You would think laying the first stone for a new building is little more than a celebration. In the United States, it allows a public nod to a generous donor, but in Congo, where traditional and modern worldviews blend, things are different! Here, the manner in which you lay the first stone is imbued with such import that other aspects of the enterprise pale in comparison. Why, disregard of proper decorum at the outset can lead to calamity; even jeopardize the whole venture!

Katherine is managing the construction of a nursing arts building at Vanga, to be built with memorial gifts honoring the life of her mother, Miriam Fountain. For the last two months she has been organizing the purchase of rock, sand, cement, boards, nails, tile, shovels, wheelbarrows, trowels; a missionary physician assistant turned construction contractor. With most of the materials in place and a qualified Congolese engineer contracted to oversee the project, she deemed work could begin. “No way,” came the response from the engineer and from Mr. Muvumu, the director of the nursing school. “YOU must come and lay the first stone first.”

“Go ahead with digging the foundation,” Katherine offered, seeking a reasonable compromise, “And I’ll lay a symbolic stone in June when the whole family is free to come.” Again there was resounding objection. Phone calls went back and forth, but the team at Vanga remained adamant that the first stone be laid before any work began.

So last weekend we drove to Vanga for the ceremony. We loaded our pickup with more construction materials and loads of soft drinks for the celebration. As the Lord arranged, we came upon Pastor Muyamina, the head pastor, stranded at the beginning of the 50-mile stretch of dirt road into Vanga because a motorcycle hired to get him fell in the deep sand and broke its headlight. Providence! With evening approaching, he would now not run the risks of darkness, sandy roads, and no headlight. Best of all, he would certainly arrive in time for the ceremony! We did pull into Vanga just as darkness fell, unloading while the first drops of the last storm of the rainy season fell, which might have made Pastor Muyamina’s motorcycle ride even more difficult. More providence!

The next morning, Katherine met with Mr. Muvumu and the nursing school leaders about ceremony details: Katherine would speak briefly, Pastor Muyamina wouldmake appropriate dedicatory remarks, and a pre-selected stone would be placed by Katherine into a cement block pedestal prepared for that purpose. But, at the last minute, an elder from the Vanga church appeared with a message: In light of the importance of the “first stone,” it is the head pastor’s duty to lay it. Everyone agreed.

It turns out that in traditional Congo culture, before construction is undertaken in the village, the chief must be present, lay the first stone, and tip a gourd of palm wine onto the ground to “please the ancestors.” The safety and success of the project is dependent on strict adherence to this traditional directive. The nursing arts building is to be constructed on land belonging to the Vanga mission, where the “chief” is the head pastor. Therefore, Pastor Muyamina must place the stone.

We are happy to report the first stone was duly laid during a ceremony where joyful students rocked the audience with drums and choruses. Mr. Muvumu made appropriate remarks, Katherine shared the history and vision of the nursing school, and Pastor Muyamina preached. After remarks by local authorities, and another prayer, the student choir (more drums!) accompanied the audience to the cement block monument where Pastor Muyamina ceremoniously placed the stone, spread mortar, raised his hands over the stone, crowd, and construction site, and prayed. The engineer carved the date onto the pedestal, and with all of this properly observed and photographed, the audience dispersed for celebratory soft drinks, bananas, and peanuts.

So our Congolese Christian brothers and sisters ensured that we built an important bridge between traditional and modern worldviews. In dedicating the activities to the Lord, and tipping out prayers, fears calmed and light shone into darkness. The next day, one worker sustained a slight injury while clearing the site, necessitating a few stitches. But with the site properly consecrated, let the construction begin!