under the trees.  It could not have been prettier outside.  We began with worship, mostly in Tonga, but our team did go up and sing “Amazing Grace.”  Randy preached with Hildah translating and it was an excellent service.

LOVED Mama Tembo's Easter outfit  

Phillip and Misheck all dressed up for church 

            Afterward, we walked to the river for baptisms.  40 people had attended the meeting on Wednesday, eager to be baptized, and on Sunday it actually ended up being 45 total!  The river was packed with everyone from church.  Even those that the climb was strenuous for (one man missing a leg did hiked down the bank on crutches) made sure to be there.  Papa Tembo, Wes, and Blu each baptized three people at a time.  To see the expressions on each person’s face when they came out of the water was awesome.  Ages ranged from 6 to 60.  Some of the New Day kids were baptized and Cason too!  It was amazing to witness and you could feel everyone’s joy and excitement. 

Walking to the river 

The trek back 

            Once back at New Day we were (a little) sunburnt and worn out form the trek.  Darbi, BLESS HER, invited us over for strawberry punch and carrot cake that she had made for her family for Easter.  We helped Blu stuff eggs with candy for their kids to hunt and spent some time relaxing and enjoying the day.

            That afternoon, we did a fun art project with the kids that Pam Sewell had suggested.  We had been saving hallow eggs for the past 2 weeks in order to do it.  All the egg were filled with paint and the kids each got a canvas and three eggs.  They would throw the eggs at the canvas to make a splattered, abstract work of art.  They had a blast doing it.  There was a learning curve as we realized you have to throw the eggs pretty hard and fast for them to really break and the paint splatter well.  It was just as fun as it was messy.

The team helping with the art project

Gertrude

Luumono

Kelitah 

The aftermath

That night we had English Worship, singing songs at the fire pit under the stars.  Miranda shared an amazing devotion and others shared their testimonies and stories from the day.  I think I can speak for everyone when I say it was an Easter Sunday we will never forget.

“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised form the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” – Romans 6:4

Good Friday... And Saturday

The morning of Good Friday, Kailyn, Jamee, Mal and I went on a bike ride with Laurie.  I talked to her most of the ride and it was great to have that one-on-one time with her.  We discussed the Rosemont Team arriving and how Mal and I felt about it since the dynamic here at NDO may change this last week.  We also talked about how when Mal and I leave, Kailyn and Jamee may struggle (and we will too, just back in the USA).  We have all grown so close that it’s going to be extremely sad when we have to part ways, with both K and J and everyone else at New Day.  Mama Lala said that’s one of the tough things about being on the mission field and people coming for only a set amount of team, whether it is 6 weeks or 6 months.  It is so easy to grow with others and get attached to them that it’s, of course, upsetting when they leave.  I know I can speak for Mal and myself when I say we will be heartbroken to leave all of our great new friends at NDO.

On a lighter note, Rosemont arrived that evening!  It was fun seeing everyone and filling them in on our time here.  Cindy Little gave me a big hug from my Dad (so now you know she did it, Dad!).  I have to admit Mal and I weren’t sure how the atmosphere might change with the team’s arrival but any nerves we had dissipated quickly.  Almost immediately, many members of the team said they could see a huge change in me.  It was extremely encouraging.  That night we had orientation, unpacked all of the supplies the team brought for the missionaries and orphanage, and prepared for the next day.

Finishing up the giraffe art project with the kids on Friday. 

Working with Axer (she wanted me to do it for her...)

These boys are artists, for real.

Always in my lap. Love my Agnes. 

Mal and I signed up for evangelism Saturday morning.  Anyone who knows me, especially from last year’s Guatemala team, knows this is typically not my first pick.  The theme for this last week, however, is to let God stretch us and to step outside of our comfort zone.  We filled two trucks with team members and drove an hour through the bush to our first stop, a headman’s village where Wes holds a Bible Study weekly.  While there, Mama Loveness shared her testimony.  It was incredibly motivating.  When she came to know Christ, she had to sneak out of her house in the morning before her husband woke up to go to church, only to return home after and him beat her for doing so.  She is such an inspiration and an amazing, loving woman.

We then found out we were invited to the “head” headman’s village to share.  This changed out plans, but that’s how God works and this was a BIG deal.  Side note: there are multiple headmen in an area, with “head” headmen over about 6 of them and then a chief that is above them.  Hence why it was such a huge deal for us to get to visit his village since he holds such an influence in the community.  Papa Wes shared the gospel there and 14 people accepted Christ, including the headman himself!  Not only that, but a 105 year old man (the headman’s uncle) accepted Christ that day.  He thought he had already been cleansed of his sins because he was baptized, but after Papa Wes spoke to him at length, with the help of a 14-year old translator, Anna, he came to realize he had never asked Christ into his heart and he did so right then.  After we visited and prepared to move onto the next village, the “head” headman began talking to Randy’s son William, realizing they both had the same name.  He was so excited that he gave William a piece of wood with “William” written on it and it’s meaning.  Not only that, but he gave him a TURKEY!  Yep, the rest of the day Randy held a turkey in the back of the truck for his son and we brought it back to New Day, Randy getting filthy in the process.

William and his gifted turkey!

Because our plans had changed, we were running way behind schedule.  Then again, I should have remembered there really is no schedule on “Africa time.”  God was certainly stretching me.  Every time we loaded up in the truck, thinking we were headed back, we heard another village wanted us to share with them.  While that was great news, I began to get concerned I wasn’t going to make it back in time to teach Kids Club, like was planned.  I also, as ashamed as I am to say it, was starting to get pretty “hangry” (this is a very real emotion for me).  I sucked it up, praying for the strength to do so, and after four stops total 25 people had accepted Christ and we were headed back to New Day.

Following along with what the kids had been learning at Kids Club, I told them the story of God raining down manna to the Israelites when they wandered the desert for 40 years.  This struck me because it was a reminder that even when we complain and are ungrateful (as I felt I had been earlier that day), God still cares and provides for us.  Kids Club was a blast, as always, especially with the team there to join in on the fun.

Seriously, they are STRONG.

Making nshima and slaw for Kids Club.

Teaching Kids Club 

Mal laughing and Stanley snoozing 

Hannah's here!!!

Yes, I fed Agnes her whole plate.  With my hands. And I loved it.

That evening, we had devotion at the fire pit (without a fire) and some people shared their testimonies.  As other Rosemont mission trip goers know, this is what we do every night and it really brings everyone closer together.  It is always so encouraging and fun to hear about the experiences everyone had throughout the day and how they saw God at work.  Love having the team here and can't wait to see how much we accomplish and grow the rest of the week!