Hand in Hand Global Mission Support Blog Digest

Brian and Kristen Konkol are nearing the end of their service as ELCA missionaries in South Africa, where they have been coordinators for the Young Adults in Global Mission program. To support any of the ELCA’s 230 missionaries, go to www.elca.org/missionarysponsorship.

Kristen and Brian Konkol and their son, Khaya.

I have already begun to hear others speak of our departure from South Africa as the conclusion of our global missionary service.  I totally disagree with this assertion, for in many ways it is only the beginning. I believe wholeheartedly that God’s global mission through Jesus is about reconciliation, transformation and empowerment, thus a global Christian missionary is one who seeks to reconcile, transform and empower, by the grace of God, and for the sake of the world.  I cannot see myself stopping such activity at any point, as everywhere is the “mission field,” each day constitutes numerous “mission trips” and every local action has a global reaction.

In a world that possesses division and violence, I believe God is on a global mission of reconciliation, and I plan to participate fully within in. In a world were billions of people scrape through life in spirit-destroying poverty, I believe God is on a global mission of transformation, and I plan to participate fully within it. In the midst of a world that is thirsty for compassionate servant-leaders, I believe God is on a global mission of empowerment, and I plan to participate fully within it. And so, our global missionary work has not concluded, but it will transition to something new, and by God’s grace I look forward to this new, exciting, and challenging chapter.

Kristen, Khaya, and I will return to North America and always seek to learn about the joys and struggles of the people whom we are called to accompany. In addition, we will always discern who God is and who we are in the midst of such diverse settings, and we will always consider how we may contribute to what God is doing to and through an ever-changing and increasingly complex world. We will remain mindful of the lessons we learned in Guyana, South Africa and beyond, we will hold tight to the wonderful friendships formed, and we will continue to be shaped in the years ahead alongside whatever local and global community we are placed.

And so, as we enter into this process of transitions, decisions and additions, Kristen and I ask for your ongoing thoughts and prayers, for just as so many have loved and supported us throughout the past years, we trust that such encouragement will continue in the time ahead. We look forward to this next chapter of life and ministry. We thank God that so many will walk this journey alongside us, and we look forward to all that God will do “to us all” and “through us all” in the years ahead.

Pastor Brian E. Konkol
Project Co-Coordinator, South Africa
Young Adults in Global Mission

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The Rev. Philip Knutson is the ELCA Global Mission regional representative for Southern Africa. To support Philip, or another of the ELCA’s 230 missionaries, go to www.elca.org/missionarysponsorship.

The Rev. Philip Knutson

Dear friends in Christ,

This year the African National Congress (ANC) is celebrating 100 years of existence as a liberation movement and recounting with great pride the history of the struggle to overcome colonialism and apartheid in South Africa. Much of this powerful story is captured in Nelson Mandela’s autobiography “Long Walk to Freedom.”

Reflecting on the ANC’s centenary year is a recent article in Time magazine, “How the ANC lost its way,” that is quite critical even pessimistic about the situation in South Africa  Referring to this article, someone asked me recently where signs of hope might be found.

All this reminded me of the bold statement by Anglican Archbishop-emeritus and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu: “I am not an optimist. I am a prisoner of hope.”

The recently published “Kairos Southern Africa” statement seeks to speak a prophetic and challenging word to the ANC and to South Africa at this time expressing gratitude for sacrifices made, concern over continuing injustices and grounds for hope. http://kairossouthernafrica.wordpress.com/

As I travel, meet and worship with companions throughout Southern Africa and meet brothers and sisters who teach and preach in rural and urban congregations and work to overcome HIV and AIIDS, poverty and malaria I continue to learn how, by God’s grace, we are called, gathered and sent to walk together as “prisoners of hope.”

As we move through Lent to Good Friday and Easter we are reminded of the 40-year sojourn of the Israelites in the wilderness and also of the disciples’ journey with Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem, Golgotha and beyond. There were times of doubt and hopelessness but also, when all seemed lost, unexpected signs of hope and new life.

Thank you for your prayers, continuing support through the ELCA Missionary Sponsorship program and for your participation in God’s mission locally and globally.

Yours faithfully,
Philip Knutson
Capetown, South Africa
February 2012

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Mary Borgman –  an ELCA missionary in Soweto, South Africa, serving in HIV and AIDS ministry — writes about an after-school program for young children. To support Mary, or another of the ELCA’s nearly 250 missionaries, go to www.elca.org/missionarysponsorship.

Three children in the after-school program take a break from playing ball.

In late August we started an after school children’s program from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. We had been talking about starting a program since our kids’ week in July.

After much planning and preparation, the first day came and we had no children attend until just before 4 p.m.  Two children came and we explained the program and encouraged them to return.  I have to say this start was demoralizing.  I began to question whether the program was really needed, or if I had seen an opportunity to do something and then forced the implementation of a program.  This experience was humbling and called me to re-examine how I operate out of my culture and whether this fit with the context I am in. This certainly wasn’t the start with a bang that I had hoped for. My coworkers assured me that things start small and the program would grow.

Over the coming weeks we did grow. We grew from two children on the first day to three on the second and continued to almost double each week. We now have 40 to 50 children attending  regularly.

One of the benefits of the program is keeping the children off the streets. We try to have positive activities for them, including art and sports. Our resources for food are limited, but we have been able to feed all the children up to this point, and by God’s grace we will continue to do so. As time has passed we have a core group of kids who attend regularly and others who pop in and out, but we have had over 130 children attend along the way. I feel fortunate to spend time with these amazing kids.

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The Rev. Philip J. and Lou Knutson are ELCA missionaries in South Africa. Philip is the regional representative for southern Africa. To support the Knutsons, or another of the ELCA’s nearly 250 missionaries, go to www.elca.org/missionarysponsorship.

Some of the seminary students who attended the workshop.

Cape Town, November 2, 2011
Dear friends,

There were emotions of doubt and excitement among 60 seminary students at a recent workshop entitled “Christian Education for Mission” held at the Lutheran Theological Institute (LTI) in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.   (The ELCA supports theological education at LTI and scholarships for graduate students in theology at the University of KwaZulu/Natal.)

What really got the students excited and talking was the discovery that the Triune God is a Missionary God revealed in the way of Christ’s incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection, and that it is not a plane ticket but our baptism that affirms that we are all, by God’s grace, claimed, gathered and sent to participate in God’s mission for the sake of the life of the world.

Some students did a role play at the end of the workshop to demonstrate what they will be saying when they return to their communities and home congregations over Christmas.

They responded to the question “What did you learn?” saying:

I learned that we are all missionaries through baptism and that we are all learners and teachers.  I learned that mission is the work of the Triune God.  I learned how to be a missionary in the mission of the Triune God.  I learned about the three dimensions of mission: transformation, reconciliation and empowerment.  I learned what I did not know, that we are all missionaries and do not need to wait for missionaries from outside Africa.  I learned that mission needs participants not spectators. I learned that Christian education is for the whole church and the way of evangelism.”

Thank you for your participation in the mission of the Triune God locally and globally.

Yours faithfully,
Philip Knutson
ELCA – Global Mission
Regional Program Assistant – Southern Africa
www.southernafricaconnections.org

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Philip Knutson is the regional program assistant for southern Africa for the ELCA’s Global Mission unit. He works with companion churches, companion synods and mission personnel throughout southern Africa. To support Philip, or another of the ELCA’s nearly 250 missionaries, go to www.elca.org/missionarysponsorship.

Philip Knutson joins a worship service in Zambia.

 Dear Friends,

 As regional program assistant for ELCA Global Mission I have the privilege of regularly visiting and learning from many different people and contexts across southern Africa.  In August I represented the ELCA at the annual council meeting of the Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa (LUCSA), which is the sub-regional expression of the Lutheran World Federation comprising 16 Lutheran churches in 10 different countries across southern Africa.

The conference was held in the town of Livingstone, Zambia, just a few miles from the Mosi-oa-Tunya Falls (“the smoke that thunders”), also known as Victoria Falls. The conference received and discussed reports from the member churches and the various programs of LUCSA focusing on HIV and aids, malaria, diakonia, communications, gender justice and theological education. On the Sunday all the delegates worshiped with a local Lutheran congregation, which meets in a small classroom in a public school nearby.

Despite ongoing financial constraints and other challenges, the LUCSA programs are playing a positive facilitative role in the member churches and related communities in the region.    

Most recently I spent some days in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, meeting with twelve young adults who have just arrived for orientation as participants in the ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program. We had lively conversations sharing perspectives on church and society in the U.S.  and South Africa.  We talked about an understanding of mission as accompaniment, as “mutual conversion” and learning to walk together with others in God’s mission in a post-apartheid South Africa and a world where the gap between rich and poor is growing. 

Thank you for your continued prayers and support for the ELCA missionary sponsorship program and for your participation in God’s mission locally and globally.

Yours faithfully,
Philip Knutson

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Bishop M. Biyela baptizes Khaya.

Brian and Kristen Konkol are ELCA missionaries in South Africa. They are coordinators for the South Africa based Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program.

Friends:

On March 13, we celebrated Khaya’s baptism at the Lutheran Theological Institute in Pietermaritzburg.

I was honored to preach at the service, and the baptism was administered by Bishop M. Biyela of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa.

An additional blessing was the presence of all eleven of the South Africa-based Young Adults in Global Mission participants.

We thank God for such a wonderful experience of amazing grace!

With peace,
Brian

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Paula was in South Africa with the Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa where she worked with the HIV/AIDS program. She served July 2006 through June 2010. Prior to her service, Paula resided in Greeley, Colorado.

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The Konkol family

Kristen and I are overjoyed to announce the birth of our son, Khaya Tews Konkol, at Parklands Hospital in Westville (Durban), South Africa, on Wednesday evening of October 13, 2010. He weighs 3.38 kg (7.5 pounds) and is 53 ct (21 inches) tall.

“Khaya” is a an isiZulu word translated into English as “home”. Among other things, we believed choosing this name would not only honor the place of his birth and wonderful people who have accompanied us here in South Africa, but also serve as a daily reminder of the connections and “home” he also shares with our family and friends in North America. “Tews” is Kristen’s maiden name, as we wished to honor her incredibly loving and supportive family legacy, in addition to carrying forward the “Konkol” family surname which we also deeply cherish.

All together, “Khaya Tews Konkol” is a reminder of the gift of life and the “home” we find each day through our identity as recipients of God’s incredible love. And so, I thank God for the safe delivery, the excellent medical care, the wonderful compassion of friends and family, and perhaps most of all, for Kristen. My admiration and love for Kristen continues to grow, as her courage and faith put forward during the delivery was nothing short of remarkable. I could not be more proud of my partner, best friend, and love of my life. Khaya is incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful mother.

As you can imagine, there is much more I could say! At this point I will simply close with: Thank God, thank you, and please continue to remember us in your thoughts and prayers.

With peace and love, Brian Konkol

The Rev. Brian and Kristen Konkol are ELCA missionaries serving in South Africa.  Congratulations!

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Kate Hagen, a return Young Adult in Global Mission, served in South Africa.

The Beauty of Being, a new ELCA Story of Faith in Action , profiles returning Young Adult in Global Mission Kate Hagen.

As she visited the classrooms, students asked: When are you coming back?
 
She answered honestly, telling the children she’s not sure when she’ll return.

The good-byes closed a year of eye-opening experiences for Kate Hagen, who serves as a Young Adult in Global Mission in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Ministry Upstream and Downwind program.

This ministry is a partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa.

Kate arrived in South Africa with the North American idea of productivity as doing.

During her first few months of teaching in a small town elementary school, she found that “doing” became more and more difficult because of language barriers and a financially strapped school system.

These challenges created opportunities for Kate to just “be” with her students, making room for something greater: Relationships.

“In the relationship-focused culture at school, I feel a revitalized awareness to the beauty of being,” Kate explains.

This new awareness also allowed Kate just to “be” within her host family.

A particularly touching time came while participating in her host sister’s coming of age ceremony, where her host family welcomed 400 guests with “humility and selflessness,” Kate says.

The emphasis on hospitality underscored the importance of interdependence.

“In U.S. society, dependence is often seen as weakness,” Kate says, “yet, in order to survive and thrive, we need to realize our interdependence.”

Affirmed in Her Faith
The 23-year-old St. Olaf College graduate from Appleton, Wis., feels faith surround her in her service in South Africa.

“My faith is affirmed every time someone squeezes my hand, lights up with a soul smile and sings to glorify God without reservation. The best feeling is to feel loved for exactly who I am and to feel united by love with my brothers and sisters in Christ.”

She already misses the children, who were just a sea of faces at morning assembly nine months earlier.

“On my final day, I looked out at the hundreds of faces and saw unique personalities,” she says.

The members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Southern Africa’s Youth League call her “Kethiwe,” which, in Zulu, means, “Chosen One.”

“They tell me that they love me,” Kate says. “I love them, too.”

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