Journey’s End

Elizabethtown, November 8, 2008

Last Sunday we were privileged to be back with our home congregation at Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church and what a wonderful homecoming it was! We were warmly welcomed by brothers and sisters in the Lord whom we have not seen for four months and together we worshipped the Lord as we were led by the “United Voices in Praise” from Messiah College. We look forward to picking up the threads of our journeys together as we continue our Pilgrimage, for on this Earth we have no permanent abode, but we seek a City whose Builder and Maker is God.

These past four months of our sabbatical journey have afforded us an amazing diversity of peoples, places, climates, natural areas, experiences, churches, modes of travel. They have been so packed that is seems like much more than just four months. While we have lodged in 33 different places, we’ve not felt rushed but have had significant time along the way to pause, relax and find refreshment for the journey.

We’ve been encouraged on our journey by the prayers and good-will of many of you who have viewed this blog. Some of you have posted comments, but others have just been following along, preferring not to comment. If you would like to communicate directly with us in a less public forum, we invite you to email us at wingertsabbatical@gmail.com.

Thanks for joining us on the journey.

Here, in a few pictures and captions, is a summary of our sabbatical journey:


Reconnecting (Hillman, Michigan)



Quiet Beauty (Sylvania Canoe Area, Michigan)



Retreat (Cedarly Pastors Retreat, Wisconsin)



Remembering (Judith Creek, Montana)




Exhilaration (Gird Point, Montana)



Relaxation (Diamond T Ranch, Idaho Panhandle)



Revising (Salmon, Idaho)


Family Adventure (Zambia)





Challenge (Zambia)




Recreation (Outer Banks, North Carolina)

When Gene was in boarding school every meal, without fail and without variation, was concluded with the prayer: “For what we have just received may the Lord make us truly thankful,” and all the boys responded with “Amen,” and so we conclude this sabbatical by noting what we have so graciously received and for which we are “truly thankful.”

• The Elizabethtown BIC congregation for granting us this time away and for their generous financial support of our Zambia trip.

• The Elizabethtown Borough Police who kept a watchful eye on our house while we were away.

• Our daughter Sara who faithfully and accurately managed our financial affairs.

• Our son Tim for his creative maintenance of this blog.

• The guys at Keener Tires who made sure we had 4 brand new tires on the car before we began our journey.

• Beth and Costandy Saba for use of their cottage in Hillman, Michigan

• Diane Oswald, former youth group member in our first pastorate at Maple Grove, for helping make connections with other members of the congregation.

• Marsha Marquardt (another former Maple Grove teen) for the great send-off breakfast when we left Hillman.

• For many others like Diane and Marsha who were part of the congregation in our first pastorate 40 years ago who continue to live for Jesus and witness for Him.

• Edna Shafer with whom we shared ministry in Hillman in the 60’s for a wonderful meal and day of reminiscing.

• Joshua and Katherine who made sure we had everything we needed at our cabin in the Sylvania Wilderness.

• Andy and Nancy, our hosts and spiritual directors at the Cedarly Pastor’s Retreat.

• The nine others with whom we shared our five days at Cedarly.

• The National Forest staff at Stanford, Montana, who made special arrangements for us to pick up our key for Judith Creek Cabin.

• The lady on the road crew who let us use her cell phone.

• Tom and Brenda Wagoner, our hosts at Diamond T Ranch.

• John Fackler and Dwain Goretzke who talked Gene through replacing the serpentine belt on the van all the way from Pennsylvania on the cell phone.

• The congregation of the United Methodist Church in Salmon, Idaho, for their welcome, prayers and practical advice after our oil pan disaster.

• The manager at the Trails End Motel during the three days we were stranded in Salmon.

• Jeff and Arsinio at the Good News Garage who replaced the damaged oil pan in the mini van.

• Rick, the friendly tow truck driver, with whom we rode 50 miles to a AAA repair shop when the starter quit.

• The DeWilde family in Omaha who warmly welcomed us and with whom we relived many wonderful memories.

• Bob and Marilyn Howe (Darlene’s sister) who put us up for a night on our way back East.

• Dale and Pat Dohner (Darlene’s cousin) with whom we stayed in Ashland, Ohio.

• Dwight and Carol Thomas for valuable advance perspectives on going to Zambia.

• Bryan and Karah Leaman for last minute briefings growing out of their recent experience in Zambia.

• John and Esther Spurrier for their hospitality at Macha and Esther’s indispensable counsel while we were in country.

• Marian Buckwalter for facilitating many aspects of our time in Zambia.

• Potato, our capable and trustworthy river guide on the Zambezi River.

• Dennis and Jane Mweetwa for getting us oriented to Sikalongo and the Bible Institute.

• Peter Petwenge, our counselor and guide.

• Rosa Muleya our housekeeper at Sikalongo, purchasing agent and friend.

• The ten students at Sikalongo Bible Institute who were an inspiration to serve in the classroom.

• J. Harold and Nancy Engle who welcomed back to the US at JFK.

• Tom and Katie Wagner who took care of our yard while we were away.

• Jared Long for plowing up our garden which had also been on sabbatical for this year.

• For many public servants - immigration officials, taxi and bus drivers, flight attendants, who helped us get from place to place.

• For safety through 10,000 miles of vehicle travel and 17,000 air miles.

• Our vehicle problems all happened within reach of help (at many other times we were in very remote settings).

• For avoiding collisions with numerous deer.

• Good health the entire time.

• For the faithful ministry of the word, fellowship and encouragement in 16 services in 14 different congregations.

• For many who supported us in prayer and kept in touch during these months.

• For opportunity to revisit journal notes from scores of wilderness trips.

• For the beauty of earth and sky, tree and flower, lakes, oceans and rivers, mountains and valleys and many creatures great and small.

• For the commitment, courage and vision of dauntless pioneer missionaries like Frances Davidson and Myron and Adda Taylor and for the rich fruit of their endeavors in the church in Zambia.

• For the privilege of visiting grandfather Taylor’s grave at Sikalongo with our children, Tim and Sara, and being able to share a week “on safari” with them.

• South African Airlines for a safe trip, professional service and delivery of all of our luggage.

• For the inspiration of days spent at the shore - the majesty of the ocean, the full moon rising, glorious sunrises and sunsets, canoeing and windsurfing.

• For a joyful return to the Etown congregation and a warm welcome by the people of God whom we love and serve. It’s good to be home.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

This is the final post for this blog

Trail Break Outer Banks, North Carolina

Trail Break
Outer Banks, North Carolina

Our flight home from Zambia was uneventful and we were met at JFK by Harold and Nancy Engle from our church. We probably have experienced more culture shock being suddenly thrust into this fast-paced climate of hype, super-abundance and non-stop consumerism. And then there’s the weather itself one day it’s 100 degrees (in Zambia) and the next 70 in the US!

We took a few days at home to unpack, adjust to jet lag, get our bearings and then headed for two weeks at the Outer Banks where we could unwind after all our journeys and prepare for re-entry.

We've had a great two weeks at the Outer Banks, just relaxing, no pressures, no demands, lots of outdoor recreation - at the beach,

hiking several miles in Nags Head Woods,

canoeing the salt marshes of Roanoke Island, and the swamps of Alligator River and, of course,

windsurfing with hours and hours of steady wind.

On the weekend of October 18 rain and wind built up making the house we rented creak and groan in the gusts which intensified overnight. On Sunday morning the ocean was quite riled up and the wind was gusting over 30 mph.

We went to church at Grace Lutheran Church By the Sea
and were blessed to be part of a VERY warmly led liturgical service with a great message for these times of fear and uncertainty.
After service we decided to drive south on Rt. 12 to the more exposed beaches and to see how much sand was drifting across the road.

Well, the little drive turned into one of our family encounters with EVENTS. Travelling south, we were going with the wind and all was well.

Sand was indeed drifting across the road and the road crews were out with their equipment to keep dunes from forming right on the road.

We made it across the high bridge at Oregon Inlet without difficulty but when we reached the town of Rodanthe, there was a foot of water across the road and north-bound traffic was really backed up.

We made a quick decision to turn around and head back through the deepening water and just in time because the water was beginning to top the dunes and pour onto the road through a gap in the dunes.

A few moments after we turned around, the road was closed as the following weather statement indicates:

Statement as of 1:03 PM EDT on October 19, 2008

... Coastal flood advisory remains in effect until 8 PM EDT this evening...
A high surf advisory remains in effect until 5 am EDT Monday.
A coastal flood advisory remains in effect until 8 PM EDT this evening.
Northerly winds of 30 to 35 knots across the waters adjacent to Dare County will continue this afternoon as strong low pressure offfshore moves away to the northeast.
Breakers of 8 to 10 feet are expected along the beaches through this evening which will produce dangerous surf conditions... strong rip currents and minor beach erosion.
Additionally... water level rises of 1 to 3 feet above normal will produce minor coastal flooding and beach erosion... with over wash possible.

Reports received so far...
At 943 am... several inches of overwash was reported on Highway 12 near Rodanthe by a Fire Department chief on Hatteras Island.
At 11 am... a report from Frisco on Hatteras Island indicated some minor sound side flooding was beginning across the Road from the Frisco pier but was not over the Road.
At 1120 am... Dare County 911 reported a house on Seahaven drive in Rodanthe south of Mirlo Beach has collapsed into the ocean. T
he house was unoccupied.

This is about the time when we turned around at Mirlo Beach!

At 1235 PM... Dare County 911 reported Highway 12 near Rodanthe was closed due to ocean overwash.
At 1 PM... Dare County 911 reported 12-18 inches of water at intersection of Highway 12 and wilkens street in Kitty Hawk.
Residents in areas prone to coastal flooding should take action to protect any property that may be threatened.

Later in the day we experienced some weird power irregularities at the house and the power company came out to check on it. Turned out that a neutral line had pulled loose at the power line pole adjacent to our house.

We've really been enjoying the unique beauty, history and ocean majesty of this area and the opportunity for some real relaxation before getting back into ministry at EBIC – which we are definitely anticipating.


Next week we hope to post some final reflections on our sabbatical journey.

Many of you may have read our blog but for whatever reason have not posted any comments. In case you’d like to respond directly to us in a non-public way, we’ve set up a special email account just for that purpose.

You may email us at:  wingertsabbatical@gmail.com
And we’d love to hear from you.

Breaking Camp (Final Post from Sikalongo)

Thursday, October 2.

It hardly seems possible that we have been here five weeks and tomorrow we will begin making our way back to the U.S. On the other hand, it seems so long ago that we were in America and it all feels very far away - almost non-existent.

[Grocery Store Security]

Life here has been totally consuming with the details of daily living, interactions with the people, visiting places of mission significance in the surrounding area and fulfilling our responsibilities at the schools.

[Remembering to keep left]

And it has been good. We’ve been encouraged, inspired and challenged by the lives of many people here. Last week we went to Macha. When we return you will want to see the short video of the journey in the van on that road. It rivals anything at Hershey Park and goes on and on for two hours. But the ride was worth it.

[Macha Road]

We were warmly welcomed and hosted by John and Esther Spurrier who have fully immersed themselves in the culture and lives of the people here for the sake of Christ in a way that is challenging and inspiring to those of us who are privileged to experience them in action.


Macha was a joy and inspiration. This is the mission station started by Gene’s Grandmother, Adda Engle and Francis Davidson in 1906 and where Myron Taylor and Adda were married in 1909. From its very humble beginnings Macha now hosts a
world class Malaria research station developed and led by Phil Thuma, a large secondary school, a substantial BIC congregation, a major hospital where John Spurrier is the lead physician, Experimental School and a recently built airstrip.

[All the TV Dishes at Macha caught our attention]

[Macha International Airport]

Last Sunday Gene preached at both the Secondary School service and later for the Sikalongo BIC Church. At the first service he spoke about “Trusting Our Guide” using our experience on the Zambezi River with our guide as an extended illustration. For the second service he challenged people to not just sing the praises of Myron Taylor (which everyone here does) but to live their lives for Jesus in the same way that Myron did. This message was “inspired” by a remark made by someone that a monument should be built for Myron Taylor, to which Gene responded, “You are the monument to Myron Taylor, seen by everyone.” During the service we sang “Bringing in the Sheaves” which was emotional for us in this setting, realizing that we were sitting among “sheaves” which were the planting of Myron Taylor and the early missionaries.

Gene completed his classes at SBI on Tuesday but still has one final examination to administer on Friday. Darlene had her last day with the pre-school on Wednesday.

Over the past weekend and for the first part of the week, we experienced a major “first” for our time here. The electricity was on for 4 days straight wiithout any interruption, but on Wednesday it went back to its old habits, though only briefly. It’s nice to be able to leave on a good note in this department. Today we have had power all day.


As we conclude our time in Zambia, we express our deep gratitude to many people who have provided counsel, perspective and assistance for our time here, and so this special thanks to:

Dwight and Carol Thomas & Bryan and Karah Leaman for much needed perpectives prior to coming to Zambia.

Esther and John Spurrier for wise counsel prior to our coming, facilitating in-country travel and for being wonderful hosts for our brief stay at Macha.

Marian Buckwalter - always available for counsel, assistance and fabulous meals.

Dennis and Jane Mweetwa for making all the necessary connections for us here at Sikalongo and guiding our work with SBI.

Peter Pwetenge - trail guide, interpreter, expediter, jack-of-all-trades, and ever-present help in time of need



Rosa Muleya - our housekeeper, cook, purchasing agent, companion, and never to be forgotten friend.

And to all of you who have prayed for us and encouraged us on our way.

Each of you, in your own special way, has greatly enriched our time with the people of Zambia. May you all be blessed in your endeavors in the Lord’s service.

[Myron Taylor Grave]

We will be flying out of Lusaka on Monday, arriving at JFK in New York on Tuesday morning. Our month will be spent wrapping up readings, writings and reflections from our entire sabbatical experience at an ocean-front hideout on the Outer Banks.