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Africa-Zambia: Manager Highlights
- Dave & Dee Mathiak currently serving
- Opportunities for volunteers to serve
Managing volunteers in Zambia
In May of 2008, Dave and Dee Mathiak began service as Kingdom Workers in Lusaka, Zambia. They started as the mission administrators: managing the finances, overseeing the mission guest house, and assisting with other projects. Once they were oriented to the mission and the Lutheran Church of Central Africa (LCCA), their roles expanded to fulfill other needs. These included maintenance and security work, 
managing the Lutheran Press (which prints and sells church, Sunday school/catechism materials, sermon books, Bibles, and materials in native languages) and teaching English, nutrition/cooking, computer, and health classes to seminary students and their wives. Dave even started teaching a huge group of neighborhood kids how to play kickball. “It has been a wonderful evangelism tool,” says Dee. “Sunday school attendance has really grown at Bethel congregation on the seminary campus because of kickball!”
With the start up of a short-term volunteer program in Lusaka beginning in 2012, the Mathiaks have agreed to accept new responsibilities as Volunteer Field Managers into 2015. The LCCA and Lutheran Mission are currently identifying potential projects. “There are numerous areas where short-term volunteers can help,” says Dave, “but they will need to be prioritized, scheduled, and funded before work can begin.”
There are numerous areas where short-term volunteers can help.”
A few preliminary ideas for the short-term projects consist of improvements in education, possibly new programs for the youth, and teaching administrative skills to school leaders and teachers. Learning basic trade skills equivalent to those taught in a beginning shop class would enable locals to gradually make their own repairs and start building projects. Teaching innovative agricultural techniques specific to Zambian soil, crops, and climate could increase yields. Instructing beginning music students would help the African churches make use of their newly acquired keyboards.
With the added role of Volunteer Field Managers, Dave and Dee anticipate serving in the same capacity, but when a new short-term project is approved, they will coordinate everything needed to complete that project. They will order supplies, arrange for transportation, and take care of all physical needs for the volunteers; including housing and groceries, introducing them to the culture, and supporting them while they are there. Who knows, maybe volunteers will even make a guest appearance at a kickball game or two.
As plans unfold, pray for God’s hand to guide and bless the process.
