Emily, Kameron, Alison and I loaded into the back of the truck and made our way as representatives of our World Race/ God is Great International Ministry down the dusty village road into town. Our purpose was to acquire permission to hold our crusades in his area of authority. When we arrived we were greeted kindly by a representative and asked to take a seat. One of the Group-Chiefs from the local area went off to find the Head-Sub-Chief.
Chief Kanga is Muslim and once traveled via 3 planes to Mecca.
He oversees nine group-chiefs, who in turn oversee their respective individual village chiefs.
He is, as we’ve affectionately begun calling him, the “Chief-chief”.
When Group-chiefs greet Chief Kanga, they cross their arms over their chest and bow slightly at the knee. Others hold their right elbow with the left arm to support their shaking hand, and as a gesture of respect. Group-chiefs are introduced, while village chiefs are not.
After sharing briefly with the chief the purpose of our visit, he agreed with excitement that we could have fully freedom to do whatever we wished in his villages. We had his blessing. He commented that it was not often that American visitors, such as ourselves made their way to his villages, so he wanted us to be received by his people in such a way that we would feel like Binoni village was a second home to us. He also said, “If you come live here in my village, I will give you a piece of land, and you can build a home here.”
We discussed matters like marriage and education – how they differed from the US + Malawi.
He said he inquired about our beliefs in hopes that he could teach his grandchildren good ways.
We learned that unlike the US, it is not uncommon to be 14, 16, 17 and already have substantial families in tow. Chief Kanga seemed very adamant about his grandchildren being educated.
It was an honor to “go meet the chief “. It allowed me to reflect on various college experiences I had meeting leaders, and the respect we are to show them. It was a memorable experience. It felt like honoring my grandfather by asking his permission to do something. It was also a comical experience because I realized the reality of my life right now says that it is a plausible daily activity to wake up and be asked to seek permission from a village chief to be in his district.
