From the mission field – Kenya and Papua New Guinea

Students at Nyambiri, a new Project 24 children’s boarding facility in Kenya, pose for a photo at the opening of the new site. (Britt Odemba)

Kenya

In August, in partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK), the LCMS celebrated the opening of a new Project 24 children’s boarding facility. The facility, Nyambiri, joins existing sites Rongo, Othoro, Udom, Tumaini and Lenkishon to bring the total number of Project 24 sites to six.

LCMS missionary to Kenya Britt Odemba, who works directly with Project 24, says, “What a joyful celebration it was as the ELCK leadership came together, along with the site managers and their staff as well as the 190 children total from all of the sites. We celebrated the opening of the new facility and had the Catechetical Club Competition afterward.

“We were glad to welcome the new children from Nyambiri who had just arrived a few days before the competition. They were a bit … shy, but … as they get to know one another and the people who are caring for them, they will become more comfortable. We praise God for His provision and guidance as this project continues to expand.”

To learn more about Project 24, visit childrenwithnoone.org.

The opening of the Nyambiri facility brings the total number of Project 24 sites to six. (Britt Odemba)

Papua New Guinea

On Aug. 27, LCMS missionaries in Papua New Guinea (PNG) published a paper, “Against False Sanguma Beliefs,” that provides a biblical response to the problem of sorcery-accusation-related violence in the country. It is estimated that hundreds of people are tortured and killed annually in PNG — the majority of them female — for allegedly practicing sanguma, or witchcraft.

The paper, which includes 23 Theses and a Statement of Faith, was released in conjunction with PNG’s National Day of Repentance, which was established as a national holiday in 2011.

For some, repentance is the first step in receiving material prosperity. However, according to Dr. Martin Dicke, LCMS missionary to Papua New Guinea, this date was chosen to “reclaim the National Day of Repentance for Jesus and the spiritual blessings that He has given us through His death on the cross and His resurrection on the third day. It was also time to equip the church to publicly address … the great sin that plagues PNG.”

In addition to the publication of the paper, a special worship service was held at Timothy Lutheran Seminary in Birip and the anti-sorcery-accusation movie “Mi Bai Mekim” (“I Will Take a Stand”), produced by LCMS missionary Anton Lutz, was shown.

For a podcast about the event with Lutz, visit lcmsasia.fireside.fm/18.

For more information on the problem of sorcery-accusation-related violence in PNG, visit stopsorceryviolence.org.

To request a copy of the paper, contact Dr. Martin Dicke at martin.dicke@lcms.org.

Mifila, a mother of two, was accused of sanguma and murdered on April 18, 2015. It is not known what happened to her children. When asked if she was a witch, she shrugged and said, “How would I know? They say that I am.” Because she had been accused, she believed she was guilty. (Anton Lutz)

Posted Oct. 22, 2018