The Western PA Conference welcomed 13 leaders from the Zimbabwe East and Zimbabwe West conferences to Western Pennsylvania on May 29 for a 20-day visit that will include visits to Western PA ministry sites, churches and landmarks.
After a two days for rest and orientation and touring the Pittsburgh area,each Zimbabwean visitor will be paired with a Western PA counterpart who will act as host for a week. The group includes lay leaders, district superintendents and pastors. All will attend the Western PA annual conference session at Grove City College from June 13-16, then travel to regional sites of interest. Each district will host at least one visitor, usually someone from a partner district in Zimbabwe.
This is the first visit to Western PA for a delegation from Zimbabwe. Western PA leaders participated in a mini-immersion in Zimbabwe in December of 2010, and last summer seven laity and clergy spent six weeks with host families there.
The guests and their host districts include:
Mr. Tinashe Felix Makarau- Harare East-Johnstown
Rev. Joseph Bonga- Chimanimani-Chipinge DS-Greensburg
Mrs. Alice Matiza- Episcopacy Chair, Harare West - Pittsburgh
Mr. Singiyaphumula Doitwell Mlambo- MUMC Chair, Harare West - Connellsville
Rev. Daniel Mutidzawanda- Mutasa Nyanga DS -Washington
Rev. Farirayi Margaret Nyabote – Bulawayo Midlands DS –Erie-Meadville
Mrs. Molly Hlekani Mwayera – ZEAC Lay Leader -Butler
Rev. Musafare Mususa – Masvingo DS -Kane
Rev. Zebediah Tendayi Marewangepo – Assistant to the Bishop- Butler
Mr. Shadreck Mataruka – ZWAC Lay Leader-Indiana
Rev. Pathias Hlahla – Makoni-Buhera DS -Franklin
Mrs. Dianah Chideya – ZWAC Associate Lay Leader- Pittsburgh