Living for Posterity

(PREFACE: The Lion Encounter)
In the rolling hills of Zambia, between Mongu and Lukulu, a mother with one baby strapped on her back and another’s hand firmly tucked in hers walked behind an escort guide team, through the African Savannah. At that time, wild animals including lions were a common sight as they roamed the plains, camouflaged behind bushes and forest trees, waiting for prey. Bo Wabei Lisulo, aka Bo Ma-Matauka, and her escort team came across a ferocious Lion. The petrified armed escort on seeing the lion, fled with their weapons, leaving her and her two little children to face the king of the jungle, in a one-on-one confrontation, to either save herself and her children, or perish.
She was extremely frightened, completely aware of the grave danger she was in. She could not run, could not leave her children behind, it was apparent she had reached the end of her rope. My mother did the only thing she knew as a remedy for desperate times such as the one she was in- she prayed- deep groans, kind of prayers that words could never describe. Keeping her eyes straight on the beast, and with trembling hands, she unstrapped her baby from the back, positioned her and the other young daughter to her front in a bid to protect them. She earnestly prayed and called on the ‘Lion of Judah’ to shut the mouth of the lion that was before her. She recalled a story the missionary in her village had shared of a man called Daniel, who had survived the den of lions in ancient days. Something inside her was so strong that this was still possible in her day.
Indeed the ‘Lion of Judah’ shut the mouth of this lion in the jungle, for as though under some instruction or beckoning, the maned lion simply turned away and disappeared into the African Savannah. Our mother lived to tell the story of her determination to protect her children at all costs, but especially about a God who is a mighty deliverer. Years later, she told of the courage in fear that enabled her to risk being devoured by the lion, simply because she was convinced that her two daughters had a destiny and needed her protection. She believed that even if she had died, her two girls would somehow have been saved. She believed someone would have come from the nearby village where they had spent the night, would somehow know her father and they would have taken them home to safety. She often said that she knew deep inside that it was not their time to die. Years later and true to her convictions, these two daughters did grow up into strong women who have sat in global platforms gatherings, have had a voice in continental meetings held in the heart of Africa, working for the world as had been envisioned by their earthly father. These two daughters, stand today as witnesses that God rescued them from the lion encounter for a mission and have taken time to write this book in memory of their remarkable mother.
Bo Ma-Matauka, prayed in the spirit because this is what she had been taught while learning under some missionaries at Sefula when revival hit the land in 1934/1935. That was the year when Litunga, King, Yeta 111(Lewanika), declared Bulozi a Christian nation and placed the Ebenezer stone at Sefula in 1935, symbolizing the Jubilee and founding of the PEMS church in Bulozi. Bo Ma-Matauka our mother, believed in the power of praying in the spirit, as she remembered the Word in Romans 8:26-27 (NLT)-
“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.”
Was she afraid? Many would ask her. Very afraid, as she would later say, but she had to do it afraid. As she prayed in the spirit, the Lion simply turned and majestically walked away, leaving her a nervous wreck, with her daughters unharmed. She proceeded with her journey to find the armed escort guides who had deserted her and her children. They were flabbergasted at seeing her arriving safe and sound, and wondered aloud how that could be. They had naturally expected that the lion had feasted on this poor woman and her children for dinner that day- but here they were with her two daughters unscathed. How did she survive that Lion encounter? What kind of a woman was this?! They wondered in amazement.
This book is written in honor of this remarkable African woman, a courageous mother, with the sole purpose of honoring God who makes all things possible. This book is about the rich, godly, unperishable inheritance that has been passed on to us, an inheritance stored in heaven for generations to come. Our Mother taught us to completely depend on God as our Father and provider.
“I led Israel along with my ropes of kindness and love. I lifted the yoke from his neck, and I stooped to feed him.” Hosea 11:4 NLT.

She also reminded us constantly that God’s promise was to never forget or leave us.
“Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you!” Isaiah 49:15 NLT.
Herein, is a story of courage, determination, and purpose; detailing valuable lessons that our mother Bo Wabei Lisulo, (Bo Ma-Matauka) lived out and taught us during her 92 years of life. Herein is the story about a remarkable woman with a rich legacy of love for her family, her community, and all people. She understood the value of shaping and protecting the destiny of generations after her.