ECSW Companion Relationship with ELCSA-Western Diocese
  • Welcome
  • 2016 Visit from S.A. Guests
  • "Before the Visit" Orientation Videos
  • "During the Visit" Orientation Videos
  • Accompaniment
    • What is it?
    • Accompaniment Blog
  • Revisit 2013 trip to S.A.
    • Summary of 2013 Trip to the Western Diocese
    • 2013 Trip Details >
      • 2013 Q & A
      • 2013 Brochure
      • Bulletin inserts or Newsletter explanations
  • Three essential steps
    • Letter of Invitation
    • Application >
      • Expectations
    • Orientation >
      • Blog on preparing
      • Books & Videos
      • Brian Konkol on Accompaniment >
        • Articles by Brian Konkol
        • Brian Konkol on YouTube
      • Barbara Berry Bailey
      • ELCA Companion Synod Handbook >
        • #1 Introduction
        • #2 First Cross-cultural Session
        • #3 Second Cross-cultural Session
        • #4 The Western Diocese
        • #5 Final Details
      • Specific Details
  • What we do in S.A.
    • Our Guides in the Western Diocese >
      • Why Guides?
      • Bishop Ditlhale
      • Rev. Morwaeng Motswasele
      • Dr. Phil in South Africa >
        • Blogs by Dr. Phil >
          • Prisoners of Hope
          • Southern Africa Church Leaders Gather
          • We are all missionaries
    • Orientation in South Africa >
      • Lakeview Lodge
    • One South African parish's plan for their visitors
  • Background to our companion relationship in Southern Africa
    • History of ECSW & Western Diocese >
      • Western Diocese in South Africa >
        • History of Western Diocese
        • Crossways Camps and the Western Diocese
        • 2010 WRV Conference & Madikwe Circuit
        • Maps >
          • Map of Western Diocese
      • How we got to 2013 >
        • 2010 Ziemer Sabbatical
        • 2005 visit from SA
    • Conference-Circuit >
      • Covenant, Goals & Guidelines
    • Our Synod's Companion Task Force >
      • 2012 Synod Resolution
  • ELCA Companion Synod Program
    • Rev. Barbara Berry-Bailey
  • Companion Synod matches
    • East Central Synod of WI with Western Diocese
    • ELCA Synods matched with ELCSA Dioceses >
      • Carribean Synod with ELCSA Eastern Diocese
      • Metro Chicago Synod with ELCSA Central Diocese
      • Montana Synod with ELCSA Cape Orange Diocese
      • Northeast Ohio Synod with ELCSA Northern Diocese
      • Southwest Minnesota Synod with ELCSA Southeastern Diocese
    • other companion relationships >
      • Greater Milwaukee Synod >
        • companion relationship with Tanzania
        • companion relationship with El Salvador
      • Great Lakes Synod with Tanzania
      • Northwest Synod of Wisconsin >
        • companion relationship with Malawi, in southern Africa
        • companion relationship with Brazil
      • LaCrosse Synod >
        • companion relationship with Peru
        • companion relationship with Ethiopia
      • South Central Synod of WI with India
  • Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA) website
  • Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa (LUCSA) website
  • The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) website
  • Photo Gallery
    • Pictures of 2013 Synod Trip >
      • Pictures of earlier trips - come and see!

Grace, Tomahawk & WRV Conference:

Bishop Ditlhale from the Western Diocese visited our East Central Synod of Wisconsin in 2005 along with women representing the Moretele Circuit Women's League. During that visit Bishop Ditlhale and his wife, Margaret, spent several days at Grace Lutheran in Tomahawk encouraging Grace to send people to visit their companion parish in the Western Diocese. People from Grace have now visited their companion, Lekubu Lutheran Parish in 2006, 2008, and 2010, and Lekubu has visited Grace in 2007 and 2012. Eighteen people from Grace have paid for the 2013 trip, including five high school youth.

In 2007, the Dean of the Madikwe Circuit, Pastor Solomon Seaketso, the Chair of the Madikwe Circuit Partnership Committee, Dr. Benjamin Molokoe, and MmaDean Jeanette Seaketso, Chair of the Madikwe Circuit Women's League visited the Wisconsin River Valley Conference with which their circuit is matched.

Enthusiasm spread as the twelve people representing six congregations in the Wisconsin River Valley Conference visited their six matched companion parishes in the Madikwe Circuit in 2010. Key participants in that visit were the Dean of the WRV Conference, Pastor LaDonna Ekern, and Claudette Harring who chairs the WRV Conference Companion Task Force.

Then in 2012 sixty-five people representing all but one parish in the Madikwe Circuit visited every congregation in the Wisconsin River Valley Conference! All who came are leaders in their congregation, parish, circuit, diocese, and even in ELCSA and their visit led to many conversations on faith, church, our witness in the world, and our mutual encouragement to each other. Twenty five from this group attended the Global Village Camp, and all sixty-five blessed us with four concerts in Waupaca, Antigo, Tomahawk, and Wausau during their visit.

Now we are returning in 2013 and invite you to join us! Begin this relationship in your congregation and Conference!

This planned trip in 2013 is based on all that has been learned from the previous experiences. We have learned that this is more affordable than many vacations we take today, plus the experience - the relationships - never end! You will also travel with others, and the planned orientation in South Africa is worth phenomenonly more than the price! The number who go from your congregation can vary greatly. Grace has visited there in groups of one, two, four and now eighteen are planning to go.

The greatest benefit is EXPERIENCING companionship. You will never see church, mission, and relationships the same! God calls us to be the Body of Christ, and when we experience that body in such an extraordinary way its greatest change is how we see and act when we return to those immediately around us. It will spread to through your congregation! As Bishop Jim Ahrends of the LaCrosse Synod states, when people visit their companion (in their synod in Ethiopia or Peru), the entire congregation, Conference and Synod goes; a few do so physically.

Even if only one person from your congregation joins this trip, this experience is intended and arranged to be a blessing for your entire congregation and to be a significant step in your companion relationship. Come join us!