The SD Synod’s Companion Synod Committee is charged with keeping the mission relationship with Nicaragua and Cameroon a personal one for the ELCA. The ELCA has established relationships with churches all over the world. Many times missionaries from predecessor churches have planted the churches which now belong to the Lutheran World Federation. In the case of Nicaragua they requested a partner from the ELCA when they grew out of the El Salvador Lutheran Church. South Dakota became their partner.
Our current work with Nicaragua involves trips—medical, LWR well project, baseball and companionship. Current funds being raised are for the Green Project (a test farm) at Cedro Galan (Managua) approximately $20,000 per year, week-long Youth Retreat ($10,000 requested) (patterned after Bible Camp) which allows kids to mentor kids under direction of an adult leader for 100 kids. We would like to bring a pastor for an exchange so that requires money for travel.
Our current work with Cameroon involves the fund raising for the 25 Roofs to celebrate 25 years of companionship. We have raised half of the $200,000. Each roof costs about $8000. This roof project is ongoing. Other Cameroon projects are 3 scholarships for this year, one nursing and 2 theological, Train Up a Child, a continuing effort to raise funds to support elementary education in Lutheran schools. We had a pastoral exchange and would like to do another and this requires funding. Thanks for their support of these projects.
A Story From a Recent Trip to Nicaragua
Our ten day Nicaraguan ‘immersion’ was definitely not a vacation. I was acutely aware that there was something special happening with this group of people, at this particular time, in this particular place. Several days into our trip, we traveled to a rural village called Los Limones near the Honduran border. It was just a few weeks before the start of the ‘rainy season’ and the landscape was dry and rocky and barren. Upon arriving we gathered together for a devotional, which is really just a short church service. We were in a typical rural Nicaraguan building of concrete block, a tin roof, and a dirt floor. There were lots of kids running and playing, and several hens with little chicks running under foot. In the middle of the room was an altar–just a simple small wood table and a cross with fresh flowering bougainvillea branches tied to it. There was a Paschal Candle on the floor in front of the altar, which had a decided curve to it–I’m sure a result of the very warm Nicaraguan temps. It was cool and dim inside with more and more people coming, sitting down–standing in doorways–leaning inside window openings. After some prayers and songs, the pastor started speaking. She was actually a lay leader in the community, along with her husband, who is a pastor. Our translator, Mike, was there to translate for us. The pastor spoke of her worries about having enough food for her family, about being able to continue to have her children educated, about being able to provide them with a better future. But she also knows God is watching and blessing her family with everything they need and more. It struck me that at that time, here in this rural village where people have so few material goods, that this woman has the same hopes for her loved ones as we do for ours. And here, in this humble room, with the chicks running around and the beautiful flowers tied to the altar, she feels the love and blessings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She loves the same God that I do. She follows the same Savior I do. She is humbled and blessed by the magnificence of his love and forgiveness, just as I am. I was in a place that I didn’t even know had existed, with people who speak a different language. Here was the love and power of the Holy Spirit, bringing us all together and telling each of us that we were chosen, we were loved, and we were given to each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. It was the love of Jesus coming to each of us, through each of us. I experienced being in the presence of the Holy Spirit and, maybe for the first time, I felt the Holy Spirit actually holding me.
Nicaragua traveler Lynda Steinwand, March 15, 2014
Nicaragua Earthquakes
Nicaragua experienced major earthquakes during the past week (April 11-12) with aftershocks continuing and a high degree of anxiety felt by the population to the present. The Lutheran Church in Nicaragua has quickly responded with a proposal to help those who have has damage to their homes. The proposal includes food to those whose lives have been disrupted by the situation. They are requesting help from us as their companion. Food aid $18,000, Reconstruction of houses $26,000, Personal Care items including counseling $10,000. If your congregation can respond please send donations to the SD Synod clearly marked for Nicaragua-Earthquake Response.
Request from Medical Ministry in Cameroon
The request came from Dr Solofo, whose medical ministry is carried on in the Cameroonian village of Garoua Boulai which borders Central African Republic. He needs to get the electrical equipment of the Protestant Hospital running well to operate the X-ray equipment. The request was for $26,400.00 to upgrade equipment. A group from Trinity Lutheran in Mitchell had been to Garoua Boulai in February to do construction. They saw the need first hand and realized the urgency of the situation. Their response was over $16,000 in less than 3 weeks! First Lutheran in Sioux Falls was also made aware of the need to further invest in the hospital they had helped remodel with a gift from their congregation. Those two congregations and a few individuals were able to raise the funds needed and more in a short amount of time. Repairs will begin immediately. Thank you to the donors for this rapid response to this need.
