Chikankata Mission Hospital - Sixty Years of Service

This weekend Chikankata Hospital celebrated its 60th birthday. The hospital was officially opened on 3rd May 1947. So we decided to have a celebration to give thanks to the Big Man for his faithfulness. During the weekend there were three main services (all lasted over four hours - one lasted for six!). The Hospital, High School and two local Corps came together for a weekend of looking at the past and thinking about the future. Unfortunately the special guests, General and Commissioner Rader were unable to come, but this did not detract from the gathering. Maybe around 600 of us got together to celebrate and worship the Big Man.

Particpating were the Territorial Youth Songsters and the the Nameembo Worship Band. They have made just formed in the last six weeks after making their own instruments. They were fantastic! I wish you could see and hear them.

On the Sunday morning we had a special open air at 8.00am. The open-air may be considered out dated and no longer relevant back home to some but here we saw great results. Four new Christians came forward and knelt on the ground in the middle of gathering. Maybe the Zambian folk are just more open to the Big Man. Whatever, it was a very moving moment.

Meanwhile, many Hospital staff were praying with the people who were watching and listening round about. Dr. Elsa spent some time praying with the mother of one of her patients in the Children's Ward who was sitting by watching on.

The open-air finished with a March of Witness up to the Primary School, back through Chipanga, down through the Mission and to the pitch. The whole line must have been about half a mile long. It was great to see. The corps, the scouts,Hospital Staff, the High School pupils and the Student Nurses were all part of the procession.



The final gathering took place on Sunday morning at 10.00am. The seating arrangements were somewhat odd. We all sat at each end of the School football pitch under various tents and man-made shelters. It was, after all, over 35 degrees in the open. (The boys I play football with on a Friday evening were saying that they had a proper stadium to play in now)

At one point we all danced to the centre of the pitch to greet each other and have brief chat together. It felt a bit like the Pipes of Peace scene during the Christmas Day truce of 1914! However it was a lot of fun and epitomised the sense of unity and Christian spirit that had been evident during the whole weekend.

There was a real special atmosphere and we celebrated those missionaries who have passed through Chikankata in the past. We gave thanks to all those who have worked and supported Chikankata in recent and distant days. Above all, we were reminded that we are a Mission Hospital and mission is all about putting love where love is not. I say Amen to that!