The partnership that the Southern Illinois District shares with the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa is a blessing to many.  There is much to learn from our fellow brothers and sisters in the Lutheran Church.  Our origins date back to Germany in the middle of the 19^th century.  Partnerships work best when there is mutual sharing, giving and receiving.  Trips to Africa contain suitcases full of books and items to be used in the partnership.  Trips home contain many memories, pictures and tokens of our time spent together.

African Christians are joyful people.  The amount of one’s possessions does not determine the joy one has in life.  It may have the opposite effect.  The more we have, the greater the worry to maintain, protect and manage.  Those who have less do not share those same burdens.  For many Americans worship is a chore that needs to be completed in sixty minutes or less.  Africans view Sunday as an event of celebration.  No one watches the clock to try and get everything in ahead of schedule.  This frees people to pray, praise and give thanks while receiving rich helpings of God’s grace.

Youthful vigor and new ways of doing things mark the baby boom generation in America.