Successful Visit for Pastor Ezekiel Mwambungu and Pastor Wilson Nyakachewa
Asante Sana! Thank you, Northwest Intermountain Synod, for the wonderful welcome you extended to our companions from the Ulanga Kilombero Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. Our guests were impressed by the size of our synod, the warm hospitality they received, and the vast array of ministries of our NWIM Synod people. I hope you had a chance to meet these remarkable pastors and engage in our relationship with the people of our companion synod. They ask that I pass along their deep appreciation for the time they were with us!
The expenses for bringing our companions here are paid for by the Companion Synod Team funds set aside for travel. Individuals and congregations give to this fund out of an awareness of the benefits of our in-person time. While we regularly communicate with our companions via social media and emails, nothing nourishes the relationship like face-to-face visits.
Unfortunately, Ezekiel and Wilson had a rough trip home. Due to the civil unrest in Tanzania after their presidential election on October 28, flights into the country were cancelled for about a week. It took our guests 9 days to get home – spending 6 nights in Nairobi, thankfully at a Christian retreat center. As soon as it was safe to travel, they were able to make it home to the loving arms of their families! We are grateful for the help of ELCA global staff, wisdom of the UKD staff, and the patience of Ezekiel and Wilson and their families.
This extra travel meant unexpected travel costs. This puts our travel fund precariously low for future travel. If you feel called to donate to the travel fund, helping to fund leaders who travel to Tanzania and trips for our partners to spend time in our synod, your contributions would be very appreciated. The funds are used prudently and go a long way to nurture our companion relationship. If you would like to donate, please send contributions to the NWIM Synod Office, marked UKD Travel Fund. You can also give online at the synod website, using the DONATE tab in the upper right-hand corner. Select “Global Mission – Tanzania” for the recipient. Please email either Cathy Steiner (cathy.steiner@NWIMSynod.org) or Heidi Cryer (hacryer@gmail.com) to indicate your gift is for the travel fund. We will make sure it gets to the correct place.
Thank you again for your warm hospitality. Should you have any questions about the companion synod relationship, please drop me an email. I am happy to talk more about the UKD!
Heidi Cryer
Chair, NWIM Companion Synod Team
hacryer@gmail.com or 509-539-0449
A Post Script: A trip to the UKD is planned for June 2026. If you are interested in exploring participation in that trip, please contact me. We have a few spots still available but need to finalize the group by mid-December. We would love to add you! More information…