A Most Difficult Episode

24-year-old Temweka David Sichinga, one of our best Zambian friends, was killed in an auto accident last week. He is the son of Brother and Sister Sichinga, an influential couple in the church and in Zambia. Brother Sichinga has been a member of Parliament and has plans to "stand" for president in an upcoming election. Everyone in Zambia knows him and he has done much good for the name of the Church. He has two sons serving in the Durban Mission--our old stomping grounds! The youngest son arrived in Durban from the MTC on the very day that his brother was killed. President Mann (our dear friend) summoned the older brother to come into the mission home from Swaziland (6 hours away) and stay with his brother. Together these bereaved Elders called their parents and lovingly told them they would stay in the mission field where they would be strong together. They said that by staying in the field, they would be exemplifying what they preach about the plan of salvation, and about hope in our Savior's gift of eternal life.
What followed was one of the most difficult episodes of our mission. The funeral traditions of Africa are very deep and very poignant. Some of the funeral traditions are not in harmony with procedure that must be followed if a funeral is held in a church chapel under the direction of the Priesthood. Elder Patterson, being in the mission presidency, and being the presiding authority in the area, had to make sure that the chapel funeral was carried out in accordance with the Church Handbook of Instructions. This put him in a most awkward situation. The Branch President and family members fought him fiercely. They were also furious with District President Lumbama for standing firm, because after all, he has family ties to them and "he should uphold family culture." It was so difficult. On the morning of the funeral, the Branch President still had plans to go ahead with cultural traditions. Elder Patterson, President Lumbama and President Mahachi, closed the District office doors and knelt in prayer, petitioning the Lord for His divine and peaceful intervention. When they emerged, there had been a change of heart amongst the family and leaders, and the funeral was carried out in the Lord's way. Over 800 people were in attendance. There were people sitting and standing in the isles and on the stand and in the halls and outside. Only a small percentage of these mourners were members of the church. Never have we witnessed a person eulogized so beautifully with all the intertwinings of the plan of salvation being taught so simply and powerfully. We cannot yet see the full impact this will have on the Church in Zambia, but we do know that many seeds were planted in the hearts of friends, relatives and government officials. We do know that the Lord's arm was revealed in this instance to make sure that the proceedings of this funeral were carried out in harmony with the Spirit, allowing the Holy Ghost to testify in due reverence.
Funerals are at least a weekly occurrence for most every person in Africa. The pictures that are posted above show a little bit of the African traditions at the time of a death. The tent is always put up for the men of the family to gather in and to sleep under for many days and nights [photo #1]The funeral fire is the responsibility of the men and they gather and bring enough firewood to keep it burning day and night until the deceased has been buried. The furniture is taken out of the home and the women relatives of the family sit and sleep on the floors for many days and nights. Feeding all the guests is the women's responsibility, of course. This is done by cooking huge amounts of food over fires in massive pots. Housing and feeding so many guests at funeral times is a huge financial and emotional burden on the grieving families, but tradition continues. When the deceased is a church member, the branch members gather at the deceased's home and sing hymns of comfort for hours [photo#2] This is one tradition that we have grown to love. At the graveside,the casket is lowered and completely buried. This is actually comforting to the family, showing that the body is safely entombed, as grave-robbing for withcraftery is always a concern. Then, the family spokesman invites others by name to come and lay flowers on the grave and pay last respects. The branch members once again sing hymns softly in the background. Rand was honored to be called up with other Priesthood brethren to place flowers on the grave [photo #3]. After all the flowers have been placed, the mourners linger and softly sing the most soulful African songs as to make a listener hold one's breath for fear of not hearing it perfectly or of not remembering it forever [photo#4].