E.L.C.A. - M.U.D.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (E.L.C.A.) Ministry Upstream & Downwind (M.U.D.) program provides one-year service and learning opportunities in South Africa for E.L.C.A. young adults (between the ages of 21-30). As the young adults offer themselves in service, they also learn more about themselves, their relationship with God, and their place in God’s world. Young adults are transformed by their experiences, equipping them to take on responsibilities within the E.L.C.A. and to provide a global perspective on issues facing the church and society.

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Thursday, December 8, 2011

The only lekgowa on the Taxi (Elizabeth Daubert)

A few weekends ago, I finally put my big girl pants on and rode a kombi into Pretoria all by myself to meet my friend, Johanna, the German volunteer I work with. Kombis are the taxis of South Africa, though not what we’re accustomed to in the United States. They are basically minibuses that you flag down using various hand gestures (raising your index finger, pointing your finger down, shaking your fist, etc.) according to where you intend on going. Since I was going into town, simply raising my index finger let the correct kombi know to stop for me. Kombis are frequented, predominantly, by the black population of South Africa; generally I am the only “lekgowa” (white person) in the taxi and get quite a few surprised looks.

Johanna and I decided to go to Wonderpark, which is a mall, just a few minutes from the actual downtown of Pretoria. Johanna lives within walking distance of Wonderpark, so it was an easy place for us to meet for a Saturday and to escape the intense heat (few places have air conditioning in South Africa). I’m lucky in, unlike other MUD4s, I don’t have to take kombis to work every day as my school and crèche are just across the street from my house. Sometimes we have to take kombis with the AIDS project, but it’s quite rare. So, much to my disappointment, it took me a lot longer to learn how to use the kombis by myself. However, I was tired of not knowing and felt that my hosts were a little more willing to let me go places by myself, so I had Kay, my host sister, help me learn what I say to the taxi driver and I went to Wonderpark. It was a wonderful experience; full of uncertainty, excitement, and, embarrassingly enough, a great feeling of pride for doing it by myself. It took two kombis and an hour of travel and waiting (kombis do not proceed until the entire taxi is full), before I got there, but everything went without a hitch.

Ever since arriving in South Africa, I have struggled with this feeling of a loss of independence. I have been able to drive since I was sixteen and I was basically living on my own at college for the past four years. I could come and go when I pleased, things could happen on my own time. However here, especially since, at first, my hosts were not thrilled about me traveling alone, I had to rely on someone to drive me places or walk with me, even just up the street. It has been frustrating and even a little humiliating that as a twenty two year old, I was confined to a small area and completely reliant on my hosts, for everything.

Yet, I feel that with my recent accomplishments, I have entered a new phase in my South African life. As I took my first kombi ride alone, within the first few minutes, I felt confident and satisfied with my recently gained independence. It feels good to know that though I am in a new environment, I am still able to successfully get around. I feel that if I can do this, then I am capable of many things.

Elizabeth Daubert is an ELCA-MUD participant-learner in Mabopane, South Africa.

Posted by ELCA - MUD at 7:41 AM
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Country Coordinators

Brian & Kristen Konkol (Country Coordinators)

The Country Coordinators, Brian and Kristen Konkol, oversee and facilitate the ELCA-MUD program. They facilitate in-country logistics such as visa procedures, finances and stipends, housing, working out individual placements, arrivals and departures, and evaluations of volunteers. Brian and Kristen have overall responsibility for the volunteer's well-being, support, and guidance during their term of service, and thus play both a pastoral and administrative role. In consultation with ELCA and ELCSA staff, they have the primary role in making decisions about a volunteer's placement, term of service, facilitating conflict resolution, and responding to crisis and emergencies.

Brian Konkol was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. His parents are George and Judy Konkol, who reside in Amherst Junction, Wisconsin. After graduating from Amherst High School (Amherst, Wisconsin) in 1997, Brian enrolled at Viterbo University (La Crosse, WI), and after four years on the men's basketball team and in pursuit of a Bachelors of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, he graduated from Viterbo in 2001 and immediately enrolled at Luther Theological Seminary (St. Paul, MN) in order to pursue a Master of Divinity degree, with the hopes of being ordained as a minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The "turn" into international service came during Brian’s third year of theological study, when he was selected by the E.L.C.A. to serve in an international "Horizon" internship, and was placed in New Amsterdam, Guyana, with the Ebenezer Lutheran Parish. Following a worthwhile internship year, and after graduating from Luther Seminary in May of 2005 and receiving official ordination into the ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in June of 2005, he was invited to return to Guyana as Long-Term Global Mission Personnel, serving with the Emmanuel Lutheran Parish of Skeldon within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana. While in Guyana from 2005-2007, in addition to serving as pastor of four congregation, Brian also served as Director of the Lutheran Camp and Retreat Centre (2005-2006), Lecturer at the Lutheran Lay Academy (2005-2007), Co-Host of "The Word for the World" national television program (2005-2007), Advisor to the National Youth Commission (2005-2007), and also provided leadership and support in various other ministries within the community and wider church.

Kristen Konkol was born in Atlantic, Iowa. She is the daughter of Rev. Dr. Charles and Sharon Tews, who reside in Waupaca, Wisconsin. After graduating from Waupaca High School in 1995, Kristen accepted a full-scholarship to play basketball at the University of Toledo (Toledo, Ohio). She graduated with a Bachelors of Science Degree with an emphasis on Cardiac Rehabilitation, while also earning four letters on the highly successful women's basketball team. After graduation, Kristen then pursued Post-Graduate studies at the University of Minnesota, where she earned a Masters of Arts in Kinesiology, with a minor in Complementary and Alternative Therapy and Healing Practices through the Center for Spirituality and Healing. Kristen then worked as a community health specialist and research associate with the University of Minnesota. She worked with a Susan B. Komen Foundation Grant working with breast cancer survivors, and also the National Institute of Health Grant, working on a diabetes prevention study focusing on minority populations in the Twin Cities area. Kristen enrolled with the United States Peace Corps in 2003, and was assigned to Guyana, where she served as a health volunteer and was involved in various aspects of the community, ranging from HIV/AIDS education and awareness, to sports teams, and primary education. In 2006, Kristen moved to Skeldon, Guyana in order to serve as the Director of the Lutheran Camp and Retreat Centre, as well as in various other capacities, such as providing leadership in After-School Reading Programs, HIV/AIDS support groups, community outreach, and various other opportunities.

Brian and Kristen were married on September 23, 2006 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Waupaca, Wisconsin. They enjoy reading, listening to music, playing guitar, outdoor adventures/hiking, camping, running, cycling, basketball, and various other sporting activities.