Day Six: Sunday in Macha, Zambia

When going to Africa, people tend to say, “I am going to Africa.” But people on the continent prefer to say that one is going to a particular country. It was clear yesterday on our drive from Lusaka that Zambia and Malawi are very different places.

Walking to church

We got to the Brethren in Christ Church Macha at 10 a.m. There were services before that starting at 8 a.m. for holy communion, baptisms and foot washing. We waited outside meeting local Zambians, an ophthalmologist from Holland and his family and a doctor who supervises the hospital and his wife from Virginia.  

It was a special Sunday with a service for 16 local churches, and we had to wait for seats to become available. We got seated at 10:30 a.m. and the service concluded at about 1 p.m. The music was beautiful with songs sung in Tonga, but most of the tunes were old gospel hymns that we recognized. Along with other first-time guests, we were asked to stand in front of the congregation and say our name, where we from and how long we were staying. When Dave introduced Nancy as his wife, there was an approving "buzz" from the congregation. 

The pastor who preached had as his text John 20:24-29 about doubting Thomas. He spoke in English and another pastor interpreted in Tonga. The service was colorful and the voices were beautiful. It was like one of those times in life when you feel like you were in a movie. 

On the walk home from church we met a group of nursing students who are serving and learning in the hospital here for a month from Indiana Wesleyan University. 

The Thuma children — Charlotte, Reece and Luca — are as cute and endearring as their parents, and we are enjoying them immensely. 

Eric turns 40 on September 21, and Corie planned a party for this evening in the Push the Rock community  center which NHUMC helped fund.

Eric is a young and vigorous 40 and still plays soccer with men who are 10-15 years younger than him. His Push the Rock team was victorious with a 4-1 win, and he played very well.  After the game, the Thuma’s friends from Zambia and other places in the world got together to celebrate. 

During dinner we talked with an ophthalmologist from Holland named Samuel Berkerk. He is married to an optometrist whose name is Tamara, and they have three boys, ages seven, six and one. The Berkerks are committed Christians who wanted to help with eye care in a needy area of the world. So they established a foundation, and here they are in Zambia where great things are happening. People blinded by cataracts can see again. If you would like to learn more about these amazing people and their work, go to  https://www.eyeforzambia.org/

Believe it or not, we ended the day by watching parts of the Eagles game on NFL Redzone. Eagles lost. You can’t win them all. But the people in Zambia are all winners. 

The community watches soccer at the
Push the Rock Recreation Center. 

Tuyoobonana (goodbye),

Dave and Nancy