There is a beautiful song that we often sing in US churches that is modeled after Job 1:21 called Blessed be your Name. In this song, one of the stanzas states, "You give and take away, my heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your name." This week we experienced the Lord giving and the Lord taking away. May we choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your name!
Unfortunately, a dear friend of Wallace and Bertha passed away this weekend. Charles Lungu lived a full, but hard life. Due to advanced age and extreme poverty, Wallace began helping meet his basic needs in 2016. Soon, this sweet man was considered a "grandfather" to all the children at the Saturday feeding, and a friend to anyone he met.
Tom had the joy of meeting him on his October visit. Charles had just been out foraging relish (greens) with bare feet in the bush. When he saw Wallace and Tom approach with a bag of corn meal, he immediately bowed down and thanked God for His faithfulness.
We praise God that he is now bowing at the feet of His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Charles has a new body, free of sorrow, pain, and hunger.
DHOA helped to provide Charles with a proper burial and celebration of his life. Below are pictures of his funeral.
The next video shows the traditional mourning process displayed in Zambia. Mwizenge Tembo states, "The crying or mourning is different from ordinary crying. The loud grief-stricken crying by the men is called kukhuza among the Tumbuka in Eastern Zambia. This is the deep loud crying which is accompanied by the vocal mayi –baba-beeee! mayi –baba-beeee! The crying by the women is called chitengelo. Ye-e—e-e-e-egh! Ye-e—e-e-e-egh! Ye-e—e-e-e-egh! This is a distinctive unique mourning cry by the women mourners that is very rhythmic, distinctive, high pitched, and the most soulful also known as kudinginyika, that can often be heard miles around in rural villages. When anyone hears the chitengelo in the village they can only be hundred percent sure that someone has died because there are no other times that women will cry like that." https://wp.bridgewater.edu/mtembo/culture-of-zambia/funerals-and-burials/
We are humbled to share the progress of the Discipleship Hall. The Lord has given in abundance and we choose to say, blessed be Your name oh Lord! Soon the window and door frames will be placed. The surrounding villages share their excitement for this new facility that will be used to worship and grow in the Lord.
As you look at the pictures please know that every steel beam, every inch of concrete, and and each brick has been laid by the hands of incredibly hard workers. We thank the Lord for the tremendous work that has gone into building this hall and for the donations that made it happen.
Thank you so much for your continued prayers. Here are a few things that you can pray for:
1) Wallace and Bertha, and the workers at DHOA, to continue to serve the village area well. Also for strength and energy as construction of the Discipleship Hall wraps up.
2) The people of Zambia who have been negatively impacted by the effects of the drought
3) Nicole, Nathan and Kaelyn as they travel to Zambia.
Thank you for your continued love, support, and prayer!
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