Christmas in the Compound
We recently asked Kunda, founder and vision carrier of Wiphan, what Christmas was like in Zambia and what it was like for the widows and orphans that Wiphan ministers to. When we received her response we were overwhelmed, and we thought we would share it with all of you, our Wiphan supporters. As we celebrate Christmas here in the US, please keep our widows and orphans in your thoughts and prayers as they also celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ 12,000 miles away.
This is how Kunda describes Christmas in Zambia for she and her family as well as how our orphans and widows will experience this day…
WHAT IS CHRISTMAS TO A ZAMBIAN?
Christmas day to a Zambian means the day THE SAVIOR, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WAS BORN. For believers in Christ, Christmas means the day our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ was born. For Christians, Christmas is a very special day when the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ is celebrated and greatly appreciated.
Zambia, being a Christian nation,Christmas day, is a public holiday and most Zambians go to church on Christmas because we do have a church service similar to the usual Sunday service which would be from 9.00hrs to 12.00hrs. The service is centered on the STORY OF THE BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH. The pastor usually preaches on how Jesus Christ was born, why He was born, His death and resurrection.
HOLY COMMUNION also takes place on Christmas and thereafter, people are free to go back home but they are expected to go back to church from 17.00hrs to 18.00 hrs, for a CANDLE-LIGHT SERVICE AND CHRISTMAS CAROLS ARE SUNG.
After attending a church service, people are free to join friends elsewhere and continue celebrating Christmas. Some people (those who can afford) do have simple family gatherings, invite friends and just celebrate Christmas together. A few people (those who can afford) buy and exchange gifts but the majority don’t do that because they can’t afford.
CHRISTMAS FOR AN ORPHAN AND WIDOW IN THE COMPOUND.
Christmas for an orphan and widow, is a very special day when an orphan or widow thinks of bathing to look presentable and wear a clean set of clothes they probably washed the previous day. They also attend the church service within their area where they are told the story and birth of Jesus the Messiah. After the church service, they return home and have a very special meal, most likely something they haven’t eaten in a long time like chicken or meat – this happens because these families live under a dollar a day so on a daily basis they can only afford caterpillars, small fishes called kapenta, beans and vegetables. So most widows make sure they find piece-work (part time work) and work hard, early December to try and gain K25,000 (this is equivalent to 5 Dollars) to enable them buy chicken and have a delightful meal on the day.
Sadly, if the widow fails completely to find some piece-work and has no money to serve for Christmas, she would then take her children to go into the bush, find fields to hunt for RATS. When rats are caught, they are cooked and eaten with nshima and that can be VERY SPECIAL FOR A WIDOW AND ORPHAN. Rats also make a very memorable meal for orphans and widows.
Praise be to God, for Wiphan supporters, for the meals provided to the orphans at Wiphan. Wiphan orphans will enjoy a very nice meal with soya-chunks on Christmas day. Once again a million thanks for food provided to orphans at Wiphan and the mealie -meal widows and care-givers receive on a monthly basis. Hunger has been lifted off from the homes of widows that come to Wiphan centers. Wiphan-Zambia will remain grateful for the HUNGER-RELIEF PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN IN EXISTANCE FOR THE PAST TWO AND HALF YEARS NOW. GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU WIPHAN SUPPORTERS FOR CONTRIBUTING TO SUCH A NOBLE CAUSE.
GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU ALL. SHALOM AND ENJOY YOUR CHRISTMAS.
Kunda Tumelo