Home Safe & Sound

An anxious group wait for Delta Flight #2565 to arrive via Atlanta.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder!


Thanks, Pastor Bob, for coming to welcome us home!



Our GoTeam, ready for some much needed rest.
Graig reports that our WaterAfrica Team arrived safely in Lusaka
today and was greeted by LuAnn Yocky.

"And Then There Were Four"
Johannesburg. Tuesday afternoon.

A quick recap: first Scott Fortmann departed early from Livingston, NEVER HAVING RECEIVED HIS LUGGAGE. Then Alan Shiffer broke off to attend a conference in Denver. LuAnn Yocky and Jill Sherman dropped the rest of us off at the Livingstone airport and started north for Lusaka again, where Jill will depart for PDX after a couple days. LuAnn meets another group there, a water vision group that includes several from our church. Finally, here in Jo'burg, Emily Hawkins transfers toward London to visit relatives in England.

ONLY FOUR ARE LEFT to return to Portland as a team. As in "The Fellowship of the Ring," several from our number are on separate adventures but in the end we will reunite, perhaps as early as this Sunday in church (except for Alan + LuAnn). We have loved serving God's people in Zambia, but we will love being back home with loved ones.

Please join us for our presentation Sunday evening, September 19!

Blessings on all who have checked in on us here!

Day 12: Relaxing and Packing, Ready for Home

The team started the morning by saying "goodbye" to Alan Shiffer, who leaves early to attend a conference in Denver. From the steps of the Livingstone museum, he waved farewell to us in our safari truck, and we proceeded to the nearby national park.

There we were delighted to see a wide variety of animals, including zebra, giraffe, impala, baboon, rhinoceros, warthog and wildebeest.

During the afternoon we had lunch at the lodge, then did a little last minute shopping before boarding the Lady Livingston for a gentle cruise on the Zambezi River until sunset.

There we spotted hippos, crocs, monitor lizards and diverse birds. We are grateful to God for these delightful forays into His creation, as a means of transitioning from "ministry in the bush" back in the direction of home. One team member, while taking in the beautiful sunset above the river, said, "My Dad made that." We are all grateful for the generous goodness of our Heavenly Father. We look forward to a smooth journey back to Oregon and our loved ones tomorrow.

May all who read this be blessed!

Day 11: Worship, Wonders, Reflection

Sunday, August 1, found us first at the David Livingstone Memorial Presbyterian Church, where Pastor Graig immediately noticed the nicely carpeted chancel that was the result of a gift left by last year's GoTeam. Although the lead pastor was not present, lay leaders did a capable job of leading worship. It was good to be among God's people for service to the Lord. Above the chancel was a huge banner with these words from 2 Chronicles 7: 15, 16 : "Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place... My eyes and my heart will always be there." Graig left an encouraging greeting for Libby during worship,who is the only one from the pastoral staff is present for worship this communion Sunday at LGPC.

From the church,we proceeded to Mosi-Oa-Tunya, "Smoke that Thunders", the local name for Victoria Falls. After the heavy rainy season, there is a high volume of water pouring into the chasm, and we were drenched by the "smoke"/mist of the falls. But what a natural WONDER! On the way back, we were thrilled to encounter a pod of "ellies", as Lake View's South African manager Keith would have said - about two dozen elephants refreshing themselves at a Zambezi tributary.


After dinner we met for our "final" debriefing, as team members were encouraged not only to process their experiences here, but to shape some "accessible" vignettes that they can share with folks back home, and to think about action steps that will help them support Sinazongwe in coming months.

The team now begins to "break up"... Scott Fortmann was able to get an early flight back to Singapore today, Alan Shiffer leaves for a conference in Denver tomorrow, and LuAnn & Jill will be heading back for Lusaka tomorrow after seeing the rest of us (Alan M., Emily, Graig, Laura) off at the Livingstone airport. But we may manage one more post before we leave; today our post-debriefing relaxation includes a game drive and a boat ride on the Zambezi... preceding our grueling journey back home tomorrow!

God bless each reader of this post! Thanks for your interest!

Local Fishing Activity

Day 9: "Leisure" at Lake View
Having said farewell to the World Vision staff on Thursday, Friday was designed to be a transitional day of exploring the Lake View area. In response to a request from Pastor Graig the previous year, Keith wanted to take the team out onto the Lake to visit the 3 islands that belong to the Lake View domain. However, we awoke to very choppy water, so that trip had to be delayed until afternoon. Team members found several ways to use the extra time. Some traveled with Keith to visit the local fishing activity and to see the ancient baobab tree that had fallen and produced delicious shitake-style mushrooms that had provided our dinner the night before.

Sinazongwe Clinic

Others wandered into town to look through the markets and visit the Sinazongwe Clinic, which includes a new HIV testing facility funded by the organization "Hoops for Hope". We are grateful for this new facility, as more and more people are being tested. It was interesting to see 3 different people wearing the LGPC T-shirts we had given out in Siabbeula the day before!

On the boat to Chikana Island

In the afternoon the lake was calm enough for us to visit Chikanka Island, where Lake View has development going on - a facility not unlike the existing lodge, but very isolated, designed for people on fishing adventures and for people who just want to get away from it all for a few days. What a treat! No GoTeam has yet been out on the Lake like this. What a thrill to return to the mainland just at sunset, in time for another tasty Lake View dinner!

LuAnn and Betty before team left Sinazongwe

Day 10: Farewell to Lakeview, Hello to Livingstone
Before the overcast skies came, dominating much of the day, there was sunshine for our farewell to Lake View Lodge and its super staff, led by managers Keith and Lee-Ann Coyne. Betty Mbewe joined us, as did Al Haamanjanji, along with bus driver Francis. We enjoyed a tasty breakfast built around delicious sweet corn fritters. After our treasurer Alan Marble and Pastor Graig counted out millions of kwacha to settle up our bill, we took time to thank and affirm (and tip) the staff, take some pictures, and exchange simple but meaningful gifts. With many hugs and handshakes, we boarded our bus and headed into the Sinazongwe zone, to see something we have never experienced in our 9 trips here.

The entire community was gathering to celebrate the annual Lwiinde festival, a kind of harvest festival of thanksgiving and prayer for the coming season. For many, the prayer is directed not to God, but to ancestral spirits. Animism is not yet dead here, but local Christians insist they are making progress, and this is borne out by the growing numbers in the churches of Siabbeula and Siabaswi. We were only present for the beginning of the festival, but we saw some mass dancing, some demonstrations of ancient hunting and war dances, and generally picked up the atmosphere of the festival as the crowds awaited the arrival of Chief Sinazongwe and his entourage.

Then it was time to hit the road. We headed south on the main highway (just two lanes), stopping briefly in Choma for lunch. While there, Pastor Graig and World Vision staff met with the leaders of Twachiyanda ADP, where Sherwood Presbyterian has had a significant ongoing relationship. During this meeting, the other team members visited the Choma Cultural Museum.

The trip to Livingstone went relatively quickly, as the road is MUCH improved over the last couple years, though still not completely paved. We arrived in Livingstone safely and were able to rest a bit before dinner.

Tomorrow will be a full day, starting with worship at the local Presbyterian church, followed by a visit to Victoria Falls and then a boat ride on the Zambezi River. In this place it is easy to praise God for the beauty of His creation!

Day 8: Final Sponsorship Visits, Final Debriefing and CELEBRATION!

On this last day of programming in the ADP, our remaining tasks dictated that we divide and conquer. While LuAnn, Alan S., Emily and Scott visited the sponsored kids of Fowlers and MacMillans, Alan, Bettirae, Graig and Laura visited 5 children in 2 zones. These were for Kubys, Pollards, John Skillern, Hilgaertners and Peggy Williams. These visits are significant not only for those in the sponsorship relationship, but also for the community. They learn that sponsors are very real people - not bureaucratic fabrications! - who deeply care about them and pray for them. These visits make it all real.

During the afternoon, World Vision staff and the GoTeam met for a time of reviewing the trip and assessing it, followed by an exchange of gifts and affirmation that left everyone feeling encouraged and optimistic. Among the LGPC gifts were beautiful handmade silver pendants, crafted by LGPC member Amelia Anderson. They had the names of female staff members and wives of male staff members stamped into them, along with the notation, "Isaiah 43:1-2", a particularly poignant verse for this flood-plagued region. These were delightfully received along with other gifts.

But the WV staff, led by manager Betty Mbewe, really blessed us this year with wonderful sport shirts celebrating the persevering 8 year partnership between us (see photo with new World Vision staffer Alan Shiffer). These shirts also have "World Vision Sinazongwe" and the Lake Grove logo embroidered on them, real keepsakes of high quality. We are humbled by these generous gifts and grateful to God Who formed the partnership and sustains it. "No one returns consistently like you; no one prays for us like you," said the manager. And we respond, "We don't have a choice: God leads us here and aside from that, we have grown to love you."

Closing our time with singing, we all headed home with joy for having been among God's people, as well as for experiencing in our unity a glimpse of His kingdom.

Blessings on all who read this!

One of the unexpected highlights for this GoTeam has been the loving and expert care of our WV-assigned trip facilitator, Al Hamanjanji. Al is simply delightful -- intelligent, insightful, funny, responsive and unwaveringly kind. Although he is relatively new to World Vision, he already represents the kind of excellence we have come to know in the organization. We love you, Al!

Day 6: Siazwela School, AIDS, Sponsor Visits

We sat at new desks provided by the support of the LGPC youth group. Although the youth group's building is not completed yet, it is well on its way to becoming like the new building in the picture (funded by a different NGO), only it will be 50 percent larger. Until then, some students are still meeting in classrooms like the other photo.

The teachers and students extend their thanks and their love to LGPC youth, and one parent asked me, "Where is Cherith?" (That’s Cherith MacRitchie, who was with us last year as a youth group rep.)

In the afternoon we visited 3 women with AIDS, at their separate homes. All are receiving anti-retroviral drugs. One, Julia, will not live long, leaving both children and grandchildren as orphans. Stella, on the other hand, looked quite energetic and had a very hopeful outlook. A third woman, Elita, is between the two; she is the third sibling in one family to be weakened by the disease, and her elderly mother appeared quite beaten down. All of these women are visited, assisted and encouraged regularly by World Vision trained home-based caregivers. "Without my caregiver's help," said one, "I would be dead."

We also conducted several more sponsored kids, including Emily Hawkins' Hyde (or Hide, depending on who you ask), seen in the photo. We also visited kids sponsored by the MacMillans, Carol Fay, and Lori Woods.

"For He delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper." - Psalm 72:12

Day 7: Thank God for Partnership

Partnership displayed its value over and over again today.

The day began with time in Siabbeula, first with local pastors for a time of mutual encouragement, and then with the entire community, including headmen of the 5 partnering villages in this food security project. The pastors of half a dozen churches professed their unity and teamwork. We left them Tonga Bibles to distribute. “We are not groveling n the dirt,’ said project chairman Mackswin, “We are looking up, with high hopes and dreams for our children and grandchildren.” This is a terrific partnership between the Zambian villages, World Vision and LGPC.

We also visited the Makonkoto School to see evidence of past partnership. What a transformation has taken place over the last 5 years! Almost all the old buildings have been refurbished and new ones have been added, including “VIPs,” Ventilated Pit Latrines.

Finally, we met with village leaders and pastors from our previous community partners in Siabaswi Village. The 3 headmen proclaimed the health of the now 3 villages Siabaswi has become, although they are worried about running out of food due to recent floods that severely diminished their crops. The pastors are working together to unite their people in reaching out to the needy. “Once we were rivals but thanks to your encouragement, now we are one.” All in all, our former partners are doing well!

So we saw at least 3 times today what a difference healthy, long-term partnerships can make, and we thank God for the progress.

We also visited the sponsored children of Gay Hugus, Kai Knudsen, Barb Mount, Ralph Marconi and Don and Marilyn Kuby, among others. It was a long, tiring day … and very meaningful!

Meeting the World Vision Staff and Visiting Siabbeula Village

"When we arrived, a few minutes late, the World Vision staff had already begun their morning devotional. They were singing hymns and I couldn't help but think what a wonderful way to start each day. We joined them for more hymns and prayer before introducing ourselves." Emily Hawkins

"When we arrived at Siabbeula, we were greeted by a group of women, many of whom were wearing Lake Grove shirts given to them by precious Go Teams, singing and waving palms for us. They walked beside our bus until we were met by children waiting for us, also singing. The children handed us flowers through the bus windows and the singing continued as we made our way into town. Everywhere we went, there was singing!" Scott Fortmann

"The village was decorated with bright red flowers - also some yellow - with an entry arch of blossoms, a blossom-lined road, and even the tree trunk at the meeting place was wrapped in blossom color. It was very festive and it looked like a lot of work had gone into it. We felt welcomed and honored." Pastor Graig

"We spent much of our time here inspecting the food security projects, the heart of our partnership. We met Maina, a widow with two children, who joined the co-op program over a year ago and, with the help of a program-provided treadle pump, has tripled the size of the garden she maintains on her own, to over 1/3 the size of a football field! Her crops, mostly tomatoes, are top-notch ... with her profits, she has been able to build a house and she envisions better lives for her children. Collectively, Maina an the other 180 program members are transforming the 5 partner villages of the Siabbeula Food Security Project." Scott Fortmann

God continues to keep all of the team members healthy and to show us whe He is doing here in Zambia.

Team Arrives in Sinazongwe

Day 3: Breakdown and breakthrough
Saturday we headed south toward Sinazongwe, with a stop along the way to see the new World Vision water drill rig in action. Unfortunately, we hit a bump and tore off our trailer hitch ... but God is good! We were in a town with a good welder. We waited in a pizza shop for the welding to be completed. But our next stop was a THRILL: we watched as water was struck by the new drilling team in Magoye ADP. Super! But by the time we started driving, it was too late to make it to Sinazongwe. So we overnighted at "The Golden Pillow" in Monze. Early start tomorrow to make it to worship in Sinazongwe. All is well here.

Day 4: Arrived in Sinazongwe and at Lakeview Lodge. Eating scrambled eggs before church. Jane, the chicken, has 3 kids who are also laying! We will worship at Betty and Charity's church, then work on sponsorship bags like a well-oiled machine. Keith and Leanne (the managers of the lodge) look good. More improvements have been made. Glad to hear our video was shown in church on Sunday.

Zambian Presbyterians and Shopping Presbyterians

In the morning we focused on relationships with fellow Presbyterians, while the afternoon was focused on sponsorship.

We started the day at the Justo Mwale Theological University, where we met the new PC(USA) liaison in the region, Nancy Collins. Nancy resides in Lusaka but also covers Rwanda, Kenya and Malawi, facilitating relationships that strengthen the church. She had arranged for us to meet with senior leadership from the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, Synod of Zambia, which traces its roots back to the 1870s, when it was founded in memory of the famous missionary/explorer, David Livingston.

What a thrill it was to hear of this church's recent growth and to hear about their strategies for coping with it. The discussion ranged from training pastors to helping ex-convicts re-integrate into society. The CCAP is more closely linked with the rural poor, so their strategies for training pastors always include practical "sustainability" work, teaching pastors a trade or was of generating income to sustain themselves in ministry. On a 5 acre plot of land we saw the beginnings of a brand new synod office and a training center for people recently released from prison. We also met the Reverend Erin Raska, who recently came to Zambia with her husband Brent. Princeton grads, they have connections with Bob Sanders' daughter Becca. Sometimes the world seems small!

(Note the photo of the Reverend Dr. Victor Chilenje and the Reverend Maleka Rabson Kabandama sharing their dreams and plans for new construction on synod property.)

After a delicious lunch with our new CCAP friends, we headed to the Arcades shopping center to purchase staple foods and gifts for the 25 sponsored children we will be visiting in a few days. The total bill came to about SIX MILLION Zambian kwacha - or about $1200. (Note photo of Bettirae selecting cooking oil.) While most of us were doing this, LuAnn & Alan of World Vision accompanied Scott Fortmann to visit his sponsored child, about one hour outside Lusaka. They also touched base with people from a couple villages with ties to our church, as well as the Chitentabunga School. The visit was a highlight for Scott, who is still frustrated by the failure of South African Airways to locate and deliver his luggage!

Evening came and we were pleased to share our meal with Mrs. Foster Lubasi, who visited LGPC in 2007, and water specialist Chim Maseka and his wife Anne. Chim surprised and delighted the group with a gift of "World Vision Zambia" shirts. Tomorrow Chim hopes to arrange for us to see the new WVZ drill rig in action, hard at work bringing clean water to the rural poor.

We tumble into bed exhausted but happy after a successful day of ministry connections and preparation for our sponsorship time in Sinazongwe, where we

head tomorrow. As we said aloud with our Zambia Presbyterian brothers and sisters today: "God is good, all the time... All the time, God is good."

Greetings for Sunday Worship, one mission team to another

The GoTeam pepared a video message for the congregation and the Youth Mission Team, with the help of World Vision water specialist Chim Maseka, who visited Lake Grove last April. (If not attached, will find another way to post!)

Day 1: World Vision Zambia and more...

The morning meeting time was earlier than any of us would have preferred, but all the jet-lagged GoTeamers were in good moods. On our agenda today: World Vision National office, money exchange, buying Bibles, and a city tour.

We were greeted at the World Vision office by people who know Lake Grove: Wampembe Lukonde, Fordson Kafweku, and Chim Maseka. Soon the new national director joined us, Mike Veizenhans (pictured putting on a Lake Grove cap), from the state of Washington. Overviews were shared and mutual encouragement occurred, and we were later also able to visit the partnership department, through which all our letters to sponsored children are processed.

Money exchanged and lunch consumed, we went to "Bible House" where the International Bible Society is housed, to purchase over 200 Bibles for distribution in Sinazongwe.
As we drove through Lusaka, our WV facilitator (and Tongan) Alfonsius pointed out places of interest. He and our driver Francis are taking good good care of us. Our final visit today was to a home for orphans and widows called Chikumbuso or "remembrance." The women of this cooperative community support themselves and over 300 children by making items from single-use plastic bags and items that they sew. Remarkable women. (See photograph of a handbag handle being made.)On the way back to our hotel we stopped to pay our respects at the tomb of Levy Mwanawasa, president of Zambia until he died a couple years ago. He is looked at with growing fondness as dissatisfaction in current government mounts. A filling dinner helped prepare us for bed and hopefully a full and restorative night's sle

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS.

One of the quotes of the day:

(During meeting with World Vision Zambia leaders)
"Even though this is my first trip to Zambia, through the stories I've heard and the depth of relationship I can feel, this seems like coming home." - Alan Shiffer

Zambia Team Arrives Safely in Lusaka

The Zambia Team arrived safely in Lusaka. The luggage of two team members did not arrive, so pray that the luggage will turn up soon. Zambia is approximately nine hours ahead of Portland time, so our team is now appreciating some much needed sleep after over 30 hours of travel.

Zambia Team Still in Transit

The Zambia Team was delayed in Johannesburg but all were transfered onto another flight and should arrive in Lusaka soon.

Zambia GoTeam On Their Way

The Team left bright and early this morning from PDX and will travel through Atlanta, Johannesburg, arriving in Lusaka on July 21. Everyone was excited and ready to begin their "Journey of Hope." Please keep them in your prayers for travel mercies as they endure the rigors of travel and for good health along the way. Pray also for the World Vision Staff in Lusaka and Sinazongwe, that they will be ready to receive our Team and for all to be effective witnesses for Christ.

Final Preparations, Pre-Trip Gathering, Commissioning

The GoTeam gathered Saturday in Newberg at the beautiful home of SendTeam Leader, Melinda Gordon. The purpose of the gathering was to allow team members and family members a time to relax together over a meal, answer any final questions, and help put everyone at ease before the big trip. We also divided up many gifts for our Zambian partners; each GoTeam member takes one personal suitcase and one for the Zambians. Summer weather was perfect and the meal and meeting were held outside on Melinda's patio. Assisting Melinda were Joan and Marty Klinkhammer (Joan traveled to Zambia last year) and Sheri Brown, the church staff member who supports the Zambia Partnership so well. After a delicious meal of barbecued pork and salads, team members talked through nuts & bolts for the flight from PDX to Atlanta and from there 16 hours nonstop to Johannesburg, followed by the final leg to Lusaka, Zambia. The itinerary for the two weeks was covered an reminders of our tasks as ambassadors and encouragers were shared. The GoTeam devotional booklet, designed and produced by Sheri Brown and Pastor Griag, was reviewed. It has become an indispensable tool for many GoTeamers, with daily devotions, journaling space and useful information from World Vision as well as everyday phrases in Tonga, the language of Sinazongwe, and songs for worship and sharing with Zambians. As the gathering drew to a close with prayer, it seemed like team members and loved ones alike are ready for the trip. Travelers took the items already divided up for them by the SendTeam and headed home, only to meet again Sunday morning in worship, when they were commissioned at all three services. Laura Flach described the focus of the trip for the congregation, and then Pastor Graig asked team members and congregation to renew their commitment to the Partnership in Zambia. LuAnn Yocky draped handmade crosses, crafted from the wood of one of the old sanctuary pews by Tom Moore, over the heads of the team members, and the congregation prayed for the team.

Duly prepared and commissioned, most team members just have a bit of packing to complete before meeting Tuesday morning at 4:30 AM at the Portland airport, for a 6:10 AM departure and about 30 hours total time enroute. If you are reading this, thanks for your interest, and thanks even more for your prayers! We will try to post at least every other day, and daily when we can. Your comments will be noted with joy!

Welcome to Our Mission Travel Blog

The eighth official GoTeam from Lake Grove will visit the remote region of Sinazongwe in the southern provice of Zambia departing July 20 and returning August 4. Under the auspices of the Zambia Partnership of Lake Grove Presbyterian Church in Lake Oswego, Oregon, teams travel with our World Vision partners at least once a year to track with the progress rural Zambian villagers are making in their development efforts:

• to stem the tide of HIV infection (as well as other diseases).


• to care for widows, orphans and vulnerable children.


• to develop and maintain clean water and sanitation systems.


• to improve their farming skills toward food and nutrition security.


• to develop new methods of income generation through "micro-enterprise" development.

In general, World Vision comes alongside the villagers to help them develop toward self sufficiency. Lake Grove teams inspect and applaud the progress, doing all they can to encourage the Zambians - both World Vision Staff and villagers - in Jesus' name.

This year's GoTeam will view all phases of development but its focus areas will be:

• Siabbeula Village (a partnership with projects in irrigation & agriculture).


• Sponsorship (as usual, we will visit a number of the 300+ children sponsored by Lake Grove families and friends).

As of this post the team members are making final preparations for their "Journey of Hope." Team members include: (in order of photos above) top: Scott Formann & Alan Shiffer; bottom: Emily Hawkins, LuAnn Yocky, Laura & Graig Flach, Bettirae Willis, Alan Marble (and Zambian guest, Fordson Kafweku).