Along with Pastor Kristin

  Big News!!  I am now serving as an ELCA global missionary in Madagascar.  To be honest, this is also somewhat old news, because I arrived in Madagascar one year ago this week.  But hopefully, this news of my move to a new country and a new call will help you understand why I have not shared more news over this past year.  Even though this past year has been full of new relationships and learning about the Malagasy Lutheran Church, I am sorry I haven't been able to share this ministry with you better.   But, thankfully, I am happy to share with you my February 2025 Newsletter here , which has more details of my new call in Madagascar as well as many pictures of the many ministries of Malagasy Lutheran Church.  Please share the newsletter with your congregation, friends, neighbors and anyone who might be interested. You can also download a pdf of the February 2025 Newsletter here or read it below.  If you would like to have future newsletter...

 Greetings to you from the Emerald Season in Zambia! It is rainy season here in Zambia.  Even though the rains came a month late and seem to have paused for a couple weeks, it is still green (emerald) here in Zambia.  We hope that the rains will start again and continue for at least another month, so that the farmer's crops will keep growing and we will all have food to eat.  I am happy to share with you my February 2024 Newsletter here as well.  You'll find news about a Reformation visit and celebration in the Copperbelt District of north-central Zambia as well as a young adult climate advocacy and education project (the first young adult project of its kind in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia!).  You can download a pdf of the February 2024 Newsletter here or read it below.  If you would like to have future newsletters emailed to you, please contact me through the form on the blog menu (3 bars at the top left of the blog homescreen ). Febr...

 Happy Summer to you!    Yes, summer has arrived here in Zambia.  The sun has moved south again.  The fans are on.  The birds have returned.  We try not to walk anywhere in the middle of the day.  And everyone is complaining that its tooooo hot.  (I think talking about the weather must be an almost universal conversational opener.)  I am a bit jealous of all the fall pictures from those of you in the northern hemisphere. As I try to stay cool in front of the fan, I'm happy to share with you my September 2023 Newsletter .  You'll find news of the biggest happening in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia (ELCZa) since I arrived - the 2023 ELCZa Church Assembly.  I've also included pictures of the Lusaka District Youth Camp that took place in August. You can download a pdf of the September 2023 Newsletter here or read it below.  If you would like to have future newsletters emailed to you, please contact me through the ...

 Zambian Winter Greetings to you all! Yes, it is winter here in Zambia, which means highs in the 60s and 70s and night-time lows in the 40s and 50s.  Its actually quite nice, though without heat in most homes, its does get pretty cold at night.  But we are all wearing jackets and trying to protect ourselves from the mpepo (wind) that makes it feel cold.  I am glad to share with you my July 2023 Newsletter .  You will find news of my recent work with the youth and young adults of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia.  In Zambia and in the United States, it is the youth who give me hope and call us to live into our heritage as an ever-reforming Lutheran church.  I also share a reading recommendation so you can immerse yourself a bit into Zambian life. As a bonus for the blog readers, I have included below videos of the great singing and dancing from Youth Camp in the ELCZa Northwestern District that took place in May. Download a pdf of the July 2023...

Happy Easter!  Jesus, a uka!    I hope you had a wonderful Easter celebration, and perhaps even shouted "Jesus is Risen!" several times in worship and on the way home.  In the nyanja language spoken in Zambia, we say, "Yesu, a uka!" which literally means "Jesus is awake" but is also used to say "Jesus is Risen."  Shouting this good news is one of my favorite parts of the Easter season. 😁 In the spirit of Easter good news, my April 2023 Newsletter is full of good news from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia.  There are Easter celebrations, the first church council meeting since COVID, confirmation services, and more. Download a pdf of the April 2023 Newsletter here or read it below.  If you would like to have future newsletters emailed to you, please contact me through the form on the blog menu (3 bars at the top of the screen).

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!  I have been living in Zambia and working with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia (ELCZa) for almost a year.  During that time, I have been welcomed and invited into ministry by our siblings in the ELCZa.  The church here has been a blessing, even as the work I am called to has challenged me to develop new skills and ways of ministry that are appropriate for the Zambian context.    As we start a new year, I have made a short video that tells a bit about the ministry I am engaged in with the ELCZa.  You are invited to share this video via social media, in worship services, or perhaps at an upcoming congregational meeting. Enjoy!