Siabalumbe

We have 3 stories that we want to share from our two days at Siabalumbe.


The first story details the way that God answered our prayer. This school has a headmaster who is very traditional. I have experienced his resistance to anything but his own mind in the past, and so I was really feeling some trepidation about going to Siabalumbi. I really wanted to spend some time praying about this with the whole team, but a number of interruptions kept getting in the way. Finally, we were riding in the car, and Ruhtt was telling us another story, but I asked her to stop so we could pray. Our prayer was for cooperation and for God to open the hearts of the people, and especially for the welcome of the headmaster and the teachers. God answered our prayer beyond what we could ask or imagine. We have been more than welcomed, we have been embraced by the headmaster, the teachers and the entire community.

The next story is about a child’s name. We have come to know a family named Mono because one of the sons, Mathias, is staying with us at the guest house. The oldest brother, Samuel, is one of the church leaders from Siabalumbi. We had barely arrived at Siabalumbi on Tuesday morning when Mrs. Mono, Mathias and Samuel’s mother greeted us. She introduced us to her sister, and to Samuel’s wife. A small child hid behind her mother’s chitange, and Mrs. Mono told us that this child is Samuel’s youngest child. Mary Beth asked the child’s name. The mother said, “the name is Mapenzi; it means trouble”. Mary Beth said, “oh, no! this child is not trouble, she is precious.” Later in the day, I greeted Mr. Samuel Mono, and I told him that we had met his mother, wife and daughter. He said, “Yes, I know, and you have given her a new name.” He continued to explain to me how he had already told the brothers and sisters to only call her “Precious”, and now the daughter has a new name. What a blessing to know this child will grow up feeling precious rather than trouble.

The final story illustrates salt and light. While Richard cut ginger and garlic for Sue’s secret rice recipe, he told me about how is afternoon plans changed. Richard brought window panes and putty to Siabalumbe, and he planned to give Mr. Munga, the builder, some tips for installing the panes. Richard explained that he was just about to get started, when Mr. Munga said he had to leave right away to get cleaned up for Bible Study. This surprised Richard because he had never seen Mr. Munga at any church service, so he questioned him further. Richard learned that Mr. Munga’s oldest son was a Christian, and Richard suggested to him that if Mr. Munga wanted his children to be Christian that they needed a Christian father. Richard was both surprised and impressed that Mr. Munga was going to Bible Study, even if it meant he would not get to install window panes. I suggested that possibly David had engaged in conversation with Mr. Munga as they worked together on construction. Later, when I told the story to David, he shared that he’d mentioned on both days that he would have to leave early because he was giving the Bible lesson. Tonight, David read from Matthew 5 about salt and light, and I thought it an appropriate scripture since David and Richard had been salt and light for Mr. Munga today.

Our time here is quickly drawing to a close, and we are all feeling that impending end in different ways. Thank you for reading, for praying, for commenting and for emailing – all of these encourage us.