Karibuni sana – you are warmly welcome to attend a gathering of the Bega Kwa Bega community next Monday, March 11, 6:30-8 p.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, located at 1390 Larpenteur Ave. E., St. Paul.
We’ll be sharing news and updates from Iringa and about a variety of BKB initiatives. Find out what’s new in companionships, outreach to unpartnered parishes, and what’s going on in our affiliate partner work. You’ll also have a chance to exchange ideas with others in congregations near yours, in conversations with Cluster Leaders. If you can’t attend in person, highlights will be shared on our FaceBook page and in the next Companion News Update.
Here’s a preview of what’s new in BKB Travel:
Post pandemic, travel to and from Iringa is picking up! In 2022 BKB assisted 50 travelers, and in 2023, we hosted 200 in Iringa. The pace for 2024 is on track to match last year’s numbers. I’m very grateful to those who make up our travel planning team: Jan Sower and Terry Lohmann, our volunteer travel coordinators; Rachel Holsten and David Roinas in the synod office; Susan Seidel and Pastor Msigwa in the Iringa offices; and Helen Yotter, trainer for group leaders. This team handles a lot of details around itineraries, reservations and payments.
Group Leader Training sessions will be held in early April. Whether you’re planning to travel this year or sometime in the future, these sessions provide you with the tools and resources to plan a fabulous trip. Sign up at the link under the announcements section.
A new resource is available to help plan your itinerary. Will I need a four-wheel drive vehicle to get where I want to go? How long will it take to get there? Which diocese school should we visit this year? What are the local sites our group shouldn’t miss? Our new resource will give you all the options.
Finally, the Iringa Committee recently approved an update to our Traveler Fee. Beginning April 1, 2024, the fee is $225 per traveler.
We are grateful to be a companion on your journeys!
Asante sana,
Kirsten Levorson
Director of Bega Kwa Bega
