Funeral Adventure


Elder Phelps was asked to attend a funeral service for a sister who once lived in the Munali ward. (That is one of the wards we have been asked to attend). Her husband had been the bishop there but had moved to the bush country a little while ago.
Hal met the current bishop at the church at 9:00 AM and the plan was to be home by 12:00. The service was about 40 miles away. When Hal arrived at the church he was informed that the bus driver that had previously been arranged for to take the 13 people going had cancelled last minute. No one had a car except one lady but the registration on her car had expired and they would have to go through a police check point. After an hour of trying to arrange other transportation, the bishop asked Hal if they all could ride in the truck. The women inside and all the men could ride in the back. There is a topper on the truck.
Elder Phelps said that he couldn’t do that. As they walked outside there was a man in the back of the truck, sweeping out the bed of the truck so they wouldn’t get their suits too dirty.
After more discussion it was arranged that Elder Phelps would trade the truck with an 11 passenger van that the mission has. Yes, all 13 adults squeezed into that 11 passenger van!
They had to go through the heart of the city of Lusaka where it is extremely congested so the driving was very slow!

 
They drove for about one hour out into the bush. They came to a dirt road where they saw a few people on the side of the road. They all got out and walked down a path for about 100 yards. 
The grave sight was located in a clearing, under a tree.

There were about 65 others there. The grave was covered with a beautiful full body length marble stone.
 

The village chief could not attend but his counselors were there. They were the only ones sitting on chairs. Everyone else sat on the ground. Along with others, our Bishop’s counselor also spoke and even though he spoke in their native language, Hal could tell he was preaching a pretty powerful sermon. There were lots of hand gestures and pulpit pounding like voice levels. At one point he heard, “this life is a test! It is a test!”

Even though it was a good experience, Hal doesn’t think he will do it again. Especially if he has to take a mission vehicle!!!


   

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