AP

Two hard days. I’m totally exhausted.

Friday

This was an all-day drive from Lusaka (5.30am) to Lundazi (6.00pm) with an hour off for lunch at Chipata. 

African courtesy demands that you pick up honourable guests from their home, rather than expect them to walk to a meeting place. It’s a lovely courtesy. You’re not permitted to honk the horn outside their home like we’d do, or message them to hurry, rather you should to switch off the motor, hop out and greet the wife in each case first. Then a heart-felt prayer in the car before the engine can be re-started and you set off on the journey. I first learnt this ‘way of African life’ from the late elder Isaac Ngulube who was my chauffer for years. These ways never change.

The drive was very pleasant indeed – lots of cloud cover, cooler temperatures, and green scenery because of recent rains. Sevatt (the GS) and I swapped driving at times to avoid fatigue. I made sure I gave him the difficult parts of the road between Chipata and Lundazi – which are appalling.

Inside the car we enjoyed the occasional gentle conversation. Between the three of us (the Moderator-elect, the GS and I) we discussed the early years of CCAP (and why they didn’t join with the Uniting Church), then whether we can have qualified male-only leadership in the church and yet respect and honour our women as we should (they ordain women, we don’t). Without rancour and with some honest assessment, we discussed the teaching of God in places such as 1 Timothy. Although, they tend to say 1 Timoth – it seems to my ear that final syllables are optional.

Then we wandered off into preaching styles and I pressed them more on things such as why presbyteries give directives to their ministers as to the theme they should preach on each month, and other matters such as why they move their ministers around each three years. Very enjoyable discussion without annoyance or undue criticism. They were absolutely floored at the examples I quoted such as Don Elliott’s 30 years at Eltham and Gerald’s 35 years at Donvale.

Saturday

I thought the Lundazi road was bad, but the Chasefu Road is unpassable – do you agree? Yet somehow, we got through. Beautiful scenery, but after 1¼ hrs on these roads, I’d had enough.

I don’t quite know how I survived, but we all did:

• a solemn Presbyterian Licensing service for three exiting students stretching from 8am to 12 mid-day;
• a Theological College Graduation ceremony for 30 former students that extended from 12noon to 3.00pm;

And it was only after the Graduation Service (with many greetings and photos) that we broke for lunch at 3.30pm.

It was mostly conducted in Tumbuka (except for my preaching, of course, but even that needs to be translated) but I could follow most of it. 

Some things are essential Presbyterian Polity the world over, no matter the language:

– I recognised the men giving assent to seven vows, the laying on of hands, signing of the Formula, the Right Hand of Fellowship, and the Charge. They are very serious and devoted in their worship – they seek to honour God at every turn.

Other customs mystify me: 

– such as the place of local chiefdoms as a stratum of local government. The Chasefu village Chief joined us toward the close of the service with his assistants and a police bodyguard. It was after the benediction to our service and during the massive thunderstone. Everyone stood to attention immediately he entered, and he was given a special seat. They addressed him as “Your royal highness”.

Nevertheless, despite the language barrier, the wet conditions, the loud celebratory music, and the difficulty preparing for this event, it was my privilege to hand out ESV Study Bibles to each candidate and preach the occasional sermon. The ESV Study Bibles were gifts from Australian well-wishers. Remember they are a church that can’t afford to celebrate each year, so this was a combined graduation service for 2015 – 2023.

One last highlight came most unexpectedly late in the afternoon. While waiting for an evening meal, I walked around the grounds of this large CCAP property, called Lundazi Boma. I think ‘Boma’ means headquarters.

After wandering around and recalling previous visits, I knew I’d come too far as I entered the grounds of private homes. Turning around to retreat, a girl calls me, asking, “Are you lost?” Her question turned me back toward the house, and out of the darkness appeared a familiar smiling face – my very good friend Rev David Chiboboka (known to some within the PCV). It turns out that the young girl is David’s granddaughter.  

So, I met with David and his wife and some of his family. We reminisced and prayed together – it was sweet. Retired ministers are not cared for in Zambia, so it was a pleasure to assist this old friend of ours.

Tomorrow is preaching in Lundazi, then the beginning of a long drive home to Lusaka.

– John Wilson