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Arrival in Kamina

6/21/2019

Encounter Africa 2019
sponsored by Wesley Foundation United Methodist Campus Ministry at Purdue, the Found (American Baptists) of Purdue, and Friendly Planet Missiology (FPM)

They made it to Kamina!

I had a nice long face-time with Glen tonight. Everyone is doing very well and glad to have reached Kamina. Hopefully we'll see some pictures of them soon, but in the meantime, enjoy some from my visit to Kamina with Taylor and Teri last year.

It took them two days to get to Kamina from Bukama on the Congo River. They had a tough couple of days bicycling, getting stuck in the deep, loose sands of the road. They struggled for about 30 km today before they had to pack up the bicycles to drive most of the rest of the way with their 3 sag vehicles. Even then, it was a long, difficult drive. They hoped to get back on the bikes for the last few kilometers with the Boy Scouts riding out to meet them and escort them into town. However, they ended up having to drive the whole way.

Kamina, the headquarters for the North Katanga UMC Conference, has several UMCs, an orphanage, a university, and a farm just outside of town. It has some paved roads in town, and they will see people on motorbikes and maybe even a car or two. Many years ago it was a military base for the UN.

I spent time in Kamina last year with my son Isaiah, Taylor and Teri Walters. I have included a link here for those who want to see general pictures of this city or Annual Conference.

The group is staying in a nice guest house in Kamina built by retired Bishop Ntambo. It has electricity (generator), wifi, and satellite tv. They are glad to have made it to their final stop today (Friday).

This is where they will rest for several days before most of them fly back to Lubumbashi and home. Kenny will be staying to volunteer at the orphanage in Kamina. He'll get to experience Annual Conference there.

Maps of Thursday and Friday Route

Purpose of an "Encounter" Trip:

To encounter or meet new people and build relationships with our siblings in Christ in Africa, to listen to their stories and learn from them, to work with them on projects that enhance their lives, to know as fully as possible the African context so that each in our own way we can be a force for positive change.  Students will explore their vocational call from God and learn in their field of academic focus as they make connections with people in Africa in their field.

Want more information?
Contact Pastor Lana Robyne [email protected]

Revised Africa 2019 Itinerary
5/27   Depart Chicago 9:30 pm,didn't go as planned
5/28   Depart DC Dulles: 11:00am didn't go as planned

5/29 Kelden and Ave arrive Harare: -- Meet Diana and other med students, stay at AU alum Esther's home. Others fly in and stay in Addis Ababa and Johannesburg.

5/30 Fly into Harare. Regroup.

5/31 Bus to Mutare and Africa University (AU), Mae stay at Mutare Teacher’s College (MTC). ran out of time for Hilltop UMC Ishe Anesu After School Ministry.

6/1 Tour AU farm, climb to the cross, basketball, choir practice.

6/2 Worship in the AU Chapel, visit Fairfield Children's Home, hike up Mt. Chiremba, go to choir practice.

6/3-6/5 stay and help out at AU campus, Old Mutare Mission Station, Hartzell School, practice with choir, do laundry.

6/5 Depart after chapel - Day back at Mutare Teachers’ College and/or Hilltop UMC
6/6 Depart AU by private bus (Batoko Safaris) -- Travel to Great Zimbabwe (greatest archeological site south of the pyramids)
6/7 Travel to Bulawayo or Matopos Hills (Matobo National Park)
6/8 Travel to Hwange National Park (sunset and sunrise game drives)
6/9 Travel to Victoria Falls (two nights:  tour falls, Bomo, elephant back safari, bungee/zip line options, sunset cruise)
6/11 Depart to Lusaka, Zambia (by public bus).. Night in Lusaka getting harassed by a police officer.
6/12 Travel to Kitwe:  Stay at New Life Center
6/13 Depart Kitwe by taxi to Kasumbalesa, on to Lubumbashi, DRC by Friendly Planet Missiology (FPM) vehicle
6/14 Day in Lubumbashi (buy provisions for bicycle tour and visit Methodist Bishop's Offices)
6/15 prepare and wait.
6/16 Travel to Mulungwishi University), Friendship Bicycle Tour begins w/ith joint US/Congolese team visiting and listening deeply with many congregations on the way.
6/17 the group will leave Mulungwishi and drive to Lubudi.
6/18 Lubudi to Luena = ride 75 kilometers. Ride includes a descent and about 6 kilometers of a little sand.
6/20 Luena to Kabondo = ride 100 kilometers. about 8 kilometers of a mountain climb.
6/21 Kabondo to Kamina = 100 kilometers with about 7 kilometers of loose sand.
6/22 Day in Kamina. Donate the Bicycles.
6/23 Day in Kamina.
6/24 Day in Kamina.
6/25 Fly back to Lubumbashi from end of the tour
6/26 Depart for USA
6/27 Return to USA

Team Members:
From Purdue +:

Rev. Dr. J. Glen Robyne,Christian Education & Campus Ministry!
Elizabeth Sowinski - Psychology
Stacey Brittsan - Botany, Horticulture, Forestry, Plant Science
Kelden Cook - Food Production Science
Mae Christiansen (alum) - Education Graduate Student in Nashville
Cheyanne Geideman (alum) - in Grad School at Northwest University while working at Purdue.
Gabrielle Teter - (alum)Veterinary Medicine Graduate Student at MSU

From University of Illinois (UIUC):

Agrismary Santiago - Political Science
Ave RIVERA 1998 (male) -- International Creative Development, French
Kenneth Smallhorn - Social Work, Child Welfare

From Alabama Birmingham-Southern College:

Paris Liederbach - Art Therapy
Milan Liederbach - Health Science

Africa University Students and Grads traveling with us:

Marie Londwa - Theology
Claudia Mbuyi - French and History
Chantal Valery -French and History
Tosi Munkana, Public administration and management
Obed Aying, alum in environmental studies and recent Global Mission Fellow in Togo.

Joining Us in DRC/Congo:

Rev. Joseph Mulongo, Director of Friendly Planet Missiology and Assistant to Bishop Mande.
Rev. Daniel Mumba, Conference Treasurer
Bruno Kasongo
some other Boy Scouts (college-age men and women)

Sponsor:
Wesley Foundation
WEBSITE | EMAIL
Purdue Wesley Foundation is a campus ministry for, by, and with students. We spread United Methodist values and practice of open-minds, open-hearts, open-doors, but ALL are welcome!
Wesley Foundation at Purdue | 435 W. State St., West Lafayette, IN 47906

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On the Road to Kamina FROM Mulungwishi, by Rev. Lana Robyne

6/17/2019

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FPM Rides Again!

We have a large group of 11 American students from various universities (see list below) and 5 Congolese Africa University students and grads, plus Pastors Glen, Joseph, and Daniel plus some other boy scouts, drivers, and mechanics to fix bicycles. They are riding bicycles to Kamina sponsored by FPM and Wesley Foundation at Purdue. The bicycles will be donated and distributed to pastors and church leaders at the end of the ride.

Mulungwishi

See where some of our American and African students and Pastor Glen started off for their bicycle trip on Father's Day (click the map above to see the google map).

On Sunday afternoon (6/16, yesterday) our group was driven with their bicycles from Lubumbashi to Mulungwishi with a United Methodist High School, University, and Theological Seminary. Mulungwishi is a special place for Glen because his grandparents were once missionaries there. We (Lana, Glen, and our kids) have stayed in "their house" on several other visits. However, there was no room this time, so they camped out there last night!

The road to Mulungwishi is well-paved but very busy and dangerous with heavily loaded mining truck traffic and is not safe for cyclists. This was supposed to be the starting point for the bike trip, but our group was delayed in getting out of Lubumbashi. Heading north from Mulungwishi, the roads are not paved or much traveled by vehicles. However, because of the delays and a tough mountain pass, the group was driven on to Lubudi today to start riding 30 km with a more gentle shake down ride down the mountain!

Itinerary

Larger Map

6/16: Travel to Mulungwishi University
6/17: drive over Mountainous route to start bicycling in Lubudi, = 30km . Spend the night at the Methodist Church.
6/18: Lubudi to Luena = 75 kilometers. Ride includes a descent and about 6 kilometers of a little sand.
6/20: Luena to Kabondo = 100 kilometers. about 8 kilometers of a mountain climb.
6/21: Kabondo to Kamina = 100 kilometers. route plan with about 7 kilometers of loose sand.
6/22: Donate the Bicycles.
6/23: Day in Kamina.
6/24 - Fly back to Lubumbashi from end of the tour (or start driving back the day before)
6/26 - Depart for USA
6/27 – Return to USA

Missing Baba Bob on Father's Day and This Trip

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a father is called "Baba." Anyone who has children is called Baba, whether you are older, younger, related or not. It is with honor and affection you are called Baba. Rev. Dr. Bob Walters was known by many people in the Congo as Baba Bob. He passed away unexpected at the end of July 2017, having a massive heart attack while riding his bike near home in Plainfield, Indiana. Glen and I miss him all the time, but we especially miss him when doing a trip like this. I have much greater appreciation for all he did for us. Last time we took a group to bicycle in 2016, both Glen and I went. Bob orchestrated many logistics from home, and we know he personally funded much of our overhead. He had planned to go with us but didn't get his visa in time (along with many others that year). Baba Bob is deeply missed both there and here, wherever there and here are for you. It is easy for us in Indiana to imagine he is not dead, only on another bicycling tour of deep listening in North Katange. Likewise, people in Katanga can forget he is dead and simply back in the U.S. Hopefully that's what we can picture heaven is like ... our loved one is having a grand time doing what they love best, just in a different place we can't see or contact.

Team Members

From Purdue +:

Rev. Dr. J. Glen Robyne Campus Pastor and Co-Director of Wesley Foundation at Purdue with Rev. Lana Robyne who is supporting the team from Indiana
Elizabeth Sowinski - Psychology
Stacey Brittsan - Botany, Horticulture, Forestry, Plant Science
Kelden Cook - Food Production Science
Mae Christiansen (alum) - Education Graduate Student in Nashville
Cheyanne Geideman (alum) - in Grad School at Northwest University while working at Purdue.
Gabrielle Teter - (alum)Veterinary Medicine Graduate Student at MSU

From University of Illinois (UIUC):

Agrismary Santiago - Political Science
Ave RIVERA 1998 (male) -- International Creative Development, French
Kenneth Smallhorn - Social Work, Child Welfare

From Alabama Birmingham-Southern College:

Paris Liederbach - Art Therapy
Milan Liederbach - Health Science

Africa University Students and Grads:

Marie Londwa - Theology
Claudia Mbuyi - French and History
Chantal Valery -French and History
Tosi Munkana
Obed Aying, alum in environmental studies and recent Global Mission Fellow in Togo.

Also Traveling With Us in DRC/Congo:

Rev. Joseph Mulongo, Director of Friendly Planet Missiology and Assistant to Bishop Mande.
Rev. Daniel Mumba, Conference Treasurer.
Bruno Kasongo
other Boy Scouts (college-age men and women)

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Arrival in Kamina

On the Road to Kamina FROM Mulungwishi, by Rev. Lana Robyne

FPM Rides Again!

Mulungwishi

Itinerary

Missing Baba Bob on Father's Day and This Trip

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