The month of May is one of the most beautiful times to be in Zambia. The rains have finished, but the air is still
fresh and most of the grass is still green. It is also the middle of our
Autumn so the temperatures begin to cool down and leaves are falling
from the trees. Sadly, we do not have the colourful trees that many
people in the USA associate with autumn since leaves here either fall off
the trees green then turn brown or turn brown on the tree then fall off.
Still, it is a very comfortable time of the year.
The month of May is one of the most beautiful times to be in Zambia. The rains have finished, but the air is still fresh and most of the grass is still green. It is also the middle of our Autumn so the temperatures begin to cool down and leaves are falling from the trees. Sadly, we do not have the colourful trees that many people in the USA associate with autumn since leaves here either fall off the trees green then turn brown or turn brown on the tree then fall off. Still, it is a very comfortable time of the year.
This particular year the month of May brought a very joyous celebration for our English-speaking congregation: The wedding of Ivwananji Simutenda and Emmelia Mulenga. Ivwananji is deaf and is a teacher of deaf students at a local government school here in Luanshya. He started coming to the chapel several years ago and was thrilled to discover that the services were interpreted for the deaf. He met Emmelia while studying and they fell in love! She is not deaf so their conversations are both silent and vocal. They came to see us and said they wanted to be married. We were very happy for them and their pre-marriage counselling began. It is a process of several weeks.
A bit of backstory… Ivwananji lost his hearing before his second birthday due to meningitis. His father left home and married a different wife. Ivwananji was raised by his mother with few resources. He put himself through school all the way to receiving his bachelor’s degree in education. This is a demonstration that he was not mentally challenged – he just couldn’t hear. Just before the wedding he was texting with his father and was told that his father would not attend the wedding. He was heartbroken, but not surprised.
The wedding proceeded as planned. I was honoured to perform the ceremony while John Bwalya stood behind Emmelia and signed to Ivwananji. His signs were interpreted to the hearing audience in the chapel. Just as we finished and walked outside Ivwananji’s father and stepmother arrived. They were a bit ashamed that they hesitated, but Ivwananji and his new bride welcomed them to the event. The church members participated in a “kitchen party” (wedding shower) so the young couple would have a few things to get them started in life because they knew that there was very little support from their family. We are very pleased to see this young couple come together in our chapel and look forward to watching them grow together in the Lord and in their family. Your prayers are deeply appreciated.
Together in His Service,
