Chavuma, Zambia

Samuel & Elizabeth Simonyi-Gindele

I am sitting writing at my old desk in Chavuma, and it is a strange feeling, almost as if we never left, as everything feels so familiar. Everyone in our family feels this. Even the older boys, who have been missing what was familiar in Portugal, show signs that they are feeling at home.

Our almost two months in Chitokoloki were a blessing. We appreciated a comfortable home to stay in and I was given a rapid reintroduction to surgery and African medicine at the hospital. Chitokoloki is an extremely busy place as Dr. David McAdam's outstanding reputation has reached far and wide, and the hospital has been developed to provide a wide variety of services.

During that time I visited frequently with a young man from Saurimo, Angola who was in the hospital. Lourenco was admitted with complications from a tight throat stricture after drinking battery acid. He is only able to speak Chokwe and Portuguese, so for months he did not have anyone outside of his family to speak with. We enjoyed reading in the gospel of John together, and there was a remarkable change in his demeanour that could not be ascribed to medical treatment. I believe it was from the Word of God. He did not tell me that he had become a Christian but many times, when I would drop in, I would find him reading the scriptures, taking notes and he had good questions to ask when we were together. It was a wonderful practice for me in Portuguese and a thrill to put to work the language we spent so long studying. When I found a Portuguese Bible, for him, it happened on his birthday and his reaction was as if he had been given a bar of gold. Please pray for the salvation of his family as they often listened in while we read together and discussed John's gospel. We hope to find them again when we finally arrive in Saurimo.

Many things have changed in Chavuma since we have been gone. Sadly, there are believers missing who were living for Christ when we left. However, we are thrilled to visit Zambians and find them going on well for Christ. In particular, Ndonji, a young man paralyzed years ago after falling out of a mango tree, who continues to have a Sunday school in his village and works with young people in the assembly. His testimony is evidenced by the love of the Lord which shines from his face and the respect with which others treat him in the village. We found an old man, Mr. Zuze, who continues to faithfully make the steep climb some kilometres to where the believers meets on the hill, despite advanced years.

One of the happiest reunions was with Mutondo and Florence who are a Zambian couple we worked with closely in Angola, when we lived there. They continue to serve the Lord faithfully in a large village called Chilombo, ninety-five kilometres from Chavuma. This morning we crossed with them to Karipande, a village just inside Angola, where the border post is. They went on to Chilombo while we returned to Chavuma. We had a heart-to-heart talk as two couples about our future in Angola. They have been very keen for us to settle with them.

Summer 2013

Written by Samuel & Elizabeth Simonyi-Gindelle - Zambia

sg@chameleonsolutions.ca