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One of my favorite things to do when in Kikongo is to take a canoe ride across the river, hike across the hot grassland to the forest on the other side. Once you step into the forest you feel an immediate drop in temperature. It feels so good to walk along the cool jungle path under the high canopy of trees. (You do have to watch out for the occasional troop of army ants and other creepy crawlies.)
If you continue on down into the little valley you eventually come to a beautiful clear stream flowing from a waterfall that comes right out of the hillside. It's the perfect spot to picnic, refresh your soul under the cool waterfall, and maybe have a water fight with the kids.
The last time we made the trip across the river, we were honored to have Tata Mpati as our guide. He is the leader of his clan, a great hunter, and a carpenter by trade. Watching him work, you get the impression that this muscle-bound man is maybe in his mid 40's. I was surprised to find out recently that he's actually 67!
As he hacked away through the elephant grass along the over-grown trail, Tata Mpati shared his testimony with us. He told us how, as a young boy, his father and uncles carefully taught him how to hunt with bow and arrow and finally a rifle-- and even how to make his own gun and ammunition. He learned how to farm and to build a house and all the other things a man needs to know. He said in those days the land was full of animals and the soil was rich. They never worried about having enough to eat.
As a young man, Tata Mpati found work on the construction crew building at the Kikongo mission station. He said it was at that time that they heard the good news of Jesus and he and his whole village made the decision to follow Christ. Tata Mpati spent his entire career faithfully serving Christ in building and maintaining all the different buildings on the mission station.
Now that he's retired, Tata Mpati has turned his attention back across the river to his own village and people. He is very concerned for the future. For several years they have noticed a drastic decline in the animal population. Also, their over-used soil was barely yielding enough to keep everyone fed. Like the surrounding villages, they were constantly on the verge of starvation.
But Tata Mpati and his village have a plan. They have taken most of the land belonging to their clan and made it into a nature reserve. Hunting is strictly controlled. The have also implemented careful management of their farm lands. He said that after four years they are already beginning to see a return for their efforts, and for the first time in a long time have a glimpse of hope for the future.
Tata Mpati's greatest concern, however, is for the spiritual life of his community. He was excited to tell us that, for the first time in the history of his village, they have been able to establish a church and they even have an ordained pastor. Now they don't have to travel across the river to receive communion. Tata Mpati smiled as he said that the people of his village finally have a chance to have the same deliverance that he has found through following Christ. What an honor to hear him give his testimony in his own words.
Things to pray for:
* Tata Mpati and his family as they strive to live out their faith and provide good leadership to their community.
* The village of Kimbuma-- as they struggle to establish the nature reserve and deal with issues such as jealousy and poaching.