Everyone's Home Now!

This morning our last two weary travelers returned to PDX, safe and sound. Cathy Rote and Pam Fogg arrived from Rwanda shortly before noon, bringing stories of children in need, building a new school, evangelism, sleeping in a pastor's mud hut, and evading charging elephants. Although these experiences are not directly tied to our GoTeam efforts, we are all anxious to hear about what what they saw as Ugandan/Rwandan host John Gasangwa showed them around.

Preparing the land for new school construction



Schoolchildren enjoying one of their cups of porridge,
which they receive 3 times each week;
below: Pam serves the children their porridge,
saying, "God's love for you" to each child.

Cathy quilting with young women at the Tubahumurize Association,
where they come to learn sewing and English

No charging elephant, but here's a peaceful hippo

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *    

Meanwhile (backfilling a few photos here) Alan, Christopher, Dick, RB, Kathleen, Katie and Mark had worshiped at the historic David Livingstone Memorial Presbyterian Church the previous Sunday (pictured below with powerful preacher Rev. Christopher Malandiwire), and then joined Graig in one service or another at LGPC this past Saturday or Sunday.



 After church four of the travelers boldly went where no GoTeam has gone before: into the air above Victoria Falls, via helicopter!

The following morning all 7 of them hit the road at 6am to visit the Mosi-O-Tunya National Park, where they saw loads of game, including elephants and plenty of other exotic animals. But it was COLD!

*    *    *

Later that day, shortly after noon, they boarded a plane for Johannesburg, then traveled via Atlanta back to Portland... 30+ hours and plenty of final "Gumby opps" - chances to demonstrate flexibility during the rigors and unknowns of global travel.

Now we are all back in L.O and environs, full of joy at

seeing what God is doing in Zambia...

full of stories to tell, if we can find listeners. As we read in Job:

"My ears had heard you but now my eyes have seen you..." (42:5),

and we want to share what we have seen.

As a group we will join forces next month to make a presentation

to our supporters and the LGPC congregation.

WON'T YOU JOIN US !??:

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

at 6:30pm in Lake Grove's Fellowship Hall.

In the meantime, we thank God for safe return,

and for your attention and prayers.

Leza amuleleke! ~ God bless you!

Training for Sinazongwe Pastors

Before the team began relaxing in the beauty of Livingstone's natural wonders, Pastor Graig led a time of debriefing and then departed for Lusaka, where he had appointments aimed at making progress in strengthening the available training for rural pastors in Sinazongwe. 

"After morning worship at the Matero Presbyterian church in northwest Lusaka, during which I was called on to preach (without warning, of course!), I met with pastors and denominational leaders of the Central Church of Africa, Presbyterian (CCAP). This is a rapidly growing denomination with strong ties to two training programs for rural pastors. PCUSA liaison Nancy Collins was kind enough to arrange my lodging and several very purposeful meetings for my time in Lusaka."

General Secretary of the CCAP, Rev.Maleka Kabandama, along with Moderator-Elect Rev. Chizason Chunda

"Monday our liaison from World Vision Zambia,

Alfonsias Haamanjanji (pictured below in his office),

guided me through meetings with WVZ's Christian Commitment department. Alfonsias has been an invaluable facilator

for our GoTeams the last two years.

World Vision Zambia has not been idle on the issue of training pastors in developing areas. George Musonda has been very helpful in this process. George was with us in 2002 during our first visit to Sinazongwe, when we initially heard the cry for help

from Sinazongwe pastors."

"I also spent time at the local Reformed/Presbyterian seminary, Justo Mwale Theological University College, named for the first native Zambian ordained in the Reformed tradition.

I learned about their outreach program to train rural pastors, toured the campus with rector (president) Edwin Zulu,

and met with professors and students."

back of a truck, helping at the chapel, in construction

"The upshot of my extra time in Lusaka is that we seem very well prepared to solidify high-quality training for our beloved, hard-pressed church leaders in Sinazongwe (both pastors and lay leaders). I was very encouraged by my time with local Presbyterians and World Vision staff. I think that our longstanding support of rural pastors, evidenced by our distribution of Bibles, bicycles and teaching resources for pastors, and ongoing encouragement... this is about to bear fruit in a comprehensive way. A pilot program is already functioning in Sinazongwe, but it will get much stronger. Thanks be to God!"

Livingstone and Beyond

Saturday, July 23

After a refreshing warm shower, we met for breakfast and a debriefing.  We discussed all we had seen … what amazed us… and what to do with those things when we returned home.  We headed to the airport to drop off Pastor Graig who was heading back to Lusaka to discuss pastor training with the World Vision staff.  Then we were off to Victoria Falls, “the smoke that thunders.”  What a beautiful place God has created! In the evening, we took a cruise on the Zambezi River.  We saw elephants, crocodiles, impala, baboons and hippos, all from the safety of our boat.

Sunday, July 24

Up for breakfast and then off to church at the David Livingstone Presbyterian Church.  The message was from Isaiah 60 and Revelations 2.  Cathy and Pam are leaving the group to fly to Rwanda, where they will visit the work of Arise Twanda Ministries, a small ministry focusing on feeding and education of young children in the remote areas of that country.  The rest of the team heads for home on Monday afternoon.  We have had an engaging and fruitful trip, which we cannot wait to share with our church family and friends.

Farewell to Sinazongwe and World Vision friends

To conclude our time together, both teams met to debrief and suggest ways to improve the ministry, then shared a time of affirmation and gifts. Year after year, the quality and commitment of the World Vision staff amazes GoTeam members. We are so thankful for these loving servants of God; they are on the front line of compassion and progress among the poor... the hands & feet of Christ.

Graig offers Manager Fred a cross made by an LGPC member 



RB receives a memento gift from the ADP staff, given by Listy & Phales




Morning of departure: GoTeam and ADP staff



Photo Follow-Up: Return to Siabaswi Village

After a morning of sponsorship visitation, we returned for a check-in at our former partner village, Siabaswi, for a time of worship with local church leaders, followed by update discussions with Siabaswi pastors and with the community leadership committee. Along the way we connected unexpectedly with some "old" friends...



Communion worship at the Siabaswi Brethren in Christ church

A foretaste of the Kingdom, when all nations will gather in unity at the table of the Lord...


Siabaswi headman Harry Siabeze, also pastor of the Church of Christ in the Katongo neighborhood

Pastors and community leaders say the village is doing well, moving ahead... largely due to the boost they got from our partnership.

Sponsored child Melvin (Janna Brown) and dad Opson, mainstays in Siabaswi



Pam greets Jill Sherman's sponsored child Bevice, who wants to be a pastor

"As I was leading worship, I saw my Siabaswi namesake, Graig Siabulungu,
just outside the entrance, and greeted him after the service."

LuAnn Yocky's child, Felester, spotted on the road as we departed Siabaswi

Photo Follow-Up: "Clinics & Celebrations" - Celebration at Siabbeula

Wednesday afternoon and evening, we viewed garden projects in all the villages of the Siabbeula Food Security Project and then shared in a time of celebration highlighted by community dancing and a video retrospective of our 3+ years together - in the open air, in the dark, beneath a spectacular Milky Way sky.


Cathy and a successful farm wife in Simabbula



Christopher helps affix the "Jesse cross" gift for Siabbeula's children





Kathleen dances with a village girl




RB celebrates with ADP manager Fred Mazumba

hundreds gathered to view the movie under the stars



Movie set-up at sunset





Villagers laughed and shrieked as they recognized people they knew

 















Photo Follow-Up: "Clinics & Celebrations" - AIDS focus

Photographs to illustrate the first half of our day on Wednesday: testing clinic visit, visit to HIV clients (following volunteer caregiver on bikes!), and then the announcement of LGPC's gift to Sinazongwe of caregiver kits.

Kawumi & Graves tell us about HIV testing

A bike-visit to an HIV-positive family to understand how volunteers come alongside the sick

 

Gathering of HBC volunteers:
Sharon translates as Katie & Kathleen announce gift of Caregiver kits and refills