Hand in Hand Global Mission Support Blog Digest

This "blog digest" is brought to you by the ELCA Global Mission Support team. Here you will find posts and re-posts by ELCA missionaries, ELCA Global Mission churchwide staff, and other friends.

“You can do this!”

Posted on July 27, 2009 by Anne Edison-Albright

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

- Matthew 28:16-20

Preaching in Slovak and English

Preaching in Slovak and English

Daniel, a Slovak pastor and member of my internship committee, recently invited me to preach at his dad’s congregation in Háj, a small village in central Slovakia. The assigned preaching text for the day was Matthew 28:16-20: the Great Commission. As I prepared my sermon, I imagined that the disciples’ doubts that day on the mountain in Galilee were similar to my doubts last year at the missionary sending service in Kenosha, Wisconsin: what if I’m not good enough?  Will my friends and family ever understand why I’m doing this?  Am I up to this task?
The great thing about this story is that Jesus sends the disciples out—Jesus sends us out—anyway.  He doesn’t wait for us to be certain, doubt-free, or perfect.  We are sent out, not because of what we’ve done, but because of what God has done: loved us, forgiven us, and empowered us to do things we could never do on our own. During the second service in Háj, my eyes kept going back to a woman in a beautiful white suit.  As I preached, she smiled.  “Keep going!” she seemed to be saying, “You can do this!”

Anna, the president of the congregation in Haj

Anna, the president of the congregation in Haj

Daniel told me later that Anna is the president of the congregation, and that her granddaughter attends seminary in Bratislava, but is currently serving as a summer intern at Dr. Martin Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church in Muskegon, Michigan.  I realized that, on the same Sunday morning that Anna was encouraging me, someone in Michigan was probably looking at her granddaughter and smiling, letting her know “You can do this!,” even in the midst of any doubts she has.
Jesus meets us, and sends us out, in the midst of our doubts and imperfections.  That’s good news for missionaries, and for the people we minister with, too.

Anne Edison-Albright will complete her Horizon International Internship in Bratislava, Slovakia on July 31.  For Anne’s blog, click here.

Grøn Kirke (Green Church)

Posted on July 23, 2009 by Timothy Fries

Sct AndreasFor several years, the Danish National Council of Churches has been developing an initiative called “Grøn Kirke” (green church). This September, in advance of COP15, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, the International Church of Copenhagen (ICC) will officially be named the first certified green congregation in Denmark.  The Rev. Chad Rimmer, an ELCA missionary, pastors the English-speaking congregation.  Pastor Rimmer and members of ICC’s Green Team developed and implemented several greening efforts including:
* Observing Creationtide, an ecumenical season that encourages stewardship of God’s creation through worship.
* Offering Christian education and retreats on the subject of faith and ecology.
* Auditing and greening of the congregation’s property.
* Following local best practices in energy, water, waste, transportation and food consumption

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are members of the Lutheran World Federation.

Day by Day

Posted on July 13, 2009 by Hand In Hand

Submitted by Kristen Konkol, South Africa

Morning
Her fingers are blue from the cold as she dresses for the day.  It’s still dark as she walks from her home to the main road.  She joins many others who raise their hands, signaling for a lift.  Finally, a pick-up pulls over and she climbs into the bed of the truck with 12 others.  After she’s dropped off, she walks to where she will work with her hands to make ends meet. 

Afternoon
He sits and waits, looking at his hands. After years of study, they are skilled, practiced, and proficient. He did well on the written surgical specialty exam.  The oral exam is the final step.  He will be qualified as a surgeon able to practice international medicine anywhere in the world, the first black South African to do so at this institution. It’s time.  He sits before a board of light-skinned faces and answers question after question without hesitation or intimidation. Days go by and he finally receives word.  He was not passed. He is resolved to overcome the obvious injustice and “make them” have to pass him the next time he comes before them. 

Evening
Her hands ache and her knees protest as she rises from the garden. As she enters the house she is pleased to see a grandson trying to sweep away the dirt that blew in that day.  His care, his future, is up to her now.  AIDS robbed her of children and her grandchildren of parents. Thank God for the garden. 

It is humbling to witness how so many in South Africa face down monumental challenges with faith, resilience, and perseverance. Day by day. Generation after generation.  “There is no other option,” it is said, “but to rise above and overcome for a better tomorrow.” 
Peace and blessings, Kristen

Kristen Konkol and her husband, the Rev. Brian Konkol, are project coordinators for ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission in South Africa.  Visit the project Web site at http://elcamud.blogspot.com.