Easter in Zim (Year 2)

To be honest, I was sad that I was missing Easter with my family once again. I had been in Zimbabwe last year for Easter, and here I was again. This time, with no friends from back home. However, God HAS placed some amazing people in my life here in Zim and they made Easter super!

On Thursday, the church (Chiredzi Christian Church) hosted a Passover meal at my compound, where we ate lamb or chicken stew, pita bread, butternut squash, and pudding (much like American cobblers) for dessert. The setting was beautiful- Christmas lights were strung in the trees and lanterns and African print tablecloths were scattered on the tables. Mark Burbidge, the preacher at the church, led us in a summary of what Passover is and what it means for Christians today. The atmosphere was reverent and joyful, and the rest of the weekend was just as wonderful!

Friday afternoon, I rode with Cephas Zivanai and his family to an Easter Conference two hours away in Benzi (literally means "crazy"). The weekend was cold (if you can believe it), and we wore jackets and wrapped up in blankets to keep warm while singers and preachers sang and spoke. It was 11:30 pm before everything was finished for the night and then Cephas' three daughters and I slept in a church member's home (all four of us were in a queen bed and luckily it wasn't hot, or we would have died).

The next morning brought more preaching, singing, and the sun (warming things up a bit). Mercy, Cephas' fourteen year old daughter, translated for me, which made it easier to understand the Shona preachers. Several little girls had fun playing (yanking might be a better word), with my hair and sitting on my lap, until their mothers would come along and scold them for "bothering" the murungu. I enjoyed having them near me, but I'm afraid I wasn't able to pay close attention to my translator that afternoon.

After Cephas drove me back to Chiredzi on Saturday evening, I got rested up for an early morning at church. On Easter morning, the church had a sunrise service and a breakfast afterwards. I helped Steph Davy with Sunday School and then enjoyed everyone's fellowship (even when we were washing the dishes). My sweet neighbors, the Burbidge family had me over for a swim and lunch, and I appreciated their hospitality. The rest of the day was enjoyable and the Burbidge kids stayed the night with me. We had a crazy, fun time together, even when the electricity went out (along with the air con) and it helped having a loud house, something I am very used to! On Monday, we had an enjoyable time playing, swimming, and relaxing.

I'm very thankful for those who included me in their Easter plans this year in Zimbabwe. Celebrating Christ' resurrection with the church in Zimbabwe two years in a row was fantastic and I wouldn't have it any other way. HE IS RISEN INDEED!

“Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen."

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