A little history of Mutala

This sign greets everyone who visits Mutala community.
I do not know the history of this village, only my personal history with it. I visited Mutala for the first time in 2003 with the Education Mission Team from Canada. We did not hold a workshop here, but we delivered soccer balls and text books and school supplies. Some members of the team had formed a relationship with this village on a previous Education Mission trip. One member of our team had even adopted a family from the community. During my return visits to Zambia over the next six years, I gathered bits and pieces about the turmoil in the village and the lack of unity. Many of the complaints I heard were from teachers or village leaders who thought they were not getting the physical support they needed. When I questioned Ruhtt, she explained that no building could take place because the Chief had not made an agreement to dedicate land for a school or a church. Until that happened, no permanent dwellings would be funded by ZMF-C or other outside donors.

When I returned in 2009, Ruhtt had arranged for me to offer professional development in the form of phonics training for all the primary teachers. Each time we passed by Mutala, we found only a few students, sometimes just one teacher, and often no headmaster. Ruhtt and I decided that my time would be better spent in other schools. This was a disappointment for the headmaster and the village leaders, but I explained that I could not offer a workshop when there was not dedication from the teachers and the headmaster.

In addition to this, I was distressed to see an alcohol still for producing beer and a pub constructed of temporary materials located just outside this village. Ruhtt explained that she and Shepherd had chastised the church for not disciplining their members who were participating in these activities. No support could be given to this village because the people were wasting their resources on riotous living. The villagers cried, "What about our children?". The Mbumwaes explained that the people choosing to use maize to make beer instead of feed their children were really the ones hurting the children.

A few months after my trip in 2009, I got an email from Ruhtt asking if I could raise money for a church building at Mutala. The village had completely turned around. The put was torn down. The Chief had decided to dedicate and donate land for a church, a school, and growing maize. The necessary papers had been filed in the court, and the people had made 10,000 bricks. What a turn around! Praise God! Naturally, I shared this story as I asked people to help these Christians build a church building at Mutala. Southside church of Christ came through, and we were able to tell Ruhtt that we would bring money for the building materials when our team came in 2010.

News from Mutala

On Sunday, November 28, 2010, I received an email from Ruhtt Mbumwae that reported a terrible and tragic assult on the church at Mutala. In that email she told of police and tear gas and people being beaten and church members scattering to the bush. I could not believe it. I pictured the church building transform from a shell to complete as David, Sherry, Mary Bethand I participated in that village in May and June.

I saw the faces of the people with whom we worshiped the first Sunday we were in Zambia.


And I saw the faces those people who came back late in the evening on our last day at Mutala to dedicate the building and accept the banner.


How could police storm into a church during communion and terrorize these people with no regard for women, children, babies or elderly!





I could almost hear the sound of singing turn to the sound of screams as people ran from the building to escape the tear gas and the beating.

In London

We arrived at the Livingstone, Zambia airport 24 hours ago, and after a 9 hour layover in Johannesburg, we boarded a delayed flight to London.  Did you know it takes 10 hours to fly from Johannesburg to London?  The sun rose over the Sahara desert and we flew over sand for more than an hour before reaching the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean.  I am so happy I was awake to see this from the air; always before, I've flown over this area at night.  We have a short layover in London, and then a 10 hour flight to Dallas.  Mary Beth's daughter is meeting us there, so we don't have to wait 6 hours in the DFW airport before boarding our final flight to MCI.  When we arrive in Kansas City, we will have been traveling for 44 hours.  This is not the shortest route from Zambia to Kansas, however, no matter which route you take, Zambia is far away from Kansas. 

This is the final post.  Thank you so much for reading.  We'll keep checking the blog for a few weeks in case you have some lingering comments you would like to make.  We are so grateful for our experiences, and we have been changed because of how God has used the Zambian people to touch our lives.  You are a part of this because of your prayers, and we are confident that God has answered every one.

Looking back -- June 13, 2010

We loaded the coaster bust at 7:00 to travel 55 km down the Kabanga road to Chawila Church of Christ. Dave and Mary Beth contributed generously toward the construction of this church building, so it was important for the members to meet Mary Beth. As I have said many times before, there is no road to Kabanga, and this was certainly true on Sunday morning. Fortunately, a singing group from Namwianga Secondary accompanied us, so we sang most of the way and that minimized the distance. When we arrived, we parked near the government school and walked across a stream to reach the church building. The members were already inside and we could hear the singing. Unfortunately, we were late, and this particular congregation operates on schedule instead of Zam-time, so we didn't get to do as much singing as I would have enjoyed. Kadonsi preached a convicting sermon about how the devil works. Several asked for prayers and one person asked to be baptized.

The thrill of seeing someone born again is hard to describe no matter what setting I'm in, but witnessing this in Zambia where the water could contain crocodiles or snakes defies words. Maybe the pictures will help.

After the baptism, we returned to the building for the greetings and distribution of clothing. The women prepared nshima and relish and village chicken for us. We were humbled by yet another feast.

We loaded the coaster bus and returned via the same route, and we were back to Namwianga in time to enjoy another candle light dinner. A man who is studying to be a chef asked if he could prepare a meal for us so we could give him a recommendation. Sue accepted for us, and we enjoyed fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and mixed vegetables. Are we in Oklahoma? The meal was delicious, but the conversation was even more satisfying. We each shared our experiences of the day, and we heard a touching story of thanks from Brevery. Ask Sherry to tell you about Brevery's story.

Sunday evening, we finalized the packing and tried to get to bed early. Our departure from the mission was scheduled at 6:00 a.m. on Monday. Where did the time go?

Looking back -- Saturday, June 12, 2010

Each Saturday, the sponsor students are collected from Kalomo High School, and Muwata High School, and Namwianga Secondary to do volunteer work as part of their sponsorship commitment. We joined 40 students from Kalomo and Muwata at 7 Fountains Farm. The students picked rocks and gathered firewood and shoveled river sand and played with the toddlers and loved on the babies. Mary Beth and Sherry finished the curtain project for Sue Calder, and I visited with my sponsor students and roamed around taking pictures. Mary Beth was able to meet Lee's sponsor student, Vincent, and deliver his package. MB and I also had our picture take with Norman, the student that she, Elaine and I sponsor.

The farm manager's house is under construction and Ruhtt had arranged for about 15 inmates from the prison to come on Saturday. They mixed and poured cement for the floor of the house. Brevery, a sponsor student who is staying with Richard and Sue until time to go back to university, was preparing the meal for these men. When I asked him what he was cooking, he told me it was "the awfuls", at least that is how is it pronounced and also how it smelled. We would call it tripe, and I think the British word is offals. At any rate, the men were happy to get it because the only food they get in prison is what their family brings them. Brevery is just a young man, but he showed courage and was a witness for God to these prisoners. The guards asked for extra food, and so did some of the senior prisoners. Brevery explained that he is a Christian, and so are the people providing the food, so no one gets special treatment; everyone gets the same.

In the afternoon, we rode on the back of the lorry so we could go to Kalomo and meet with Richard Jabinika. We also carried the teacher from Siabalumbe and her meager belongings to her home near Namwianga. She had been relieved her duties earlier in the week because she was not performing well. After a bumby, windy ride to town, we enjoyed a wonderful meal and visit with Richard, Margret, and their son, Kondwini. The lorry retreived us mid-afternoon, and we rode back to Namwianga, gathering passengers along the way. In Zambia, there is always room for one more.

Saturday evening, we enjoyed a Peruvian feast thanks to Mrs. Mbumwae. Sue made a chocolate cake that also helped expand our stomachs. The Kaziya family joined us, and it was great to visit with Kadonsi. After supper, our spiritual feast included a devotional led by Shepherd Mbumwae. We sang and shared blessings. What a marvelous end to a marvelous day!

Looking back -- Friday, June 11, 2010

Friday, 11 June 2010

Sherry, David and Mary Beth joined Shepherd for devotions at the Namwianga Health Clinic, and then walked to 7 Fountains Farm to spend the day. I had walked to the farm earlier in order to meet up with Wilson Siazilo. Ba Wilson is the headmaster at Good Hope Christian Basic School, and this school hosted last year's literacy workshop. I had no previous opportunity to check in with the teachers to see how things were going, so I used Friday morning to visit classrooms. I was not disappointed; these teachers boasted that Animated Literacy had made a difference in their students' English and even in their spelling. I found these things to be true. In addition to observing instruction, I was especially blessed to be able to greet the teachers with whom I had bonded last year. There was an added blessing, also, when I was introduced to Ella, a student teacher, and I learned that she is sponsored by Colby and Denae. How amazing the Kingdom of God is! 

Ba Wilson chauffered me around so I could pick up some paintings from Christiane and Kathrine Muller. We took the extra time required to visit the grandparents who are now eighty-six or eighty-seven. Mr. and Mrs. Muller founded Good Hope Christian Basic School after they turned 70. What great things God can do when we are open to His plan and His timing!

When Ba Wilson returned me to 7 Fountains, I found Mary Beth and Sherry sewing curtains and David reparing playground equipment. I made sure to love on some babies and play with the toddlers before it was time for us to go. Sue Calder served tea, which included a South African milk tart and date squares. The milk tart tasted so good that Sherry got the recipe, so she could make it for potluck.

Doesn't baby Treenia look healthy?  I'm not sure what she thinks of me, though.

We returned to the guesthouse in time for showers and organizational packing before the power went out just before supper. Have I mentioned that we have enjoyed six or seven candlelight dinners?

Interestingly enough, the power returned just in time for the younger set to watch the opening game of the World Cup on Richard's TV. David experienced a severe amount of frustration at the fact that SA and Mexico tied, and each was awarded a point. This method of scoring is nothing like the March Madness to which he is accustomed. Because he is such an avid sports fan, I am confident he will adjust.

Pray us home

I hope to get some time during layovers to post the blogs from Friday through Sunday while we were still at the mission.  We spent 2 days in Botswana enjoying God's creation and talking about how we will manage to internalize our experiences.  The taxi is waiting to take us to the airport.  Pray us home.