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!"