New BKB Program Coordinator Appointed

On behalf of the Iringa Committee, I'm pleased to announce the appointment of April Trout as our new BKB Program Coordinator in Iringa!

 

A recent graduate in Ministerial Studies from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, April comes to us from the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the ELCA with twenty-eight years of experience in labor and delivery nursing as well as a term of service in Tanzania with the Peace Corps. In 2004 she spent ten weeks serving as a medical missionary with their companions at Itete Lutheran Hospital in the Konde Diocese - several hours West of Iringa.

 

The eldest of four siblings, April describes herself as having lived an adventurous life. Time after time, she has taken leaps of faith, following the Holy Spirit and trusting God to show the way and provide. She is eager to return to Tanzania, to be immersed in the Saint Paul/Iringa relationship, to learn a new language, and "do it all in service to God and the church." As one might imagine, preparing to spend two years abroad generates a tremendous 'to do' list - not the least of which includes selling her house and car. Undaunted by the challenges, April is approaching this move as a "marvelous soul exercise" and an opportunity to strip life down to its bare essentials.

 

Serving with Bega Kwa Bega and the Saint Paul Area Synod will be April's first call as a rostered Minister of Word and Service and she will be working with her home synod to set dates for her consecration in the coming months. We expect to welcome April to Saint Paul in early July, before she heads to Chicago for two weeks of training and orientation with ELCA Global Mission. Pending receipt of residency and work permits, April anticipates arriving in Iringa in late August or early September as current coordinator, Julia Hubbard, completes her two years of service.

 

To learn more about April and the ways in which you and your community can celebrate and support her work, please review and share the following Q&A.

 

Finally, during this time of transition, we welcome your prayers - especially for April around the sale of her house and the timely approval of work and residency permits in Tanzania. Likewise, we ask that you hold Julia and the current BKB team in your prayers as they too prepare for change. May God's Spirit be present in all that lies ahead...

 

With joy and gratitude,

-peter