Meetings....Synod and ECD Committees....

Boys Brigade band in Lundazi

Hello everyone and greetings from a very HOT and sticky Zambia!  We are sweltering in the intense heat these past few weeks - really looking forward to the rains coming to cool things down.  We have had a few heavy showers which cleans the dust off but we need a lot more - everything is so dry!

So it was back to Lundazi in Eastern Zambia for our Synod meeting in November!  Driving with face masks on and windows open we reached our destination after almost 12 hours!  The last 3 hours of the drive is horrendous - the road is being worked on but needs a lot more done before the rains come, otherwise it will be a 5 hour journey!!

I arrived a few days ahead of the meeting as I was part of a committee set up by Chaseful Theological College to look at sustainability of the College!  We had a good meeting and hopefully something can be done to assist both the students and lecturers in the near future.

Beautiful sunsets in Lundazi as I walked down to the river to talk to a few of the local fishermen.

their own home made boats...

Synod is the first big meeting I have attended since March - with around 200 delegates.  We were told to wear face masks and maintain social distancing.  Things started off well on Day one but it was so hot that by the end of the day very few people were wearing their face masks!

Synod meeting began with a march around Lundazi by the delegates led by the Boys Brigade band!

Then, we had our opening worship followed by the handover of the Moderatorship from Rev Chisazon Chunda on the right of the picture below, to Rev Graham Friday Kapakasa.  Moderators in CCAP Synod of Zambia serve for a term of 2 years.

The Moderator, Rev G F Kapakasa

We always have a lot of singing at our Synod meetings and this year was no exception...Lundazi have many wonderful choirs!

We had elections for our Synod officials who serve a 4 year term in office.  In the photo below the Moderator (Rev G F Kapakasa), the Moderator elect (Rev C Chunda), the General secretary (Rev S Kabaghe), and the Deputy General Secretary (Rev L Mithi).

The new office bearers

When I came to Zambia, I was a bit nervous as I had worked in Malawi under CCAP Synod of Livingstonia for so long - first at Zomba Theological College in the Women's Ministry, and then in Mzuzu as Early Childhood Co-ordinator for the Synod.  However, it is amazing how God works.  Just after I arrived a new General Secretary was appointed - Rev Sevatt Kabaghe, and he had been a student at Zomba Theological College!

Now, at this Synod I feel somewhat proud of these men in the photo below as they are all in leadership positions in the Synod and they were all students at ZTC during my time there!  This means they know me and it makes working with them so much easier!  Am so thankful for this new team!

Rev B Muwowo (Principal Chasefu Theological College; Rev GF Kapakasa (Moderator); Rev S Kabaghe (General Secretary) and Rev L Mithi (Deputy General Secretary)!

Rev Prof. V Chilenje handing over 2 copies of his new book - one to the Synod office and one to Chasefu Theological College.  The book title is 'The Origin and Development of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian in Zambia 1882 - 2004'

After Synod meeting I drove back to Lusaka and was only there for four days when I set off again to Southern Presbytery to do ECD training with three Committees.  I started in Livingstone where it was extremely hot!  I did the training and the following day set off to Monze for the second meeting.

ECD Board in Livingstone CCAP with the minister, Rev S Tembo

The journey to Monze started off well - it was Sunday afternoon and there was not too much traffic!  However, the skies ahead were very black and I was hoping to reach my destination before the storm.  

This was not to be - I got caught up in a big storm - lightning flashing all around and the rain so heavy I could not see the road - I could not even pull off the road to wait it out as I did not know if the side of the road had a drop or not, so I just kept driving slowly and thankfully just before Monze it stopped!!

The next morning I went to the church and had a good meeting with the committee in the picture below!

ECD Committee Monze with Rev A Kanyinji on the left.

After the meeting I set off again and arrived in Mazabuka where I had some lunch and then headed off to Mazabuka CCAP Church where I had the third meeting!  This is our newest ECD centre and it was encouraging to see so many people at the meeting!  The teachers here have had no training so we are really beginning from scratch which is good from my perspective!

Mazabuka ECD Committee with the Chairperson on the right, Mr Josiah Dokowe

I headed back to Lusaka after this committee and arrived around 8pm - the roads were hectic with traffic and I was exhausted by the time I got home!

This time of year when the trees have new leaves is a time of new birds and birds nests!  I was so delighted to see the beautiful Schalow's Turaco in the garden for a few days last week!

 

Lots of enormous butterflies around too

So pleased to see this Shikra - it was very high up in a tree and I heard it calling!  The light was not good as it was dusk but I was glad I managed to get a reasonable shot of it!!

So the weeks are flying past and I hear people talking about Christmas.  In the shopping malls in the city already Christmas trees are up and Christmas music is playing - it somehow doesn't seem right when we are all hot and bothered by the weather!  

I am training teachers in December from all the schools I visited last week in Southern province as well as one school in Lusaka.  They are going to come to Lusaka for training so that I don't have so much travelling to do!  I am so thankful to God for the safe travels over the last month and also thankful for all the wonderful nature that is around me! 

Thank you for reading my blog and feel free to leave a comment - at least then I know someone is reading it lol!!

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!

Blessings,

Diane x