Saturday, June 22, 2013

Zimbabwe: Hakuna Wakaita

   As we've began to immerse ourselves into the heart of Zimbabwean culture, we've realized that it's truly impossible to become honorary Africans without being able to worship like an African.
The serious, solemn, occasional hand raise worship we've been accustomed to is no more, and the dance around, clap, jump up and down and the occasional high pitch voice vibrato worship has begun.

One of our favorite Ndeble/Shona worship songs (that we quickly made a point to memorize) is Hakuna Wakaita, or, There's No One Like Jesus:

Hakuna wakaita sa Yesu,                            There's no one, there's no one like Jesus
hakuna wakaita sa Yee.                               There's no one, there's no one like Him
Hakuna wakaita sa Yesu,                            There's no one, there's no one like Jesus
Hakuu hakuuna                                           There's no one, there's no one like Him

Nda manya manya, kwese, kwese,               I've walked and walked, all over, over
Nda tembereva, kwese, kwese,                     I've looked and looked around
Nda tsvaga tsvaga, kwese, kwese,                I've searched and searched all over, over
Hakuu hakuuna                                            There's no one, there's no one like Him!

   And yes, the song is complete with motions, and a more than catchy, upbeat rhythm.  As the people (and ourselves) sing this song, I pray that we really realize what it means.  There's NO ONE like Him.  No one, as in there's only ONE author of life, only ONE creator of the universe, the Heavens and Earth, only ONE God who made Himself man for an unworthy people, and only ONE resurrected Son to pay for our sins.  There's no one, there's no one like Him. 

We ask that you pray for our team, that we're biblically bold.
Pray for our driver, Request, to whom God has opened doors to minister to.
Pray that in our ministry with children, God drives us exactly as He wills.
On a note about worship, pray that God moves in our worship, and that of the people in this joyous place full of creation experience it as spiritual, not emotional.