While the rest of the delegation was in Mount Selinda, Stephanie and Shaun stayed in Mutare with their partner churches. The following is Stephanie’s account of her Sunday in Fern Valley, Mutare and then evening in Mount Selinda:
Sunday, July 28, 2024
The morning started with breakfast and, of course, visitors who came to eat with us. The church service that was normally at 10:00 AM was moved to 8:30 AM because Shaun and I needed to be transported to Mt. Selinda today.
We arrived at the church (late) around 8:45 AM. The women were all in their Ruwadzana uniforms, the men in their uniforms (khaki blazers), and the youth and children in their UCCZ t-shirts. The service was to include a baptism — which is a bit different because all the children (there were about 12!) were middle-school aged and had just finished a series of Sunday School classes to prepare for becoming full members of the church. It was almost as if baptism and confirmation were combined into one.
Rev. Manjonjo baptizes one of the children during the Sunday worship.
📸 S. Westergren
The service was unlike anything we do in the northeastern USA! There was music, drumming, dancing, rejoicing and plenty of passion. The service started with the head deacon asking each group how they were: the children, the youth, the Ruwadzana, the men, the visitors. Every group answered with a song and dancing so, needless to say, this “check-in greeting” to about 10-15 minutes. It was so uplifting and joyous!
Several images from the worship service at Fern Valley Church.
📸 S. Westergren
Dancing and singing before worship began.
🎥 S. Westergren
I spoke at the service about FCC Hampton’s mission and how it applies no matter where in the world you are. We also shared a “Crossing Over Communion” to join our churches in sharing the body and blood.
The First Congregational Church of Hampton, NH, UCC’s mission reads that we are a Christ-centered church with an inviting faith, a growing faith, and a serving faith.
After the service, we had an amazing lunch at the Mapungwanas’ home with the whole church congregation. I am so glad I had the chance to share one final meal with my new family before I needed to go and join the rest of the delegation.
Shaun and I left Mutare around noon. We were escorted to Mount Selinda by Rev. Mtoo of City Central Church, with Buca Jambaya and Rev. Manjonjo of Fern Valley Church. The journey was about 3 hours and the roads were the worst I’ve ever seen. For you Disney fans, think of the scene in Cars when Lightning McQueen paves the road in Radiator Springs horribly and quickly for the first time. The road was like that…but worse!
The road between Chipinge and Mount Selinda has not been maintained since it was paved in the 1980’s.
📸 S. Westergren
When we arrived in Mount Selinda, we hiked over a mile into the African jungle to see “The Big Tree.” Legend has it the group of missionaries decided to start a mission here at the big tree long ago.
The delegation at the “Big Tree”. (Sarah McKenzie is not pictured as she had not yet returned from her time with her partner church in Gwenzi.)
📸 S. Westergren’s camera
The delegation then went to have dinner prepared by cooking students at the high school. After dinner, the students performed for us: there was a boys’ group, students who performed spoken word, and the co-ed choir, followed by words from the chaplain, Rev. Mhlanga, Rev. Sara Marean, and Rev. David Keller with some words about Ukama. It was a beautiful night and we were so impressed with both the staff and students at Mt. Selinda.
The choir performs a song in Shona
🎥 S. Westergren
*************
Stay up to date with the delegation here on NHCUCC.org and make sure to follow the New Hampshire Conference Page on Facebook, join the Facebook Group, instagram @NHConfUCC, and check out the UCCZ Facebook Group Here. Updates to these posts occur approximately once daily.