Accomplishments of May 2008 Visit

 

What do we hope to achieve through this visit? This was an important question in our planning. While we were tempted to fill the the delegates' schedule with the many speaking invitations we received, we focused on what would be best for these phenomenal leaders.

Trying to put ourselves in their shoes, we asked, if I were living in an area traumatized by war--ministering daily to people who lost everything...people who were tortured and multilated...orphans and widows...children dying of opportunistic diseases... If I were in the same socio-economic boat as my congregants... struggling to put food on the table while juggling working on my farm, being a parent, mobilizing the community, and traveling long distances to visit church members... If the church I worked for did not provide me housing (living in a grass roof hut I had to make myself when I arrived) let alone a salary... and yet through my faith and the grace of God I was accomplishing Nobel Prize worthy community-transforming work ... how would I want to spend my two weeks in Indiana?  

Here are the goals we made (and achieved) in striving to support these world leaders:

Physical and Spiritual Rest and Recuperation:

  

Including needed medical visits, fun activities/sightseeing, good food, lots of rest, plenty of time for fellowship, minimal performance anxiety (i.e. few formal presentations/speaking engagements)

Brainstorming, Strategy Sessions and Exploring Possibilities:

Including visits to family farms, schools, community ministries, etc…brainstorming possibilities during long car rides and time in the evenings for the delegates to discuss together their new ideas to present to colleagues back home.

Training, Equipment and supplies:

Including several hours of computer/internet training. Thanks to the Kamina Project and the South Indiana Conference, each of the six returned home with a new laptop and the funds to purchase equipment in Congo to turn their home/office into a mini Internet café (for many, they will be the first in their community or even district with Internet access).  This is a huge step towards reaching the Kamina Project’s goal of improving communication networks for the North Katanga Conference. Thanks to gifts from congregations, some delegates returned with an additional used laptop. Most delegates also had brought funds they had carefully saved and used them to buy printers, cameras and shoes and clothing for their family. 

Making Connections:

Along the way, our group met many wonderful people—forming relationships that will continue to grow through e-mail and with the help of The Kamina Project. One of our official visits was to the South Indiana Conference’s General Board of Global Ministries’ (GBGM) meeting. There, the delegates shared their accomplishments and challenges with the board. GBGM resolved to ask the South Indiana Conference to enter into a formal covenant relationship with North Katanga. The resolution will be put to a formal vote at the Annual Conference in June 2008.  

In addition, some of our delegates led the opening worship service for a retreat of new South Indiana pastors who are awaiting their ordination, while our two from Tanganika/Tanzania Conference met with the Superintendent and other leaders of the Vincennes District.