Of all the things I have done since coming to Zambia, this was definitely the most challenging... physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I traveled (literally by car, foot, and boat) to one of our churches on the far side of the Lunsemfwa river, called Kapandwe. I went expecting that we would have the crusade on this side of the river in Kapanda, and that it would be just a matter of driving there. However, as is often the case, the plan changed. We ended up traveling to the other side of the river and about 5 miles away to the actual church site at Kapandwe. No missionary had ever been there, and they were quite surprised to see us go to all this trouble.

One of the interesting things that happened is that there had been a funeral in a neighboring village and so all the people were traveling there... meaning they could not come to the crusade on the first day. In places like this in the bush, if someone dies, everyone within a 10 mile radius will travel to the funeral. In addition to this, the time of official mourning for another funeral a couple of months ago, had just ended the day we arrive. The way they mark the end of a funeral is by brewing 2 huge 50 gallon drums of beer. So long story short, we found almost all the women attending the new funeral, and all of the men (except our members) in a drunken stupor at the old one. It was also quite shocking to see how much people smoke marijuana (they call it Daga or Ganja) in this place... there was no attempt to hide it at all, but culturally it was just another part of life.

 By the next day things had settled enough that we were able to go ahead with our visitation program and Jesus film crusade at night. I am not exaggerating at all on the distances, and it was quite exhausting in the heat. However, I am grateful for what the Lord did through us in this place. We do have plans to start a church in Kapanda as well, and would appreciate you praying for this and also for the people of Kapandwe. A little side note on the food... the people served us the very best relish that they had, and I was quite grateful. To be honest it tasted quite alright, was thoroughly cooked, and I haven't gotten sick yet. However, both times I ate the meat it was in the dark and I could not see what I was eating. There is a lesson to be learned here... "ignorance is bliss." The bible says to "eat what is set before you," and that has been and always will be my policy. However, it is better not to always ask what you are eating. I thought it tasted odd, but it was after pressing the issue with someone that I discovered it was actually elephant meat, and then I insisted (foolish me!) on taking my plate to the light because I wanted to see what Elephant meat actually looked like. BIG MISTAKE... it had been out in the sun for who knows how many days, and was close to rancid. Slimy green was an understatement and to be honest, although I finished it, it just didn't taste quite as good any more... imagine that!!! :-) So what have I learned? Be thankful, keep your questions to yourself, and eat in the dark... that is my new 3 fold policy. (ha!ha!)