15 Years of the "Africonnection"

On Tuesday we had two big boxes delivered to our front porch in Idaho. We have been blessed by what we've found as we opened them. ANU has had a number of successes in recent years and wants to thank the churches and individuals who have helped the University. The boxes were full of "thank you packets" shipped from ANU. Each packet includes a signed letter of thanks from Professor Leah Marangu, the University Vice Chancellor; a color booklet of articles and pictures describing the accomplishments of the University in recent years; and a certificate of appreciation acknowledging the work of a particular church or district Work and Witness team or individual volunteer.

As relative newcomers to Nazarene World Missions reading the names of districts and churches and individuals being thanked, the overwhelming impression is of deep, deep faithfulness on the part of African and American Nazarenes: the giving of time, and expertise, and prayer, and financial support.

As we begin our deputation work, we're talking to many Americans who say they were radically affected by their time at ANU. New Work and Witness teams to ANU are forming now who will also be changed by their Kenya experience. In a later post, we'll mention some of the Nazarene groups and individuals who have given of themselves, but the picture of an early Work and Witness team assisting with construction is just an example of the 15 years of "Africonnection" between Africa Nazarene University and American Nazarenes. To those who have come before and those who are still to come we say "Thank You!"

The Africonnection comes alive

Great Weekend! Dr. Rod Reed, chair of the religion department at Africa Nazarene stayed at our house as he did deputation at Lakeview and College Churches of the Nazarene in Nampa. We got to hear his presentation at the 4PM Sunday service. The presentation was inspiring and so was the reception afterwards: lots of old Africa hands met to talk over their ANU experiences: Virgil Vail (who helped ANU set up generators and its electrical system), Hal and Ruthie Webber(who helped get the accounting system put in place), Don and Judy Murphy (who helped get the campus computer system set up) and two former students from ANU. The Murphy's home was full of souvenirs of their time in Africa and very shortly everyone was telling stories about their time there. The picture is of Ruthie Weber, who helped with office organization at ANU while Hal was working on the books. The Africonnection at work!

Transition Continues

It's challenging having one foot in Idaho and one foot in Africa. We e-mail to people at Africa Nazarene or to World Mission headquarters on almost a daily basis, and yet the work at Northwest Nazarene and at Nampa First Church continues to be vitally important. A meeting on Friday with Kathie Slusser of Mission Aviation Fellowship gave us some ideas about how we might overcome the challenges of uncertain internet connections.