Our Big Welcome

Day 4

We have come to Zambia because we have been chosen to serve God’s purpose.  We seek to do things for his glory.  We did not deserve the wonderful welcome we received at Mwase Day Secondary School where we are helping to build a classroom.  Our morning was filled with singing and dancing.  Some members of the team also joined in on the dancing and singing.  The team did sing “Oh Canada” while our flag was waving and “Blessed be the Name of the Lord”. One student joined in on our actions. 

It is tradition to welcome guests and have those in leadership positions give their formal greetings.  There were a number of speeches and then there was the presentation of gifts by the board of the school.  The gifts were for our team and these gifts were from the community.  We all stood in a line and the board came forward and presented us with two chickens and a goat.  This was a shock for many team members and they were concerned for the well being of these animals.  But this gift represented what the community of Mwase were able to offer us.  We gave our gifts to the local brick layers that we will be working with over the next two weeks. 

In the afternoon we were able to learn the technique of laying bricks and made attempts of using the tumbukan words for things like the bricks and mortar.  Daka is for mortar, that one was easier to remember.  The contractor was maybe a little overwhelmed with having our group there but is well organized and will seek to make our group busy. 

In the evening our friend Moffat of the CCAP told us a brief history of the church and learned more about education here in Zambia and what the church is seeking to do to meet the needs of the people.    

-Janice