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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
February 2002 |
A NEW CLASS …
of 26 missionaries was commissioned Dec. 9 at a commissioning service held in Dunwoody, Ga. Of special interest to those in the NIC, the list included three Ntambo names.
That brought to mind an interview I had in 1992 with Ntambo Nkula, known then in Indiana simply as Tambo, but today as Bishop Ntambo. I remembered he had come from a large African family and his grandfather was a witch doctor. Tambo's life changed after attending the first school of higher education in his area and he became a Christian.
My curiosity took me to the phone and I soon learned two of Bishop Tambo's children, Shimba and Louise, are attending the University of Indianapolis. After contacting them, I learned the three names on the commissioned list did include Bishop Ntambo's relatives: first his son, Gaston Nkulu Ntambo, North Katanga, assigned as pilot/mechanic, Wings of the Morning Flight Ministry, Democratic Republic of Congo; Gaston's wife, Jeanne Kabove Ntambo, North Katanga, assigned as radio operator, Wings of the Morning Flight Ministry; and the bishop's cousin, Mutwale Ntambo Wa Mushidi, North Katanga, assigned as Tanzania district superintendent, North Katanga Annual Conference.
The class of 26 missionaries represents 13 annual conferences in the US, Africa, Philippines and Germany. They will serve in various ministries in 15 countries. Global Ministries now supports 2,572 missionaries in 73 countries.
CORRECTION …
In January, I reported the Lowell Wertz family "made a precautionary pullout from Kigoma." Some readers questioned the statement. It should have read that they were temporarily leaving. The Wertz' are now back "on the job" in Kigoma.
In a recent communication from Lowell he said, "I want to clarify for you that our temporary move to South Africa was for the beginning of the USA bombings in Afghanistan because we live in a Muslin community. We have not left our mission station in Kigoma, Tanzania on a permanent basis. Our evacuation was just until we could be relatively sure our family would be safe from danger of reprisals against Americans for the bombing campaign."
BETH FERRELL …
served for ten years as a missionary nurse/ teacher at Mozambique Chicaque Rural Hospital, the Nursing School and the Community Development and Health Project. For the past three years, since leaving in 1999, she has been very busy - attending conferences, giving presentations, teaching at Schools of Missions and taking post-master's courses at the University of Arizona.
Beth's compassion for people, combined with interests in health projects have directed her to focus on the issue of safe drinking water, particularly the practice of disinfecting drinking water through solar techniques. She wrote, "Since water is an important symbol in the Gospel, it seems appropriate that water be used as one aspect of our Christian witness."
In November, she left for her new assignment in Sierre Leone, West Africa, to do community health and development work. The focus: safe water, nutrition, sanitation and disease prevention/treatment.
She can be contacted at: United Methodist Church, 31 Lightfoot Boston ST., PO Box 115, Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa.
ROSALIE BOWKER …
has been on home assignment the past few months, but will be returning to Korea's Mokowon University very soon, where she will resume her responsibilities. Among them, she enjoys teaching organ, especially since the organ was moved into the new chapel last year. In addition to teaching, she has leadership roles on several boards both at the university and in the community.
Last summer, she was one of the judges for the Korean art and handicrafts contest held in Taejon. She wrote that after the awards ceremony and ribbon cutting, she was delighted to discover that Mokowon graduates were among those receiving awards. rosaliebowker@hotmail.com
Hope Barnes can be reached by e-mail at hopeabarnes@home.com
Last updated on 01/14/2004