A Week in Lusikisiki

A Week in Lusikisiki

Last Monday, our team loaded into three vehicles.  Garry and I were two of the “designated drivers” to navigate the right-hand drive vans on the left side of the roads – our years of driving the busy and rutted roads of Kenya came in handy!  In the last 10 days, we’ve covered hundreds of kilometers on a variety of road conditions.

Monday’s drive took us through beautiful countryside of rich farmlands nestled below giant cliffs and rocky peaks that opened up to our first view of the Indian Ocean, where we picnicked.  Our final destination for the week was a town in the Eastern Cape Province called Lusikisiki, where we were received by a Xhosa pastor by the name of Robert.  He and his wife and extended family welcomed this big group of gregarious Americans into their compound, vacating several rooms for us to put down our mattresses for sleeping.  We also brought a bright green and white striped vinyl tent to serve as our bath house for taking bucket baths.  The ladies of the house worked around the clock, it seemed, to serve three big hot meals to us each day and to heat up water for the bath house.  Village homes do not have indoor plumbing.  The main source of water at our hosts’ home was a tank that collected rain from the roof of their house, and not wanting to deplete their supply, each day we’d take empty water containers by car to a public water tap down the road to restock the water we were using.  By now, the ICS students are experts at using outdoor pit latrines, as well. 

It’s hard to summarize in a few words just how the week was filled.  Pastor Robert had a lot planned for us.  For example, on two of the mornings, we participated in the assemblies at both a private and public junior secondary school (kindergarten through grade 9).  We will never forget how we were greeted with joyful singing by all those hundreds of uniformed students, as they stood outside in straight rows to begin their day.  Our group did songs and skits, and afterwards was received by the teachers for refreshments and exchange of ideas about education in our two countries. 

Another day, we traveled to a village and took part in a women’s conference at a church – which was also attended by men.  The cultural challenge of this day was huge.  The students saw firsthand the effects of syncretism, where elements of the Bible were taught, but where African traditions were also deeply entrenched.  The elders and women wore special capes and robes and accessories to give them protection from evil spirits.  A candle burned on the altar, signifying the presence of the “angel” of the church, who is actually a departed ancestor.  Loud iron cymbals were beat, along with drums, as they sang.  Pastor Robert, along with our translator for the week, Dumi, had both come out of this tradition before they met Christ, and they are working to bring Biblical truth to churches like these.  Our students had a lot to process after that day’s experience.

Each day, back at Pastor Robert’s, our students were responsible for two events in another tent (a larger yellow and green vinyl canopy which sort of matched the bath house…).  This one was large enough to fit about 75 people.  The students who love to work with kids put on a children’s program for children in the area.  The program was quite popular, and the children would wait eagerly each day for it to start.

In the evening, there would be a meeting for singing, testimonies, and a message.  Each of the guys on the team got to practice homiletic skills.  Jesus was always at the center of each talk, and there were a number of young people who gave their lives to Christ during those meetings.

One young man in the church asked Pastor Robert if he would bring the foreign visitors to his mother’s house.  His mother, a widow, was a witchdoctor, and wanted prayer.  Several of the members of our group went to her house yesterday, along with Robert and Dumi, to see what she wanted prayer for.  It turned out that she had seen such a change in her two sons’ lives in recent months because of their new-found faith in Christ, that she had made up her mind to follow Jesus as well.  So she wanted to make a public profession of Christ in front of the group!  Afterward, she told the pastor that she would be removing her charms and getting rid of all of her paraphernalia. 

One surprise this week was several days of rainy weather with temperatures in the upper 50s at night. The team has pulled out their sweaters, jackets and stocking caps while they ask each other, “Are we really in Africa?” Yes, we are, but this is the rainy season.

It’s been a long and rewarding week.  Saturday, the students had a work party, spending  the morning hauling dirt in wheelbarrows and filling in the foundation of a nearby church building.  I think everyone’s ready for a rest.  Monday we head back to Sondela for a few days to regroup, wash clothes, and rest, before starting the next phase of ICS Fall 2011 – Mozambique.