Mission update

We are back in the States after being in Congo since June. As you know we were to leave in April but Lori's surgery delayed us until June. We want to thank you for supporting us in prayer and financially during this time of ministry. We also want to thank you for your continued support of the Seminary and Women's School at Mulungwishi. Your partnership in training pastors for the fastest growing part of the United Methodist Church is of key importance.

It was good to get back to our home and our community at Mulungwishi. There were some new faces and lots of babies! The leadership team has continue to direct the University, Seminary and Women's School. We dived into our courses with David teaching Contextualization, Inductive Bible Study, Leadership and Church Growth. Lori taught Nutrition, John Wesley and lots of sewing at the Women School.

At the end of July, 18 couples graduated from the Seminary and Women School. It is always fun to celebrate graduations!

One of the graduates is George Kahilu and his wife, Tchijika Kaluma (Marni). We asked the question: "What did the 3 years at Mulungwishi mean to you?" Without hesitation, he said that he had a new life because of coming here. He had continued to grow in Christ through a good theological education and working with our local church in prayer groups, Bible studies and being the evangelist for the church.

Marni attended the Women's School for the three years. She felt she developed so much through her classes in Bible, Health, Nutrition, French, etc. and practical courses in cooking and sewing. George shared that her new understanding of budgeting helped them save for a sewing machine. She can sew for her family and others to help augment the family finances.

George has been appointed to a chapel in a new growing suburb of the city of Kolwezi. Up until now the chapel has only had lay preachers. The Conference felt that it was time for it to become a church with a pastor. We asked them what their dreams and plans were for this church. George wants to help build a new church. He sees this as a tool for evangelism within the neighborhood. People would be
challenged seeing the church that was being built by the members themselves. George also sees the need to be passionate about the care of his flock. Marni, of course, sees herself as passing on what she has learned to other women in the neighborhood.

Lori always works with the nutrition program which helps women and children in the communities around Mulungwishi. At risk children are followed and helped with nutrition and medically for as long as it takes to get them healthy. We have a team that visits families and teach health and better nutrition as well as carry on weekly evaluations of the children.

Our time at Mulungwishi was not limited to the Seminary and Women's School. The month of August was spent with the Kafakumba Pastors' School. This is a month long training program for lay pastors and over an 8 year period leads to ordination. There were some 90 pastors and 18 wives. Loi was involved in teaching the women and organizing the Kitchen. David taught 3 classes.

We had some challenges with the electricity and water. The high intensity cables in some areas were stolen which left us without power for long periods of time and no water pump. So it was back to cooking on charcoal and carrying buckets of water!!! This has always impressed upon us that so many in our world have no electricity or a clean water supply available.

During our last weeks at Mulungwishi, we started our classes for next year. It was difficult to separate from those pastors and their families who were leaving for their designations. They were like our children leaving but we rejoice that they are going to serve the Lord.

Many of you have participated before in UMC#GivingTuesday for the Seminary and Women's School. It will take place again this year on November 29th. Donations can be made through the link www.umcmission.org/give. Again, we want to thank you for making it possible for us to participate in this ministry and for supporting the training of God's shepherds.

Change in ClustrMap

You may have noticed that the ClustrMap that shows location dots for visitors to this blog has changed. That map is in the right sidebar column.

Unfortunately, a main server for ClustrMaps was damaged and went our of service. A new one is in place and working, but meanwhile, the maps changed from showing lifetime or date range visits to showing this month's visits. If you click on the map image, you can choose to view the last month's visits.

Many users have requested that the map shows the past year's visits and that feature is being worked on but not yet available. We may have to re-register for the service as well as renew the subscription for ClustrMaps Plus. Check back in a week or two and you may see an improved ClustrMap.

Patience is a virtue, we've heard.

Passing & Praises

We to thank you for your continued support for the Seminary and Women's School at Mulungwishi. We also want to express our appreciation to those of you who are supporting our trip back to Africa for six months this year.

A sad passing

This year, the Mulungwishi community lost one of our leaders known as the "Ancestor," Dr.Kajoba Kilimbo Kipai. Dr. Kajoba was our first PhD and was the Dean of the Seminary for many years. His academic prowess in Hebrew and Old Testament studies influenced many students. However, it was his humility, love and wisdom that most touched us all. His Christian example will be sorely missed.

Women in ministry

Each year as former pastor students and their wives come back for the Master's Degree, we listen to amazing testimonies of their ministries. Together we praise the Lord and thank Him for His faithfulness to them and their ministries. We would like to share the experiences in the ministry from a women's point of view. Kat Zeng and Mulongo wa Mukalay are the wives of two of our pastors .. Theirs is an example of the dedication and commitment these pastoral couples have to the Lord and His work. After their studies at the Seminary and Women's School, the couples were appointed to churches by the Bishops for the ministry.

Kat Zeng

Kat and her husband, Makeng, were sent to Lukonzolwa. It was a 10 day trip to get to their village and church. The voyage was very hazardous over very bad roads and also required a lake crossing in a very old boat in bad weather. They began their ministry by spending time listening to people to find the needs of the people in the church and the community. Among the biggest problems they found were low church attendance, poverty in the community and low educational level of the women. They increased their visits to people in their homes and in the hospitals. They also sought to help the poor with food and clothes of the babies. The result was many new people were added to the church. With the training that Kat had received at the Mama Doris Women's School at Mulungwishi (named after Lori's mother), she started "Lukonzolwa Mama Doris Women's School". From 2 to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday she taught 35 women knitting, sewing and cooking. The women were now able to knit clothes for their families, sew school uniforms for the children and cook and sell baked goods to help the finances of the family. She also started a parallel group of women to teach them how to read. The school was so successful that other churches began to send their women to get training. What a wonderful example of a woman who is using her talent and training to extend the Kingdom of God.

Mulongo wa Mukalay

Mulongo wa Mukalay and her husband served over an 11 year period in two districts and three churches before coming back to Mulungwishi of the Master's level. During this time they served in the war zone between various rebel groups and the government troops. There was a lack of food supplies and medicines. They lost three children from lack of medical care and had a still birth during this 11 year period. Still they stayed committed and were able to build two churches. Mulongo was part of the women who helped transport bricks, rock and wood as far as two and a half miles for the construction. She also brought water and food to serve the workers. She shares with us: "in spite of the difficulties faced during these 11 years, we have the certitude that the strong hand of God was upon us. He will always be our guide and our protector and we need to call upon Him in all circumstances."

Health issue delayed return to Congo

For over 6 months, Lori has been suffering from nose bleeds. We, as well as the doctor felt that it was taken care of. After some more severe nose bleeds, it was decided she needed nose-septum surgery to help the problem. So we are recovering and waiting on the doctor for clearance and then return to Congo. [Update: They did travel to D.R. Congo in mid-June]

Troubled hearts

Our hearts are troubled and sad as we watch the election process in the United States, the refugee situations, and areas of conflict around the world. We ask for prayers as Zambia and D.R. Congo prepare for their presidential elections this fall. We also covet your prayers for Lori's healing, our travel and ministry at Mulungwishi.