General Assembly Mission Council

A letter from Martha Sommers in Malawi

May 5, 2012

Dear Family and Friends:

April 7, 2012, Joyce Banda was sworn in as Malawi’s fourth president and the second female African head of state. This followed secrecy around the timing of and death of former president Bingu wa Mutharika on either April 5 or April 6, depending on the country’s or outside countries' confirmation. The May 2, 2012, NATION newspaper in front of me describes how the cabinet members at the time were meeting with the chief justice to strategize on how to block the swearing in of then vice president Joyce Banda as president and instead swear in Bingu’s brother. Thankfully, the Army Commander pledged allegiance to the vice president and the constitution, and we had a peaceful transition of power.

JB, as the headlines now refer to president Joyce Banda, gave speeches emphasizing unity, moving forward, and not revenge. She named a new cabinet that includes three of the cabinet members she inherited and prominent members from each of the major parties. We pray and hope she will be able to move the country forward. Her Excellency Joyce Banda has a history of turning things around in her personal life. She was a market woman selling local donuts before forming the National Association of Business Women. She had to remove herself and three children from an abusive first marriage prior to marrying retired Chief Justice Richard Banda, who she says, “has been the driving force behind my success.”

A letter from Sara Armstrong in Peru

May 2012

Can dogs evangelize?

In the fall of 2008 we were asked to serve as mission co-workers in Peru. One of the biggest traumas of our departure from the U.S. in 2009 was "what to do with Jenni the dog?"  She flunked her home visits with friends and family and the only option we were left with was to bring her to Peru. This is generally frowned upon for mission co-workers and now we know why.  They get lost, sick and lonely and experience culture shock just as we do.  But she also has brought unexpected joy to our lives.

Jenni the dog needs to be walked three times a day. With her Border Collie–Blue Heeler bloodlines she has lots of energy. In all of our walks through the neighborhood parks we have met some wonderful Peruvian dog owners and even one lady in search of a Presbyterian church. (She stopped me to say how beautiful Jenni was.)  The need to walk Jenni forces us to exercise even when deadlines loom. Her enthusiastic greetings give us joy even on the gloomiest days of winter.

A letter from Doug Baker in Northern Ireland

September 2011

Doug Baker with the eight new YAVS: back row Ellison Cavedo, Doug Baker, Liz Wall, Karl Heimbuck, Kendra Heimbuck, Erin Jezek Christian Tamme. Front row: Patrick Harley, Zoe Van Dyke

Dear PC(USA) supporting congregations and individuals,

For the past six weeks or so Elaine and I have been heavily involved in making preparations for the new team of Young Adult Volunteers serving in Northern Ireland, then in their orientation once they arrived, and then in the time of settling into their placements here.

Now that there is something of a pause in this flurry of activity I want to share with you about this excellent group of Young Adult Volunteers and ask you to keep them in your prayers as they continue to settle in and begin to contribute in their respective congregations and community ministries.

All eight of this year’s group, listed below along with their placements, are maintaining blogs about their experience here, which you can be follow here.