Linda Valentine

Africa Trip 2008 - Muputo, Mozambique (continued)

It has been a joy to be with our mission workers for several days here in Maputo. They connect and engage us with partner churches and provide helpful interpretation of issues and dynamics based on years of experience living and working in the region. They rarely walk alone, as people from all over Africa seek them out to engage in conversation and fellowship. The respect and friendships that they have developed are evident in their many encounters. As PC(USA) mission worker, Ted Wright, said, “If Presbyterians in the States could see how much the PC(USA) is appreciated here in Africa they would be amazed.” With me are:

Ted and Sue Wright, regional liaisons for East and Central Africa, from Zambia;
Frank Dimmock, Africa Health Liaison, from Lesotho;
Jeff Boyd, regional liaison for Central Africa, from Cameroon (who has also been speaker and on the writing team for health issues);
Janet Guyer, HIV/AIDS coordinator, from South Africa;
Phyllis Byrd, who although working officially with the Presbyterian Church of East Africa also relates to a number of other organizations.  She also serves as coordinator for the Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) site in Kenya;

YAVs: Leslie Fuller, Shelvis Smith-Mather and Blair Moorhead, a YAV from last year's group, 2007-2008 academic year, for whom the AACC requested that her time be extended, since she has been so vital in the organization of the AACC gathering.  (Read her most recent letter.)

During our layover in Johannesburg on the way back home, we went out for dinner and had the delight of celebrating the 4 year old birthday of happy and adorable Jack Dimmock, along with three of his seven siblings, his parents Frank and Nancy, and new mission workers from Malawi, Paul and Darlene Heller - more fellowship and inspiring stories of our mission workers witnessing to Christ’s love in the world.

AACC General Assembly:

The All Africa Conference of Churches General Assembly takes place every 5 years, bringing together church and faith leaders from all over the continent, joined by partners like the Presbyterian Church (USA), European mission agencies, the World Council of Churches and World Alliance of Reformed Churches, although the Africans are by far in the majority here.

The theme of the Assembly is “Africa, Step Forth in Faith.”  Rt. Rev. Dr. Nyansako-ni-Nku, President (and moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Cameroon), and Rev. Dr. H. Mvume Dandala, General Secretary, describe the theme as “a ringing call to the Church to assist Africa more determinedly to reverse the misfortunes of the past and move forward to a bright future that God has in store for Africa. We therefore meet here in faith and in a spirit of hope.”

That spirit indeed was present, even as harsh and often horrible realities were confronted in presentations, workshops, reports and resolutions covering a range of topics critical to the continent of Africa, including HIV/AIDs; gender equity and women as agents of peace, reconciliation and development; moving from political liberation to economic liberation; Zimbabwe; the environment; youth; urban mission and human rights. Hearing the experience and perspectives of Africans on these issues is enlightening. There were frequent, ringing calls for the churches of Africa to step up, speak out and engage as active participants on these issues with individuals, communities, societies and governments in Africa, as well as with church partners on other continents.

In the opening speech, HE Lawrence Broleph, Minister of Information and Culture, brought on behalf of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, called for practical solutions to problems and for transparency and accountability by governments. Citizen participation is crucial, he emphasized, and the churches play a vital role, especially when they join together ecumenically to address matters of justice and peace, poverty and environment. These sentiments were voiced throughout the days of the assembly. More reports and pictures on the assembly can be found on the Website and on various blogs.

Worship:

Worship has been a highlight. Led by PC(USA) mission co-worker, Phyllis Byrd, who enlisted the help of Claudio Carvalhaes, a Brazilian professor at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, each day lifts up a theme important to the African continent. One particularly moving worship focused on violence against women.

All eyes were focused towards the front of the room, when from behind came the resonant voice of Shelvish Smith-Mather, a pastor and Young Adult Volunteer in Kenya. As he walked down the aisle singing sonorously, “There is a balm in Gilead,” voices joined in, first softly then rising in moving intensity.

Women of the Presbyterian Churches in Africa:

Four women who participated in last year’s Tumekutana women’s gathering in Kenya greeted us warmly. They are Beatrice Ngeh, Presbyerian Church of Cameroon; Veronica Murchi, Presbyterian Church of East Africa; Bridgett Eli Adzo Ben-Naimal, Presbyterian Church of Ghana; and Mercy Akapama, Presbyterian Church off Nigeria. Tumekutana was organized as a conference for women, sponsored by the PC(USA), that brought together women from our church partners from across the continent. Veronica spoke about - and I paraphrase here - how important that was for them:  “We didn’t know each other before. Now we pray for each other, and reach out to support each other. When we had trouble in Kenya last year, I could feel the other women pray for me. When trouble broke out in Congo, we reached out to women there. We started a project, called the Tabitha project, to provide feminine supplies to women in refugee camps. When I learned about this conference, I told women in other churches, and several of them are here because of that.” Tumekutana was transformational for these women leaders, and they are already making plans for the next one. Some of them plan to attend the 2009 Presbyterian Women’s Gathering in Louisville in July, to continue to deepen our relationships.

Africa Trip 2008 - Muputo, Mozambique, December 7

The opening of the 9th General Assembly of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC)included an address by the Mozambique President Armando Emilio Guebuza. Once a freedom fighter, he spoke about overcoming oppression and at the same time of the pervasive conditions of poverty in Africa. He spoke of the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights. The churches, he said, are partners in solutions. Intervention is needed in education, health, water, agriculture, income producing activities. He called upon the assembly to make churches major actors in defeating poverty.

I sat at dinner next to a second generation Presbyterian Church of Mozambique pastor and leader in the Mozambique Council of Churches. He described a program of the church to collect weapons from people. 600,000 weapons have been collected and will be made into a monument with the Isaiah passage: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks," (Isaiah 2:4).  Asked why the Mozambique flag still has an AK 47 on it, he displayed discomfort, saying that has been the subject of much discussion. The AK 47 is a symbol of freedom, of overthrowing oppression he explained, and the people are not ready to take that off of the flag. “Someday we will,” he said.

We don’t quite have the transportation figured out. After a long day and big dinner hosted by the President, with no bus in sight we took up the hearty invitation of His Eminence Seraphim Kykkotis Archbishop of Johannesburg and Pretoria of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa.   He had enlisted the aid of a Mozambique pastor with a pick up truck to drive the 15 minutes back to our hotel. While he climbed in the front seat, we climbed in the back, along with a pastor from Zimbabwe. A bumpy, crouched down ride it was, but fascinating – and distressing – to hear about Zimbabwe.

The pastor said “life is just impossible, but somehow by the grace of God we still live.” Schools have been closed all year. Hospitals, too, are closed. Nurses on strike. The church has supplemented the pay of doctors and nurses to keep them working. Disease spreads, as does hunger. Especially cholera, with water supplies tainted. What is needed, he says is food aid and medicine. “Do you think of leaving the country?” we asked. “No, I represent the church, the source of hope. I can’t leave. I don’t even consider it,” he replied.

Africa Trip 2008 - Soweto Township, December 6

Soweto is a shortened name for South Western Townships. Soweto was the area in which blacks were forced to live during the oppressive apartheid regime, and to which they had been moved even long before from other parts of Johannesburg as it grew from a small mining town in the late 1800’s to a large city. Nowadays, the population ranges from 2.3 million (official estimate) to 4 million (local estimate, per Lonely Planet guidebook).

It was in Soweto that we visited some of the work of the Presbytery.

We were met on the premises of a school by Ms. Phindi Madonsela, coordinator of the Sinenhlanhla HIV/AIDS group. Phindi is simply an inspiration. Her testimony, which she eloquently and frankly tells, is compelling. Infected with HIV 12 years ago when she was raped by someone she knows, she is now a picture of energy and vitality. Recently she accomplished what had been a lifetime goal. She climbed Mt. Kilamanjaro. She spoke of her goal to her church and they supported her. With a guide, she made the climb in 6 days. She returned confident, feeling fit, and filled with forgiveness at the person who infected her. She tells her story to give confidence to others. One woman in the group also testified, saying before she found this group she was depressed and weak. Now, with the support of Phindi and the others, she has gained confidence and overcome guilt and stigma, is taking care of herself physically, engaged in her community and thanks God for each day. “Do I look sick?” she asked with a smile. No indeed. In addition to counseling and support, the women sew and make beaded items to sell. They also have a garden on the grounds of the school to grow healthy food, which they know is important for them and their families.

We then visited Rev. Tieho Letshelela at Lukholweni, Soweto, pastor of a church that also has on its grounds a facility for cancer patients to stay, and a school. This vibrant church is part of the Uniting Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa's Egoli Presbytery, which is in partnership with North Alabama Presbytery, where Warner Durnell is Presbytery executive. Pastor Tieho and a group from the presbytery recently visited North Alabama, and they are looking forward to having a group from there visit them in the near future. Speaking of the partnership, Rev. Tieho mentioned that they have experienced the power of congregations working together. The UPCSA’s priorities are HIV/AIDS, Evangelism and Stewardship.

Rev. Vusi Mkhungo, mission enabler for the Presbytery joined us, along with his wife Malinda. Malinda described one of their evangelism efforts. “We can’t stay within the walls of the church,” she explained. So, members of the church, with banners and flags, go out into the neighborhood. They visit the sick and the bereaved. People see them, observe their caring witness and very often will start coming to church. This reminds me of the line of the well known hymn: “They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love.”

We visited the Hector Pieterson museum, named for the 13 year old child killed in the June 16, 1976 uprising of students and young people. The picture of Hector being carried by a man with his distraught sister at the side is a famous, iconic image that captured the horror of police clashing with thousands of black students protesting the requirement that they be taught in the Afrikaans language. The museum chronicles the events leading up to the student uprising, the events of June 16, in which scores of children were killed by police, and the several days afterwards with pictures, videos and text descriptions. While we worked our way up the ramped hallways, the sounds of young people gathered in an auditorium listening to poetry performances by their own peers repeatedly burst through, with enthusiastic clapping and appreciative calls, providing a wonderful backdrop sound of affirmation and freedom of expression.

Lunch was in an open air restaurant run by an enterprising woman, who made a point of observing that she hires young people from the neighborhood to give them training and experience and to occupy them in productive work. We had a delicious meal and good fellowship.

Leaving the restaurant, we heard children singing “Happy Birthday to you . . . Hip Hip Hooray!” over and over again. It was an added treat to walk over and observe this cute and exuberant scene.

Africa Trip 2008 - Johannesburg, South Africa, December 5

The story of my deeply fulfilling and transformational journey to Africa is written - and continues to unfold - as of last Friday, December 5, when I began my travels with Doug Welch, PC(USA) area coordinator for Africa; Kathy Reeves, mission associate for Presbyterian Women; and PC(USA) mission worker, Doug Tilton, regional liaison, Southern Africa.

Friday, December 5

Staying here in Melville Manor, one of several lovely guest houses in Melville, a nearby Johannesburg suburb that includes a lively four block row of restaurants.

I have highlighted below key encounters and experiences with our partners in ministry here. 

Eddie Makue, General Secretary, South African Council of Churches [SACC]

The first topic mentioned by Mr. Makue was Zimbabwe, where conditions are dire and very much on the hearts and minds of their neighbors in South Africa. People are fleeing, and bringing with them cholera, which is taxing the health care systems of neighboring countries. Churches are critical sources for distributing humanitarian aid, as there is no legitimate government in power with which to work. Seed and fertilizer are among the aid being provided, to supply lasting sources of food.

 “How can we help?” we asked. His reply: (1) Pray; prayer is powerful. He knows this from his time in detention, when he felt the power of people praying for him. (2) Support relief efforts led by the churches in Zimbabwe. (3) Provide support for clergy so they will stay. (4) Support the Fellowship of Christian Councils in East and Southern Africa [FOCCISA], so that they can continue to provide support. (5) Provide humanitarian support, and he cited a Lutheran church provision of $1 M in aid.

Eddie expressed gratitude for the partnership of the Presbyterian Church (USA), particularly in seconding our mission co-worker Douglas Tilton, who has worked with SACC for ten years, and who now will move on to devote more attention to his role as regional liaison for Southern Africa. Doug has provided support in technology, communications and press, budget and policy matters.

He cited a number of areas for potential continuing partnership between the PC(USA) and the SACC. (1) Work on land and eviction issues. (2) Ethical code for investments, particularly with Benchmarks foundations. (3) Assistance with organic farming, supporting communities in agriculture. Currently Donegal and Northern New England Presbyteries are in partnership on these issues. There are a number of other efforts going on, and SACC would like to connect them better. (4) HIV/AIDs, currently supported by our mission co-worker Janet Guyer, Regional HIV/AIDS consultant for Southern Africa. As we heard in each of our other visits, HIV/AIDS is an overwhelming issue for the church and the society. (5) Theological education. SACC does not have much activity in theological education but sees a need for clergy training in economics, HIV/AIDS and advocacy.

SACC is an ecumenical fellowship of 27 denominations that played a leading role in facilitating the involvement of South African Christians in the struggle for national liberation, democracy and human rights. Bishop Desmond Tutu was once General Secretary of SACC.

Rev. Buyelwa Maringa, HIV/AIDS Coordinator for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa(EPCSA)

Rev. Maringa described to us the programs to educate clergy and members about HIV/AIDS in this denomination of approximately 60,000 members . She spoke of the critical importance of de-stigmatizing HIV, and of providing education and support. The moderator of the Presbytery also joined in this conversation. They expressed appreciation for the support that Janet Guyer provides.

Tom Coulter, Acting General Secretary, Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa

This denomination of approximately 180,000 members resulted from the union in 1999 of the predominantly white Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa and the Reformed Presbyterian Church in South Africa. Tom had provided us a list of topics for discussion that very much resembled a list that we would have compiled of issues facing the PC(USA). After trading descriptions of how our denominations are structured and undertake work, our conversation ranged widely through these topics that included: consensus decision making, state of the union of the two denominations, empowerment of presbyteries, human sexuality debates, acceptance of the manual of faith and order (like our Book of Order), partnerships and mission including financing, HIV/AIDS, reorientation of vision and mission of the denomination and creating an understating of implications of living in a changing world.

I look forward to recounting more highlights of my trip as Internet access allows.