LuAnn and Betty before team left SinazongweDay 10: Farewell to Lakeview, Hello to Livingstone
Before the overcast skies came, dominating much of the day, there was sunshine for our farewell to Lake View Lodge and its super staff, led by managers Keith and Lee-Ann Coyne. Betty Mbewe joined us, as did Al Haamanjanji, along with bus driver Francis. We enjoyed a tasty breakfast built around delicious sweet corn fritters. After our treasurer Alan Marble and Pastor Graig counted out millions of kwacha to settle up our bill, we took time to thank and affirm (and tip) the staff, take some pictures, and exchange simple but meaningful gifts. With many hugs and handshakes, we boarded our bus and headed into the Sinazongwe zone, to see something we have never experienced in our 9 trips here.
The entire community was gathering to celebrate the annual Lwiinde festival, a kind of harvest festival of thanksgiving and prayer for the coming season. For many, the prayer is directed not to God, but to ancestral spirits. Animism is not yet dead here, but local Christians insist they are making progress, and this is borne out by the growing numbers in the churches of Siabbeula and Siabaswi. We were only present for the beginning of the festival, but we saw some mass dancing, some demonstrations of ancient hunting and war dances, and generally picked up the atmosphere of the festival as the crowds awaited the arrival of Chief Sinazongwe and his entourage.
Then it was time to hit the road. We headed south on the main highway (just two lanes), stopping briefly in Choma for lunch. While there, Pastor Graig and World Vision staff met with the leaders of Twachiyanda ADP, where Sherwood Presbyterian has had a significant ongoing relationship. During this meeting, the other team members visited the Choma Cultural Museum.
The trip to Livingstone went relatively quickly, as the road is MUCH improved over the last couple years, though still not completely paved. We arrived in Livingstone safely and were able to rest a bit before dinner.
Tomorrow will be a full day, starting with worship at the local Presbyterian church, followed by a visit to Victoria Falls and then a boat ride on the Zambezi River. In this place it is easy to praise God for the beauty of His creation!
Before the overcast skies came, dominating much of the day, there was sunshine for our farewell to Lake View Lodge and its super staff, led by managers Keith and Lee-Ann Coyne. Betty Mbewe joined us, as did Al Haamanjanji, along with bus driver Francis. We enjoyed a tasty breakfast built around delicious sweet corn fritters. After our treasurer Alan Marble and Pastor Graig counted out millions of kwacha to settle up our bill, we took time to thank and affirm (and tip) the staff, take some pictures, and exchange simple but meaningful gifts. With many hugs and handshakes, we boarded our bus and headed into the Sinazongwe zone, to see something we have never experienced in our 9 trips here.
The entire community was gathering to celebrate the annual Lwiinde festival, a kind of harvest festival of thanksgiving and prayer for the coming season. For many, the prayer is directed not to God, but to ancestral spirits. Animism is not yet dead here, but local Christians insist they are making progress, and this is borne out by the growing numbers in the churches of Siabbeula and Siabaswi. We were only present for the beginning of the festival, but we saw some mass dancing, some demonstrations of ancient hunting and war dances, and generally picked up the atmosphere of the festival as the crowds awaited the arrival of Chief Sinazongwe and his entourage.
Then it was time to hit the road. We headed south on the main highway (just two lanes), stopping briefly in Choma for lunch. While there, Pastor Graig and World Vision staff met with the leaders of Twachiyanda ADP, where Sherwood Presbyterian has had a significant ongoing relationship. During this meeting, the other team members visited the Choma Cultural Museum.
The trip to Livingstone went relatively quickly, as the road is MUCH improved over the last couple years, though still not completely paved. We arrived in Livingstone safely and were able to rest a bit before dinner.
Tomorrow will be a full day, starting with worship at the local Presbyterian church, followed by a visit to Victoria Falls and then a boat ride on the Zambezi River. In this place it is easy to praise God for the beauty of His creation!
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