Fall 2006 President Linda Travels to Africa LWML President Linda Reiser and former president Virginia Von Seggern recently had the opportunity to travel to West Africa with members of the LCMS Board for Mission Services. The group was touched by the hospitality and Christian spirit among the churches, schools and people as they visited various countries. President Linda found that Lutheran Women in Mission have significantly impacted the opportunity for God's Word to be shared in Africa! God is using each mite gift to bring His message of love and hope to people all over the world. Highlights from the trip included meeting missionaries on the field; visiting the Lutheran Center for Theological Studies in Togo; meeting the presidents of Lutheran Church of Togo, Burkina Faso and Benin; and attending the graduation event of students from the Center for Theological Studies in Jembe, Sierra Leone. President Linda shares that her trip to see the work of the church in West Africa was an amazing experience: "There is such a partnership in ministry going on, bridging the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean! It was a thrill to see a school in Sierra Leone, one of many the LWML has supported. I saw solar panels that we supported for our missionary homes in earlier years. The graduation ceremony was, I believe, on a location that LWML helped fund with a 40th anniversary offering of $100,000 that educates young men to be 'set aside' for ministry in West Africa! I was once again amazed and awed at how many recognized the LWML for their support and prayers! -- I even met Robert (a friend of Rev. Robert Roegner, Director LCMS Bd for Mission Services), a young man who was given the opportunity to have evangelistic training from an LWML grant of $100,000 in 1991-1993!" The trip was not without its adventures, with a bearing going out, a breakdown during a long road trip, a tire blowing out, luggage getting delayed for several days and even a minor accident in Freetown. However, the focus of the trip was the story of how God is using the gifts and prayers of the LCMS and the LWML missionary women who know how to love and to help! See pictures of President Linda's Trip