2019 Zim to DRC friendship Roadtrip

image: The 2016 FPM/Purdue Wesley Foundation's Zimbabwe to DRC Roadtrip

A Friendship-Building/Deep Listening Mission Journey
Sponsored by Wesley Foundation at Purdue & Friendly Planet Missiology
May 28 – June 27, 2019
Zimbabwe, Zambia, & DRC (Congo)   

Purpose of the Journey: to deepen relationships with our friends in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and DR Congo and seek mutual understanding of one another’s context. Worshiping, praying, working on projects, traveling and sharing adventures together help us to grow closer to God and each other as an international body of Christ.

Who: This trip is designed primarily with and for college students to build relationships with African students and young adults (active adults who work well with students are welcome to apply).

How Much: $4,400. Money for the round-trip plane ticket and travel insurance of $2000 is due by February 15, 2019. Another $1000 is due April 1 to make other travel arrangements. The rest is due May 15. A portion of the money will pay the way for Africa students, scouts, and pastors, to join with us on our journey.

The Trip: Flying into Harare, Zimbabwe, we drive 3 hours away to Africa University (AU) in Old Mutare near the border with Mozambique. We partner with students and staff in a variety of service projects and student activities at AU. To nurture friendships between students and better get to know each others’ experiences, we stay in residence halls, eat, worship, and travel with students. Participants may also learn about, visit, and engage with several Old Mutare ministries: Fairfield Children’s Home, Hartzell School, and the Old Mutare mission clinic.

After a week around AU, we explore Zimbabwe by mini-bus with several AU students – visiting Great Zimbabwe (ancient ruins), Hwange National Park (wildlife), and Victoria Falls (one of the wonders of the world). We then take public buses through Zambia, staying at a mission station or two for a couple nights to learn about churches and their missions in Zambia.

The last half of our journey will take place in the Katanga region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (in the far southern part of the country). We stay in Lubumbashi (second largest city of Congo), interacting with AU graduates and Friendly Planet Missiology friends, churches and their missions. After a few days, we team up with some FPM brothers and sisters to bicycle into the heart of rural Katanga, stopping along the way to listen deeply to stories, worship and pray, eat and stay with people of local United Methodist Churches. Once we arrive at our final destination, our bicycles will be given to a variety of church workers to further their ministries. We hope to have time left to take an excursion by boat before returning to Lubumbashi by small aircraft or land-rover.

Preparation and Follow-Up: There will be five required preparation meetings during the Spring Semester to learn about the countries, learn about impacts of different missiologies, and plan fund-raising opportunities. Virtual attendance of those not at Purdue is possible. Learning basic greetings is essential. Other background reading of history and language prep in French, Swahili, and/or Shona is encouraged. We will provide you with a journal to keep during the trip and have a final debriefing meeting after the trip. You are encouraged to speak to churches, events, and donors after your return.

Leaders: Trip leaders include many African friends including Rev. Joseph Mulongo, Director of Connectional Ministries North Katanga Conference UMC, and Rev. Dr. J. Glen Robyne, Co-Director and Campus Pastor at Wesley Foundation at Purdue. Glen has co-led four trips to this part of Africa, including bicycling with FPM in 2016, and lived at Africa University for five-months in 2006. Pastor Lana Robyne, a board member of FPM, has also co-led multiple trips to these areas. She will help with the five meetings, preparations, coordination, and assistance from the United States.

More detailed information is available upon request to [email protected] or [email protected].