Thursday, September 6, 2012

Memories of Lusuku

We’re home in Kananga! We had an enjoyable and safe trip to Lusuku and Kaniema. There were some delays for car repairs and the anticipated schedule had to be changed significantly, but we look back and are grateful for God’s protection and the way things worked out.

I want to share a few of the memories from our overnight stop in Lusuku that stood out to me.

1. The warm reception in the dark, with singing, dancing, and lots of food.

Reception at Lusuku

2. Seeing the eager crowd at the back of the Land Cruiser buying books from Pastor Mukenge. One woman was very eager to get a book on women’s ministry in the church, so searched around asking all her neighbors and friends for someone to loan her 500 Francs (50 cents) so that she could buy the book.

P1140392

3. Sleeping in Pastor Mulaji’s bedroom, and hearing a rustling in the night. Was it a mouse? It sounded close! In the morning, I heard it again, and searched with my flashlight until I discovered a duck hidden in the corner behind some bricks, laying on eggs in her nest!

4. Seeing all of the seven (!) CPC schools in Lusuku. I talked to one of the directors, and learned that some of the students in primary school are forced to drop out because of the cost of buying uniforms and paying the 450 Francs per month (about 50 cents) of school fees.

Lusuku - kids and school

Lusuku 1 schools

5. Hearing Mukulu (Elder) Kamadilu Pierre describe his long bike rides (400+km one way!) to church conferences. He says “ekelezia, mbujitu buanyi” (The church is my responsibility).

Lusuku - Mukulu Kamadilu Pierre sm

6. Being impressed with the thick walls on the new church building and their plan for purchasing roof sheeting by selling the bricks they make.

Lusuku - new church building

We arrived late in the evening in Lusuku and left in the morning, but it was a refreshing and encouraging stop. We are grateful for their warm hospitality and their motivation and faith in seeing God at work.

2 comments:

Jim B said...

Thanks for the update. Glad to hear the absence of "stuck" stories for the Land Cruiser. It is a fine machine that may be ready to rest,..

Gift Kabwe said...

I wish i had seen or read about this article by the time it was published. you cant imagine how happy and excited i am to read an article about Lusuku.
Its a long story but will cut it short, i was born in this small town(Lusuku) 24 years ago.
i used to go to the same primary school in the pictures above and life was so hard, used to live with my grandmother at that time. i eventually dropped out of school due to financial reasons, my grandmother was so old and never used to walk for long distances or work. So i hard to drop out of school and started going to the farm just to find something to eat.
Long story cut short, my dad past away and i found myself staying with his elder brother who was based in Zambia(kitwe).
Jehovah God has blessed me in so many ways and am now Final year student student at the copperbelt University (Zambia) studying a bachelors of science in Bioenergy.
Have been praying and hoping to go back after i graduate and meet my Mother, its been over 20 years since we last saw each other.
Am happy to read something about my home, Thank you very much for your efforts and the journey you had made.
i would love to contact you and ask you some questions about your experience in Lusuku.
+260964816892, gift.jehova@gmail.com