Getting together

We've managed to pull together parts of the team for two recent events.  In August we descended upon Gene and Bonnie's home for a meal and to welcome Hazvinei to America.  She has now settled in to her doctoral studies at University of Kentucky and is busy with class work and working for two of the professors in the faculty of Health Sciences.  Bonnie helped her settle into her little (literally) apartment and Bill and Dona Lou visited a week or so ago and report that all is well. 

We also gathered for dinner in Lafayette to hear from Larry and Jane Kies.  They talked about the agriculture program (Larry) and the intensive English program (Jane) which were part of our work at AU.  It was great to get an update on what is going on! Here is a photo of half of the team with the Kies. Larry is on the far left and Jane on the far right. Between them Don and Eleanor, Jerry and Jerry Jo, and Gene and Bonnie. A good looking set of people!!

In other news: The computer that Pat Dickerson arranged for Eva (her student at the Indiana Scholars party) is on its way back to Zimbabwe thanks to a bit of connecting in Nashville. At last word Eva was able to enroll in school so the computer that was designated for her will soon be delivered. What a blessing.

Eric Mundula (a student from AU) has settled in at Garrett and stays connected with the Jerry's.

Team members continue to make presentations and raise awareness for Africa University.  La Donna has made three presentations so far and has two more scheduled.  One is on October 6th at Anderson First UMC.  People are amazed at how modern the campus looks ... "you could plop any American college student down there and they would be at home" said one listener!  But then that listener didn't know about the sudza and covu!!

AU grads to US?

Borrowed from the Valparaiso 1st UMC mission blog http://valpofumcomissions.blogspot.com/  (thanks Bonnie!):   "Africa University graduates Christian Zigbou and Hazvinei Jongi go to the American Embassy on Wednesday, July 11 in hopes of being granted a visa to enter our country temporarily. Christian will be applying in Liberia and Hazvinei will apply in Zimbabwe.

Christian's visa was denied when he applied while still in Zimbabwe. He only needs to come to the US for a 3 week training program before becoming a mission intern with the mission arm of our connectional church. (refer to the previous post regarding his story)

Hazinvei participated as a team member...craft time at school.

Hazvinei is seeking a study visa (I20) to begin her doctoral studies at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Providing this visa is granted, Hazvinei will arrive in Chicago on August 4 and will worship with us on August 5. (Refer to blog from May 23 for her story.) After leaving Sudan at the end of June, she has been lecturing at Africa University about her experiences in Darfur, Sudan relating to women's health.

Please keep these two wonderful young people in your prayers tomorrow (7/11). I will update this post when I hear whether or not the visas were granted."

You can read a bit more about Christian in this United Methodist News Service article: http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=2789393&ct=11974619&notoc=1 

Time passes ... an update

We've all settled into the routines of life in Indiana but frequently remember our time at AU.  And our efforts occasionally show up in various places.  This was in the February 13th Indiana Conference Mission e-news:

Africa University students give thanks to Hoosiers for their support

As the new semester is underway at Africa University, the recipients of scholarship help from Indiana Conference continue to celebrate this support. They expressed their thanks directly to the team, led by Bonnie Albert, who visited the campus last fall while sharing a meal together. Many of the churches in the conference together provide five direct scholarships this year for Christian Wuo Zigbuo of Liberia (4th Year in Faculty of Management), Kita Mutwale Jean of Democratic Republic of Congo (4th year also in the FMA), Kasongo Ngoy Sebastien from the DRC (4th year in FMA), Collins Mamaisku Namangolwa of Zambia (1st Year in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science), and Mukendi Nyama Ngombe Jean Marie of the DRC (1st year in the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources). Some students also are funded by Endowed Scholarships of the Indiana Conference or by individual churches through the Ushawira program. Please encourage your church to continue sending scholarship funds for these students through the usual means, clearly marked Africa University Student Direct Scholarship. You help change the lives of the students, their families and the communities where they will work after graduation. Your support is greatly appreciated. Thank you! For more information about AU scholarships, visit http://www.support-africauniversity.org/ .