Be sure to see the pictures on our Smugmug Photo Page - http://upstatenysynod.smugmug.com/Religion/Zimbabwe-Visitors/

Saturday, June 2 Bishop Dube and Mr. MM Dube traveled south from Buffalo with Pastor Marlene Hyden (Grace Lutheran, Buffalo) and husband John to visit the large and beautiful First Lutheran Church in Jamestown and the campus of the Senior Care and Youth Services - Lutheran Social Services (LSS), Jamestown, NY.

Senior Care at LSS includes a wide range of services and care including state of the art smart technology to ensure the safety and security of residents.

Youth Services include the Gustavus Adolphus Family Services (GAFS).  GAFS is a specialized treatment program for youth and their families who are in need of care.  It is located on the LSS campus in Jamestown, NY. Treatment includes residential, educational, and preventative services. Youth, aged 12-17 are placed here by family courts, the Department of Social Services, or public school districts. Karl Wiggins, GAFS executive director accompanied our guests on a tour of the facility.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Dube traveled with Beth Walker to the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Rochester, NY to be the guest speaker at the Genesee Finger Lakes Women of the ELCA Spring Assembly. We stopped at Wegman’s for lunch before arriving because everyone needs to see Wegman’s when they come to NY!  Mrs. Dube’s message talked about the room of women in the ELCZ.

Mrs. Dube explained that the ELCZ is organized at the congregation level, then the parish level, next the deanery level, and finally the diocese level.  The women have a constitution and officers. Women are “bloused” in the purple and grey outfit of Lutheran Women after a two year period of study and examination.  Purple is made of red (cleansed by the blood of the lamb) and blue (life everlasting). Grey is a combination of black (meaning we are living in sin) and white (cleansed from our sin).  Members pay $15 a year to belong and this money helps to fund women’s activities at all levels.  The women’s organization is called Manyano if the tribe is Ndebele, Vashandiri if they speak Shona, Makhabunyae if Sotho, Vhashumeli if they speak Vende.  The Women of the ELCZ is 9000+ strong. Participation is comprised of Handwork, Bible Study, Visitation, and the Word.  Women also compete in choir competitions and spend hours practicing.

As we rode back in the car to Buffalo, we talked about the differences between women’s groups in our two countries. We must support each other, Mrs. Dube said, within our neighborhoods, within our churches, within our synod, and between our two countries. That is how women grow as strong Christians and as good people!

Bishop Dube preached the next morning at Grace Lutheran, Buffalo.  He held hands with the children at the children’s sermon and a picture was taken.  He will hold hands with children at Zezani Parish which is the twin for Grace Lutheran and the two pictures will be photo shopped to connect the two groups of children together.  The text that he preached on was Isaiah 6: 1-8. This text included “Then I heard the voice of the LORD saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ and I said, ‘Here am I; send me!’”  His sermon can be viewed at

We enjoyed a fabulous feast at Grace Lutheran, said good bye to our hosts and headed to Utica.

On www.youtube.com
A song at Niagara Lutheran Health Systems in Lancaster, NY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6930CCEZ47g&feature=context-gau

Mrs. Dube speaks at the Genesee Finger Lakes Women of the ELCA Spring Assembly http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewz4TWes9DY&feature=g-upl