Springs of Living Water

This photo was taken far from the "modern" world. Vicki and I were in Brazil in 2006 and had the opportunity to deliver this water purifier to a village about 180 miles south of Altamira. Living water came from this purifier, not the river water that made people ill but clean, clear, healthy water that people could drink and find sustaining life. This morning I was privileged to attend a memorial service for Farai Chimvinga, the brother of a close friend from church. Farai passed away November 28, 2008 from complications of skin cancer. He lived in Zimbabwe. How large my world has become.

"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them." (Rev. 14:13) No spring of living water kept Farai from joining the Lord but at his memorial a "spring of living water" from the Holy Spirit surrounded all of us present. Five African nations were represented, Holy Scripture was read, Amazing Grace, Soon and Very Soon, Blessed Assurance, and Ndofamba were sung. Farai's sister, Irene, shared remembrances and we left filled with the living water of our Lord. We were not Americans or Africans, we were people of God, joined together by a belief in one Lord, one faith, one baptism and confidence that we will join one another in the hereafter.

The family sang Shona Song and the words follow below:
1. Ndofamba ndofamba
Ndosuwa kudenga
Kunyika yatenzi
Isina nenhamo
2. Madzinza ariyo
Hakuna urombo
Hawacha zochemi
Hawana rusuwo
3. Watswene wariyo
Wofara zwikuru
Kuona yonyenye
Mufuri wewese
4. Neniwo ndinoda
Kufamba murwendo
Runoda wasimbi
Kuswika yonyika

English:
1. I'm on a journey, I miss heaven,
where there are no troubles
2. There are tribes there, there is no
poverty. There will not be crying,
and no sorrow.
3. The saints are there, they are
rejoycing, to see the sheep, who died
for all
4. I also want to be on this journey
it takes faith to reach that place.

May you allow yourself to be immersed in the living water of our Lord.