Jan's Greetings from Chaminuka Lodge

Throughout these past few days, we've seen and experienced so much.  So today the three of us are taking the much-needed time here in this quiet place (http://www.chaminuka.com/) to reflect on the precious and loving people that we've had the opportunity to visit with and learn from.  We are learning many things, including their visions for the future.  We are thrilled with what has been accomplished with regard to New Horizons and the Piggery Project through the resources provided by St. John's Joy Zone.  As we evaluate that wonderful cooperation, we are now looking at how our Lord would have us recommend future direction.



Pr. Arden Strasser (ELCA Missionary), Jan, Pr. Elyse, Mr. Muplanga (ELC-Za administrator), Laurie, and Pr. Alfred Chana (Lead Pastor of ELC-Za) 

 


Our time in various meetings, worship, and shared experiences with Pr. Arden Strasser, ELCA Missionary, and new friends in the ELC-Za have expanded our minds and our senses.  We are challenged by the poverty, but greatly encouraged by their vision for the future.  Even though the ELC-Za has a small presence throughout Zambia, with only thirty congregations and approximately 3,000 members, their focus is on:  expanded pastoral training and leadership, growth of women's and children's ministries, HIV-AIDS and Malaria education, the undertaking of microfinance projects, and much more.

So today, we are taking time to reflect and look at how our Lord might have us at St. John's be in partnership with our brothers, sisters, and children in Christ here in Zambia. 

(Hi Larry!)

In Christ,
Jan

Worship, Quilts, and Pigs!

Laurie and I (Pr. Elyse) are sitting here again at the local internet cafe, listing the events of the past days, mindful that we can only share so much here!  We've narrowed it down to:  worship, quilts, and pigs.  We know that sounds strange, but let us tell you the stories behind each...

Worship at Kamwala Parish on October 3

Jan and Kamwala Parish member at their new church plot

 We raced through the city streets at 9:30am on Sunday, joining the throng of Zambians who were making their way to church.  We landed at a government school where classroom after classroom was filled with different congregations worshipping, including a big Pentecostal praise service outside.  It was unlike anything we'd seen!  We walked into one of the classrooms, packed with the people of Kamwala parish.  Jan and Laurie took their places behind school desks, and I was given an alb to put on, as I was the preacher of the day.  The singing, the liturgy, the choir, the prayers:  all was wonderful and in Swahili!  I was lucky to have the parish pastor translating it all for me, and was able to sing along with the printed liturgy.  2 1/2 hours later (!) we joined the Kamwala church leaders for a tour of their new building sites and then to the home of one of the leading families of the congregation for a fantastic Tanzanian-style meal and good conversation.  Their hospitality was truly humbling.  We felt so honored to be their guests.  The song "One Bread, One Body" really came alive for me that day.  --Pr. Elyse

The girls at NHO singing on October 4

Enjoying St. John's Joy Zone quilt before starting their own quilt squares

 Pr. Elyse and I visited the orphanage and were greeted enthusiastically by the girls.  They were excited to receive the quilt and were very creative in designing theirs.  Pr. Elyse and I were happy to be able to take bedsheets for the beds.  Thank you for your financial support which allowed us to purchase the sheets.  Our visit concluded with the girls singing for us.  --Laurie

Laurie at the New Horizons Ministries Piggery!  These piglets are just 10 days old.

Jan, Juliet and her son at the Piggery

Elyse with one of the many children at the New Horizons Ministries farm

After a very long, hour-plus bumpy ride into the African bush, we arrived at New Horizons Ministries farm.  There was a lot happening when we arrived.  We were greeted by more than thirty mothers with babies and young children, and then proceeded to take a tour with Juliet.  It was really fun to see the Piggery that St. John's Joy Zone children and families have helped to build these past two years.  Juliet shared her long-term vision for this farm with us, which includes making the Piggery a source of sustainable funding for the needs of orphaned and vulnerable children.  We also visited the village preschool which now meets at the Farm, and enjoyed singing with them.  Thank you for your continued prayers.  We are well, if tired.  Tomorrow we will begin a two day, one night stay at a Safari Lodge outside of Lusaka for some R and R, de-briefing, and wildlife safari walking!

Peace be with you all.  We miss you and are so excited to share more with you when we return.

Greetings from Lusaka

Children at Hope for the Heart Preschool, Matero Parish, ELC-Z



Matero Parish, Matero Township, Lusaka

 Laurie and I are sitting at an internet cafe in Lusaka while Jan shops for a few groceries, and we are delighted to be able to get online and post a few of many, many pictures of our last three days.  It is hard to believe that we've only been here since Thursday morning, as each day has been so full of new people, experiences, sights, and conversations.  We're staying at Juliet's family home, and it has been wonderful to meet her family.  We've also visited New Horizons Orphanage twice, and spent two mornings and afternoons with Pr. Adren Strasser and members of the ELC-Z.  On Friday morning, Arden picked us up and drove us to the Matero Township parish where the ELC-Z runs a preschool for young children.  They are full of light and life.  We then spent time with leaders of the church and went for an authentic African lunch where freshwater fish, steak, wild game, and chicken were being roasted on outside charcoal grills.  At this meal with Lead Pastor Chana and administrator Mr. Muplinga, we learned (or tried) to eat with our hands, using the national staple food, nshima, as catch-all utensil.  The Lutherans we have been meeting with are so welcoming and joyful.  We spent the day with the women's group of the Matero parish.  They sang for us and we began to learn the songs we will bring home to St. John's!  We engaged in bible study and conversation, led by marvelous Pr. Matilda, who translated and facilitated our discussion.  Our time with them ended with another home-coooked meal.  We were all overwhelmed and moved by our time with these women.  We will worship tomorrow at another parish of the ELC-Z and look forward to this time!
--Pr. Elyse

New Horizons Orphsnage



Three beautiful faces from NHO!


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It was so exciting to arrive at New Horizons Orphanage!  The first night the girls were sleeping and I wanted to wake them up to greet them, but I didn't.  Last night we returned and brought the wonderful gifts that you so generously donated.  They were very thankful to you.  As you can see from the pictures, they are beautiful children of God.  I'm looking forward to spending more time with them in the next few days.
--Laurie

Thank you for your continued support and prayers!  We ask specifically that you pray for health and healing for all who are infected and affected with HIV-AIDS and all who live in such dire poverty.  Please pray for the people of the ELC-Z and for the girls of NHO.  We look forward to "Skype-ing" into the 9:15 COJ service on Sunday.  (10:30 is not possible due to Internet Cafe operating hours.)  

Hello From Heathrow

Greetings friends! 

We're on hour six at Heathrow airport, enjoying the slowness of pace while we await our next flight to Lusaka.  Starbucks and some British sandwiches have revived us, and I finally realizing--with excitement--that we'll be in Africa come morning.  I'm thinking back on the last time I endured a European airport layover, complete with a toddler and baby.  I see parents pushing carriages, carrying backpacks full of stuffed toys and snacks and think:  did I do that?  This sitting around and chatting, window shopping at Duty Free and reading is a breeze!  And so I am struck today by this new season of life, serving as a pastor in a congregation like St. John's with global passion, and with children just old enough to appreciate (or at least endure) their Mom's two-week vision trip and sense of call to visit Zambia.  I am also once again feeling that pulse of pluralism as people from all over the planet pass through airports like Heathrow, on their way to every continent on earth.  God's earth.  And we are on our way to meet and begin to know some of God's people:  Juliet and the community of New Horizons, Prs. Strasser and Chana and some congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia (ELC-Z).  I think Jan and Laurie would agree:  we feel humbled already by their preparations and pray we can truly, genuinely receive their hospitality and welcome.

Long story short: we're having an easy trip thus far, which gives me hope that we'll feel relatively well-rested once we get to Lusaka.  We did have a funny (worrisome?) few minutes when we first arrived at O'Hare, for we assumed that our international flight left from the, go figure, International Terminal.  We disembarked from the Peoria Charter bus, collected our six suitacases, rented a luggage cart, and were on our way with confidence when we realized that American Airlines' international flights don't leave from Terminal 5, but 3.  Okay.  No problem.  Unless you take the wrong elevator up and down, whilst schlepping six suitcases and 3 purses, and then need to take three more elevators and an airport tram to land in your correct Terminal!  All was fine, but it was a slight injection of stress!  From then on, all was well.  We ate dinner, walked to our gate, left on time, and slept a lot.  For some reason, I appeared to have slept the longest, evidenced by a hideous photo taken of me--eye mask and all--and accompanied by laughs and a flash, all of which I was completely unaware. 

I'm grateful to journey with these good travelmates, and one of us will blog next from Lusaka!

Prayer Requests

Pray for spiritual strength and God’s peace for all Team members and their families.

Pray for travel safety and physical well-being for the Team throughout the Vision trip.

Pray that each Team member may experience continued spiritual growth and be overflowing with joy, peace, and hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Pray for God’s wisdom and listening hearts as we discern the best means of helping Juliet Chilengi achieve ongoing sustainability for New Horizons.

Pray that the trauma and hardships which the girls have endured before coming to New Horizons Orphanage can be overcome through the love and care they receive there.

Pray for the Lord’s guidance and direction as we meet and work with Pastor Arden Strasser and the ELC-Zambia pastors for the development of an ongoing mutual relationship.

Pray for all who live in poverty and suffer from HIV-AIDS, malaria, and other diseases so prevalent in Southern Africa.

Pray for the ELCA’s global ministries of accompaniment, of walking with and learning from other Christians across many cultures.

Welcome to St. John's Zambia Travel Blog

Thank You for your prayer support as we make final preparations for our departure on September 28th, 2010.

Laurie Helms, Pastor Elyse Nelson-Winger, Jan Pritts