We Arrived

To say, “We arrived,” in Bemba, you say, “Natufika.” In Chewa, “Tafika.” In Dholuo, “Wasetimo.” In Swahili, “Tumefika.”

Saying such words—that was the plan. Twenty-two pastors would leave home in Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, the United States, and Zambia. They would gather in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Arrived with Difficulty

Some would arrive Monday, October 16 after a full-day cross-border bus ride that began at 3:45 a.m. That was the plan.

Others would start a cross-country bus trip early Saturday. They would get to their capital city at midnight. They would begin flying Sunday morning, and arrive by plane Monday afternoon. That was the plan.

We would all hug and shake hands with joy. That was the plan. In at least six languages we would all thank God and say, “We arrived.”

For eight days we would study God the Spirit since Pentecostalism surrounds us in Africa. We would start Tuesday, October 17, the day after saying, “We arrived.”

But one brother had an old passport. In his land, a law had just changed. Airport officials said, “You cannot fly to Lilongwe without a new passport.” That would take weeks.

Three other brothers had surprise visa delays. They waited near airports. They prayed.

What else to do? The three were trying to fly out on a Sunday. How do you get help from Malawi Immigration when their offices are closed? When you don’t live in Malawi, how do you even reach an immigration official?

Feeling sick, I asked myself, “Why didn’t I apply for visas for the trio sooner?”

On a Sunday how do you get someone in Malawi to approve a visa already applied for and paid for online? Wait for Monday? No. Monday, October 16 was Mother’s Day in Malawi. For a third straight day, no government offices were open.

Enter Godwin, my new best friend in Malawi Immigration. I met him at the airport in Lilongwe that Monday. I had just flown in from Lusaka, Zambia.

Godwin scanned the trio’s paperwork I had brought along and looked at my clerical collar. He offered, “I will try to help.”

Within minutes two pastors got visa approval. Amazing.

For the third pastor, it took two more long days. Not surprisingly: Travel in Africa means “Expect the unexpected.”

A better reason not to be shocked: God is so gracious. We offered him so many prayers.

On Wednesday afternoon, October 18, the first two brothers made it to our meeting place in Lilongwe. Two days late? No problem. They said in Efik, “Ima isim ufak!” Big smiles. Hugs. “We arrived!”

Another brother arrived six days after he left home, three days late, on Thursday afternoon. In his native Akoose, he could have said “Mpidé bwam!” “I arrived well!” You should have seen the joy. We sang.

That last brother’s bag— had it arrived with him? No. Arrgh.

His luggage came the next day. But the office holding it closed at 3:30 p.m. He could not call. When we learned that his bag had arrived, it was too late to fetch it.

He waited one more day, until Saturday, to say, “Ntid mpidé meh bwam.” “It arrived well.”

Still on the Journey

Why tell you an extended “we arrived” story? Three reasons.

1) This is how international travel works in Africa. You don’t know where the bumps in the road will be. You know, “There will be bumps.”

You pray for safe journeys. You thank God for journey mercies.

2) The pastors from six countries who gathered in Lilongwe, Malawi were on a learning journey.

We meet face-to-face twice a year. We were in the sixth of nine courses toward a bachelor’s degree in theology.

I direct the program. Usually, guest professors teach. Dr. Kenneth Cherney, Jr., of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, led the learning journey this time. The African brothers, Ken, and I discussed the power, work, and promises of God the Holy Spirit.

Professor Cherney and I prefer “learning journey” to “class.” Ken could have been the sage on the stage, as some say. He aimed more at being the guide on the side.

He is an expert in the Bible. He knows Pentecostalism. He has taught this class before in Africa and India.

Ken would still say, “We were on a journey together. We all learned from each other.”

*Photo by Denise Krebs https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrsdkrebs/16407898563*

3) As you read this, the twenty-one pastors from six countries are back in their homes—most plan to meet together again at the end of April.

But when will we say “We have arrived”? When we finish the bachelor’s degree program at the end of 2025, God willing?

Or when Jesus reappears?

“He has arrived,” we will cry. The songs. The tears. The joy.

Even then, will learning about Jesus end?

Jesus told the Eleven the night before he died for us, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor.”

Didn’t that happen at Pentecost? (“He has arrived!”)

And didn’t that happen for each of us at our baptisms? Shouldn’t each of us have said then, “We have arrived”?

Not exactly. Jesus said, “The Father … will give you another Counselor to be with you forever” (John 14:16).

Forever? Oh, we have so much to learn from the Spirit.

Our learning of the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God will never end. With God, on the new earth, never will we say, “We have arrived.”

That is one reason His Spirit will be with us forever.

Our growing in knowing the beauty of Jesus our Lord and Brother and the glory of God our Father—by the Spirit of God, the learning never will end.

Missionary Dan Witte, based in Lusaka, Zambia, serves as a theological educator on the One Africa Team.

Please pray for those working in fields that are ripe for harvest. Share their story, engage with future news, and receive updates. Learn more about our mission fields in Africa and how the Holy Spirit is working faith in people’s hearts at https://wels.net/serving-others/missions/africa

Have No Fear, Little Flock

A little flock gathered in Douala, Cameroon Monday, August 28 through Friday, August 31.

We were six sheep. Six shepherds.

Two from Christ the King Lutheran Synod of Nigeria— Pastor Idorenyin Joshua Udo and Pastor Aniedi Paul Udo;

Two from the Lutheran Church of Cameroon— Pastor Mesue Israel Muankume and Pastor Ngalame Gervase; and

Two from the WELS One Africa Team— Pastor Dan Kroll and Pastor Dan Witte. Kroll lives in Lilongwe, Malawi. I live in Lusaka, Zambia.

little flock — L-R: *Ngalame Gervase*, Aniedi Udo, Mesue Israel, Dan Witte, Dan Kroll, *Idorenyin Udo*

My brother in Wisconsin asked me before the trip, “Why are you going there?”

I told him, “It’s kind of a week-long faculty meeting.” Four West African pre-seminary and seminary professors meet with two missionaries. They have experience helping West African Lutheran seminaries.

But it was more than a faculty meeting, brother. Sister, it was more.

It was a prayer meeting. We prayed before all our meals together. We prayed at the start, middle, and end of all our meetings.

One of the Cameroonian pastors set the tone on the first day.

Pastor Israel led us in singing and prayer. He focused us on Luke 12:32. There Jesus tells his twelve disciples, “Have no fear little flock, for your Father was delighted to give you the kingdom.”

The kingdom. The reign of God is most merciful in human hearts.

But the men Jesus is talking to will run away from him in fear the night he needs them most.

One of them will deny Jesus first. One will betray. Jesus knows. Oh, does he know.

So, “Have no fear little flock,” Jesus says, “for your Father was delighted to give you the kingdom.”

The kingdom. The one-and-only.

The cumulative impact of all the Father has always been doing, royally, redemptively, through his Son and Spirit, and always will.

Imagine.

Who is this man, talking to these twelve other men in Israel?

How does this man know what made their Father happy?

He is God’s Son, you say.

Okay. How can he claim that his Father is their Father too?

How humble is Jesus, not telling these men, “My Father was tickled to give you our kingdom”?

How humble is he, when he should be the one most afraid, as he goes to the cross, telling them not to be afraid?

And you, brother. You, sister. You, sheep of the Good Shepherd.

In Doula met six sheep for a week-long faculty meeting, a prayer meeting, a preparation-for-the-upcoming-school-year meeting, a let’s-become-better-educators meeting.

We were six men from four countries in a friendship meeting. We laughed a lot.

We could have cried a lot too.

We discussed problems. We could have opened up more about our worries. So many fears, we harbor. Those are hard to admit. We six—secretive sinners. But Jesus laid down his life for us all.

And Jesus lives.

Who are you with today as you read this? Are you by yourself? Are you with a few other believers?

Your Father was thrilled to give you the kingdom.

Why do you ever fear anything, when Jesus’ Father is giving you everything?

Have no fear, little flock.

Pray for the same fearlessness in the five students who will soon start again studying for pastoral ministry in Kumba, Cameroon. Pray in Christ for the ten students starting a new school year soon in Uruk Uso, Nigeria.

Our sister ministry training schools in West Africa are small. Difficulties? Huge.

Bigger than anything: “Your Father delights to give you the kingdom.”

Missionary Dan Witte lives in Lusaka, Zambia.

Who was in Sondu?

Who was in Sondu? This is my friend John. He was in Sondu, Kenya. We helped lead a workshop for church leaders and treasurers in the Lutheran Churches in Mission for Christ (LCMC). He is an experienced financial professional and a dedicated Christian. He led parts of the workshop. So did two other laymen. John was his usual cheerful, helpful self.

This is a new acquaintance, Pamela. She is the treasurer of her small church. She teaches in a school too. I asked her to facilitate part of the discussion on the afternoon of day two. She did a great job—better than I would have.

Who else was in Sondu? This is my friend Anariko. He is the LCMC president, but he did not lead the stewardship-and-financial-reporting workshop. Laymen did. Anariko helped coordinate it, and Anariko helped me with the part I led on the second day. He met with many people privately during the workshop. He and I conducted the communion service. He taught online during the workshop evenings. He is a hard worker.

Here is the whole group singing. They were all in Sondu, of course. Almost 60 of us were. They came from at least 16 congregations. There were only a few pastors.

I was in Sondu too. The photo of the whole group did not turn out well, so here is a better photo. It is of Pastor and President Anariko Onunda, me, and a gentleman whose name I did not get.

Who wasn’t in Sondu?

I would like to tell you a bit, though, about people who were not in Sondu. Why? They were very important to the workshop.

For instance, Dr. Al Sorum from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary was not there. He and I both helped at the last LCMC workshop in October 2022. Years ago Al was the first WELS representative to get to know Pastor Onunda face-to-face. Without Al, humanly speaking, LCMC and WELS would not be partners.

Pastor John Roebke was not in Sondu either. John, who lives in Malawi, is our WELS liaison to LCMC. He teaches LCMC students online. He works with LCMC on ministry plans, mercy ministry, and more. He visits Kenya often. If it were not for John, I would not have been there at the Sondu workshop. I had scheduled class to teach with three LCMC pastors in mid-May. As long as I would be there for one reason, John had an idea. “Why don’t you coordinate with Pastor Onunda on a workshop right after the class?”

John also helped me when I flew into Kenya. There had been some snags with transferring workshop funds from the States. John helped me sort them out.

So did Stefan Felgenhauer, our WELS World Missions operations director. Without Stefan, I could not have managed in Kenya for three weeks. I want to thank him and others who work with him at the WELS Center for Mission and Ministry.

Here is our One Africa Team leader, Pastor Howie Mohlke. Like me and my wife, Howie and his wife Leslie live in Lusaka, Zambia. Howie was not in Sondu. I was the only one from OAT there. But without Howie I would not have been there. Howie coordinates most OAT meetings. In them we pray and discuss how best to work with our partners and support their shepherding of God’s flock. Howie asks the rest of us good, hard questions.

Who is Behind Me

Here is my wife Debbie and our whole immediate family. This photo of our six children and our son-in-law is from three weeks before the workshop. Our daughter Daria had just graduated from Wheaton College. A week later I flew from Tampa, Florida through Frankfurt, Germany to Nairobi, Kenya. I flew out on Mother’s Day evening. My wife and I knew we would be apart for 5.5 weeks. It was hard to say goodbye. It always is.

I could not do what I do in Africa without the love, prayers, and support of my family.

Last but not least: You. You were not there in Sondu, Kenya 29 May–1 June. But you and everyone else in WELS let me be there. You gave the offerings. You were praying for me and other missionaries. You were praying for our Kenyan brothers and sisters. You do so every time you don’t pray, “My Father … .” You pray, “Our Father … .”

I wish you could have been in Sondu. You might have giggled at my baby Swahili attempts. You would have rejoiced in the way the group asked to stay an extra half day so they could make more action plans. You would have laughed for joy at the love in the room for Jesus and for each other.

Your heart would have burst with mine as believers sang unaccompanied in harmony. They sang by Jesus’ Spirit. They sang to God’s glory. They sang at scheduled devotion times. The women at the conference formed an impromptu choir and sang at breaks.

Thank you for letting me be in Sondu, Kenya I was the only muzungu (white man) at the LCMC planning and commitment workshop.

God was there, indeed. But thank you to everyone pictured above who was not there. Asante sana. Thank you very much.

*On June 1 five laymen, Anariko Onunda, and Dan Witte dedicated land near Sondu, Kenya. LCMC plans a new church there. The man nearest the camera is Duke*.

Missionary Dan Witte is based in Lusaka, Zambia. He is part of the WELS One Africa Team.