Travelogue 9: Sabbath (Reluctant Missionary Takes a Holiday)
Worshippng At Nsobe Game Park
Today we took a much needed mini-holiday. Ndola Christian Fellowship Church held their annual picnic at Nsobe Park. NFC is a church of ex-pats. Yes, 90% of the congregation appeared to be Caucasian. Of course, things are never as simple as they appear. Among the congregants 10 nations are represented. The church had trouble keeping a pastor because of the difficulty in addressing the needs of the diverse members.
What they’ve done is split responsibility among the elders. Each takes a turn preaching. In the service, we heard testimonies of what the Lord is doing in people’s lives, witnessed a water baptism, sang hymns and praise songs that we actually knew. We sat under a reed and grass canopy and heard the word of God. It came as a pleasant surprise to find a church so very different from the one we attended last week and, yet, so very similar. This is clearly a united body of believers seeking God and desiring to be more Christ-like. I never fully understood the hymn We Are One In the Bond of Love until now.
The message shared from the pulpit was a culmination the church’s weekend retreat. The theme of the weekend (btw: the speaker said it wasn’t a weekend but a “strong-end”) was Get Out of the Boat. I think this has been God’s recurring word for me this season. One of our training groups used a similar message in the devotions held earlier last week. Isn’t this what God wants of all of us–to get out of the boat? We cannot have a relationship with a God we do not trust. The only way to build trust is to get out of our comfort zone and rely on God. This means getting out of our boat.
As most of you know, this trip has taken me about as far out of my comfort zone as I could go. I wasn’t sure I could swim. While I’ll need more time to reflect, thus far, it’s been worth it! We’ve had trials. Nothing has gone as exactly planned but God has been faithful.
Readers: Read John 21. What is your boat? What are you clinging to? What will make you jump in the water and swim toward Christ? A bountiful, abundant life awaits us.
Thanks for your continued updates Linda! I remember when I was in Kenya having the same thought…. let me say realization – I am totally relaxed – lovely feeling!
We have much to learn from those friends we have from other cultures.
I hope your trip continues to bring you much joy as you allow yourself to be stretched and …. walk on the water!
Please say hi to the team and let Lon know I am praying for him to be completely well.
Bless you, Lisa
Hey Linda,
Those are powerful questions at the end of Sunday’s entry. Thanks for sharing your heart on this blog. Rae & I feel we’ve grown closer to you across the miles.