Day's Diary

May 24, 2007 ~ Mr. Lunguje

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Sunday, Fletcher Nyirenda, the vice chair of the Partnership here, and I went to the Chigumula Church. I had no idea where we going and depended on Fletcher to tell me where to turn. Fletcher was a bit uncertain of the turn off and was afraid we had missed it. I slowed down to let him get his bearings when he told me to stop and turn around. There was an elderly gentleman walking in the opposite direction and Fletcher recognized him as a partnership person from Chigumula. I stopped and turned around and we pulled beside him to ask directions and offer him a ride. He recognized Fletcher and eagerly got in the truck and gave the needed directions. This was all transacted in Chichewa and I just drove and turned when Fletcher told me to.

When we arrived at the church and parked the truck, I was finally introduced to our guide, Mr. Lunguje. I was thrilled to meet him since I had heard about him through the partnership for as long as I could remember and I was to bring greetings to him from a number of people in the partnership, especially those connected with John McMillan Church, Chigumula’s partner congregation. He was delighted to receive the greetings, commenting on each person mentioned in personal terms. He knew them all well and was eager to hear how they were doing.

Mr. Lunguje participated in the worship service and then met with us with the partnership committee. Partnership has been one of his passions since the beginning. Silas Ncozana describes him as “one of the guinea pigs,” part of the first group to go to Pittsburgh in 1991 to explore what the partnership might be and how it might take shape. Silas instructed them that the success of the partnership depended on their relationships and vision. Mr. Lunguje took that seriously and has lived up to the challenge in all ways. He is still willing to be involved in whatever way he can to promote partnership.

After the meeting, we had time for informal fellowship with the members of the committee and I finally had time to “just talk.” This gentle man is 88 years old and his testimony is so encouraging. He says with great delight that he had never had a need in his life that God did not meet. He smiles a broad grin that reveals a few missing teeth but a full heart as he tells of God’s provision for him and for his wife of over 60 years. He considers his house and land a blessing from God. He maintains a large garden that produces vegetables for the entire year and he has fruit trees that provide abundantly in season. He says all that he needs is sugar for his tea, and that, too, is provided by God, through the hands of his children. His sincere faith and trust are evident not only in his testimony but also in the Bible he carries. The cover came off a long time ago and the pages are dog-eared and browned from use. It falls open to favorite passages with ease. He carries it with great care.

As we were preparing to leave, I asked if we could give him a ride home. At first he said no, then he said he would be willing to take a ride to the dirt road turnoff to his home, but that was all because it was out of our way and he needed the exercise. We agreed to at least that much. I checked the odometer when we left the church and then when we stopped to let him out at his road – 4.2 kilometers. I asked him now much further it was to his home and he replied, “Just a bit down the road here.” Fletcher said that could be any distance but he guessed it was at least a kilometer. That would be over 5 kilometers this 88 year old saint walks to church and the same distance back. He is faithful in his attendance, almost never missing a service.

Genesis records the story of Abraham entertaining three visitors, when in actuality he was entertaining angels, unaware of it. (Gen. 18) When Mr. Lunguje got out of the truck and started down his road, I had the feeling that we had just had a similar holy encounter with one of God’s saints. There went a man who has faithfully lived his life before God, simply trusting and going where God leads, whether that was to Pittsburgh or just a bit down the road. I was humbled by his example.