A young man was discharged from the University Teaching Hospital sometime in February 2009. With his suitcase, he came to Kabwata Baptist on a Sunday morning for assistance and referred to Hope Ministry, and fell into my hands. He was visibly very weak as he was on TB treatment. All he wanted was transport money to get back to Chinsali, his home village in Northern Province of Zambia, because he would be better off there.
He had left his home some 4 to 6 years ago hoping to find “green pastures” in the city but Agriflora, where he worked soon wound up. After being discharged, he only wanted to be at his distant relative’s place as a last resort because life and the hunger situation there was unbearable. So I asked him to come to the Hope office after 2 days while we organized ourselves, but disappointed him because things were not yet in place.
He complained of hunger and expressed desperation to go home. Some tea was prepared and he took his morning medication. After sharing the Gospel and counseling him, we then arranged that he comes in the afternoon. Asked what else he wanted, a Bible was ALL. It was very interesting, touching and gave much pleasure to minister to him entirely – spiritually, emotionally, physically and materially! He attended the morning church service on the following Sunday.
Finally a ticket was bought for him to take a Tuesday afternoon bus to Chinsali. Before that, I had asked him if he had made things right with God and if he was sure God had forgiven, changed and made him His child. He answered in the affirmative and could not hide his happy expression. About a month later he paged on my mobile and I phoned him. He said he was very fine and grateful, and it is on that basis I tried to just imagine his experience and put together this piece written on 24th March 2009.
My Return
Hail or hate my return if you must;
I went away free and full of myself, proud with my plans and dreams;
Brisk in stately walk as I faced the world.
I have returned but not a “victor”, crushed in spirit by the winds of pleasure;
Sapped in vigour by the common opportunistic plagues;
Shaken by contemplation of my end and of facing a holy God!
I return a humbled and grateful soul;
I have returned a graceful soldier commissioned by the Almighty,
Armed with the Great Gospel Gun loaded with my Lord’s testimony;
Peaceful as my inner strength & joy reverberate in the tone of my narration.
My return is a happy but sober one;
Shaped by divine intervention for a costly fresh start;
Hail my return, thus I must tell!
