Home

Palmberg, Luyada Lay Wreath at Carlson Grave

By Don Meyer

KARAWA, CONGO (November 15, 2003) - A wreath-laying ceremony marked Saturday's visit to the Karawa cemetery and the grave of Dr. Paul Carlson by Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) President Glenn Palmberg and Gbuda Luyada, president of the Covenant Church of Congo (CEUM).

Carlson, a Covenant medical missionary who headed a medical mission serving areas including Wasolo and Karawa, was killed in 1964. Palmberg is leading a five-member delegation representing the ECC. The group is visiting a number of CEUM ministries during its 12-day tour.

"This time was a very important time for the CEUM as well as for the delegation," noted Pete Ekstrand, ECC World Mission regional coordinator for Africa who is accompanying the delegation and is serving as a special news correspondent for Covenant News Service. "Several people were invited to pray, Glenn shared briefly and then Glenn and Luyada laid flowers on Paul's grave" (see accompanying photo).

"The service at the cemetery was particularly moving to me as I could tell that the Congolese were deeply touched by Dr. Paul's sacrifice," Ekstrand continued. "They also repeatedly gave thanks to the Lord for sending the missionaries to bring them the good news of Jesus."

"The service and remembrance of Paul Carlson's death was deeply moving," said Curt Peterson, executive minister of the Department of World Mission. "Glenn (in his remarks) remembered the devotion and sacrifice of Paul and other missionaries who give their lives - some gave their lives when it was their parents who were called to bring the Gospel to Congo. Their example is a challenge for us to live our lives and devotion to bringing the Gospel to all people."

The group visited several schools at Karawa including primary and secondary schools and the pre-school where Glenn was presented with flowers. Members of the delegation visited several classrooms and saw first-hand the need for equipment for practical training and better school buildings. (The accompanying photo shows Keith Gustafson with a group of children.)

"It was a real encouragement to me to see the schools functioning when the teachers receive no regular salaries, yet continue to teach," said Jerome Nelson, another member of the delegation. "I was also encouraged to see the way all the kids are there in uniforms and desiring to learn - and to know that what we have done with the Sunday School project for Congo school supplies will even enhance what the kids and teachers are doing right now." While traveling through Kinshasa, the group met Education Coordinator Manzani who already is buying supplies that this project funding is making possible.

The group also visited the Karawa hospital, including the central office, the pharmacy, the operating room, surgical and maternity wards, sleeping sickness offices, nutrition center, nursing training school, dentistry and ophthalmology and the center for training of the handicapped. (An accompanying photo shows members of the delegation with a shipment of rolled bandages.)

"I was moved by the dedication and devotion of the staff, who are working with minimal resources and equipment to provide compassionate health care as much as they were able," observed. "It was thrilling to see how important the Covenant Women Ministries bandages and layettes were and how those labors of love are being utilized in significant ways here."

Afternoon activities included a stop at the Zulu hydroelectric dam where engineers Debo and Dengali, the Congolese technicians who are responsible for maintenance, explained the operation of the power system. One of the areas visited, Mbudi, is one of two sources that provide water for the Karawa station. Bob Thornbloom explained how the overshot turbine provides power to pump water to the mission that is slightly elevated (325 feet above the turbine) and 9,000 feet away.

The delegation, led by Palmberg, includes Peterson; Jim Sundholm, director of Covenant World Relief; Nelson, a Central Conference coordinator; and Thornbloom, a Covenant missionary who coordinates technical support in Congo. Traveling with the delegation are Ekstrand; Gustafson, country coordinator for the Democratic Republic of Congo; and CEUM President Luyada.

Purpose of the trip is to visit CEUM ministries and confer with CEUM leaders on the ministry partnership of CEUM and the ECC. The delegation left Chicago Monday, November 10, and is scheduled to return November 22.

To read earlier news coverage of this historic trip, visit the links below:

• Palmberg Leads Delegation.
• Delegation Warmly Received.
• Large Crowd Greets Delegation.
• Drama Depicts Arrival of Gospel.

News Comments

Who We Are · Local Churches & Conferences · Denominational Ministries · Institutional Ministries · Support Ministries · Outreach Ministries · Inicio Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. 5101 N Francisco Ave., Chicago IL 60625. 773-784-3000. Privacy Policy & Terms of Use.