Kupatsa Ndi Kuika
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)
A group of 9 Secondary Students, their Campus Pastor Phil Huebner and his wife Becky are visiting the Lutheran Church of Central Africa in Zambia. They are from WISCO (Wisconsin Lutheran High School) in Milwaukee, WI. Their Student Council took on a project to raise money to help purchase motorcycles for Pastors serving in rural congregations in Zambia.
The group arrived in Zambia on the 5th of July. The Seminary guest House has been their home away from home. They came to present their gift to the LCCA. There was also the hope that they could have the opportunity to interact with members of the LCCA, especially those in their peer group.
There was a day visit to Martin Luther School at Mwembeshi, next to our Clinic. This school had been started by the Mission in 1960 but was taken over by the Government in 1964. It is still referred to as Martin Luther School. The group visited each classroom starting with pre-K all the way to grade 12. They visited, sang songs together, shared their stories, and especially their faith in Jesus. At the end of the day the USA group from the Student Council of WISCO met with the Martin Luther Student Council .
The WISCO students also had a gift for the School. They wanted to know what the students themselves thought was the greatest need for their school. The Student Council of Martin Luther told them how they could help. It was decided that the students from WISCO could help finish the kitchen where the government provides a feeding program for the children of the Primary School. It needed a roof!
Day two was a VBS program at the Sunday School class at Malakata Lutheran Church. The group presented lessons, games and songs to the Sunday School, but they come away with new games and songs that the Sunday School shared with them.
On Sunday there was a worship service deep in the bush at Lifwambula. The gift of a motorcycle was presented to the Pastor serving there. The group worshiped in a simple thatched shelter. Even though the service was in a language they could not understand, they were still filled with joy and awe as they knew the liturgy was the same and the message was true. Following the service, the Youth Choir sat with the WISCO group and re-sang all their songs in the local language, and translated for the group. The WISCO youth taught the choir a song in English—”Father I Adore You.”
I think it is safe to say the group accomplished their goals. The presented their gifts and had the opportunity to interact with different groups. There is a Proverb used in Zambia that speaks to what the group accomplished. “Kupata Ndi Kuika”; It means that when you give you are actually putting things in the bank for a time when you will receive back again.
The WISCO group came with gifts for the LCCA and Martin Luther School. They gave but they were given more in return. They are returning to the USA with a deeper understanding of another culture. They learned how you can be very happy and content even when you are not as well off. They have a zeal and passion for mission outreach. One student said; “I never thought I would be confident enough to share the Bible Stories and lesson I had learned in grade school, but here in Zambia I could, and I did! …..now I have more confidence to do the same thing back home!”
Missionary Daniel Sargent lives in Zambia
Please pray for those working in fields that are ripe for harvest. Share their story, engage with future news and receive updates. Go to this link to learn more about our mission fields in Africa and how the Holy Spirit is working faith in people’s hearts https://wels.net/serving-others/missions/africa