In July 2010 a group of 14 people from the Upstate New York Synod traveled on our behalf to our companion synods in Zimbabwe and Zambia to walk with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Their stories reveal how their own lives have been changed by their experiences. You're invited to read and share these stories.

"Thou art good and doest good" (Psalm 119:68).

Since returning from our journey to Zambia and Zimbabwe many people have asked me, "So, did you have a good trip?" I'm never quite sure how to answer this question. In many ways, the word "good" isn't nearly a strong enough word to describe what we experienced. In many other ways, the word "good" is far too strong of a word to describe some of the things we experienced that were anything but "good".

But if I was to start there, with this idea of "good" - it would be what we experienced upon our arrival in Zambia. Bishop Jerge, Rev. Jim Jerge, Rev. Gail Wolling and myself where absolutely floored by the greeting we received by the people of Zambia, that was just GOOD!  When we landed and were walking up the tarmac we heard voices singing, guiding and welcoming us with praises to God.  This entourage of at least forty people, through the Spirit of God, seemed to wash over us and refresh us, after a ride in a less than comfortable plane that served the most wonderful dinner of potato chips. It was truly good!

With the warm welcome from the missionary assigned to the region, his family, the members of the ELC Zambia congregations, Sr. Pastor Chana and a host of pastors, we truly knew that this was going to be an experience that would be life affirming for us all. Many things stood out from the installation of Sr. Pastor Chana: the proposed building project they are undergoing, the preschool and the gardening project and the faces of every child and person of the villages that held onto hope. All good! Also good was how clearly the group of pastors expressed their challenges and objectives that they have for themselves and the church.

The challenge that stood out the most for me, matched a similar challenge that we have here in the United States. The pastors and congregations are fighting the issue of a "theology of glory" that many churches in Africa are preaching. A theology that says, "If you give 'this', then God will give you 'that'."  It's also a message that they are combating that says, if you are poor, than you are living in darkness and don't have faith.  In such difficult economic times of this region, the leadership expressed how hard it is to preach against those words, particularly if your congregation members are without food. But thanks be to God who is fortifying them and giving them words to share, when faced with that mountain.

In a separate meeting, some of the pastors shared with us some of the objectives of the ELC Zambia.  They are:

1. Leadership Development - Rev. Arden Strasser, ELCA missionary in Zambia walks with the church leaders in evangelism, church planting, planning and management.
2. Training - providing educational opportunities for not only the pastors but lay leadership on theological issues, HIV/AIDS and social outreach.
3. Self-Reliance - this is being done through the micro-credit program that they have established. They train and establish "internal savings and lending groups with loan capital for small business development." This seems to be working well.
4. Financial Management - capacity building is important for the ELC Zambia and Rev. Strasser along with the other pastors work hard to make sure that sound financial practices are in place and fiscal responsibility is practiced.

So out of that, Bishop Jerge responded and the rest of us echoed our mission statement in the Upstate New York Synod, in essence we promised to:

• Pray that leaders are developed and that love and unity between ELC Zambia congregations and leaders are strengthened.
• Pray that their gardening projects are sustained, which many church members depend on to avoid seasonal hunger and that the orphans they support are "matched" with "foster parents."
• Pray for wisdom for the leadership in their decision making and projects that they undergo.
• Walk Together with the ELC Zambia church and its leaders to share our collective wisdom and discern what our next steps are with them.
• Walk Together with the ELC Zambia church and share their stories of the leadership's commitment despite a less than adequate pay system.
• Change lives through staying in the conversation with the ELC Zambia and see how the Spirit of God will speak.

All in all, the trip was good and I believe that as the plaque that Bishop Jerge received at Sr. Pastor Chana's Installation says, we are called to keep the people of Zambia in our prayers for truly, "Prayer Is My (OUR) Weapon."

Blessings on the journey ~

Rev. Imani N. Dodley, pastor, Christ the Good Shepherd, Rochester

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