Faces

Lutheran, The, Sep 2005 by Etshman, Todd

'Mercy' to Africa

Wash, couple work on hospital ship

After two years braving threats of malaria, vicious African flies and resumed civil war, Mike and Holly Fotheringill know what it means to "live your faith." Inspired by their pastor's endorsement of these words, the Fotheringills, members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Mercer Island, Wash., resigned from their jobs in 2001 to do local mission work.

The couple took their faith even further in July 2003, leaving family behind and joining the Mercy Ship Anastasis in Africa.

"You have to be prepared to take the leap of faith or you're never going to experience all that God has for those who step out," Mike says. "Being here makes me know just how much God understands me and made me part of his plan."

Mike, a former bank president, became the hospital ship's financial officer. Holly, previously a retirement home activities director, assumed the role of hospitality and activities director. Both also worked wherever else they were needed.

Most recently the Fotheringills' leap of faith on the Anastasis led them to Monrovia, Liberia, a country of 3 million where civil wars have devastated the economy since 1980 and citizens subsist on less than $1 a day with little or no medical care. The couple says it can seem like an insurmountable job due to the poor nutrition and sanitation, 85 percent unemployment rate, prevalence of HIV and disease, closed schools and lack of medical facilities. But the warmth of the people "gets under your skin," Holly says, adding, "We are working toward being people of integrity. It's an experience I would have never realized is so close to my heart."

People from 35 countries and a variety of Christian denominations work together on the Anastasis to improve conditions in Liberia and other African countries. They've found their greatest success in empowering the local people. "Mercy Ship has done a good job of teaching and training people to help themselves," Holly says. "We don't just go into a country and give them things."

After their summer at home, the Fotheringills are returning to the Anastasis in South Africa for another year's service. "We aren't ready to leave the ship yet," Holly says.

Helen and Paul Baumgartner, First, St. Peter, Minn., give "Music with a Mission" benefit recitals for the Global Mission Institute of Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. The retired professors of piano from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn., have given more than 30 recitals for various charitable organizations.

Lisa Schaus, William Shyy and Daniel Visscher, students attending St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., were among the 320 undergraduate sophomores and juniors nationwide to receive Barry M. Goldwater scholarships, which encourage excellence in science and mathematics. The annual award is given to students who plan to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering.

Derek Eshenour, Trinity, Camp Hill, Pa., won three medals in the Special Olympics Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. A speed skater, he took home a silver medal in the 5- and 777meter races. He also won bronze in the 1,000-meter race.

John Bomboy, Grove Chapel, Indiana, Pa., was named the Pennsylvania Athletic Director of the Year. He is the athletic director at Marion Center [Pa.] Area High School and serves as an official for wrestling matches.

Luke Zeller, Good Shepherd, Washington, Ind., was named Mr. Basketball among all Indiana highschool basketball players. He also was chosen as a McDonald's AllAmerican and played in the all-star game, which was televised on ESPN.

Carol A. Gilbertson, an English professor at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, won the Donald Murray Prize, a national award honoring authors of creative nonfiction writing. The columnist for the Boston Globe won for her essay "The Translucent Word: Religious Imagination in the Literature's Classroom," which argues that college literature classes often don't pay attention to religious content in literary works.

Keith Muschinske, ELCA pastor and major in the U.S. Air Force, received a Distinguished Service Award for 2005 from the Military Chaplains Association, which honors annually one chaplain from each branch of the service. Muschinske, who is stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Great Falls, Mont., was honored for helping set the standard for excellence in the practice of chaplaincy, including preparing chaplains and chaplain assistants to deploy and provide ministry in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Larry Pagel, Messiah, Marquette, Mich., received the Collegiate Teacher of the Year Award from the National Business Education Association. He is a professor at Northern Michigan University, Marquette.

Kim Jasmer, Gloria Dei, Coos Bay, Ore., set state records at the 3 A Swimming Championships in the 50 and 100 freestyle. She is a seven-time AllAmerican and was valedictorian of her class at North Bend High School.

Andria Chol, a student at Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D., earned a $1,000 scholarship for winning an essay competition sponsored by Houghton Mifflin. The essay theme was "How Do You Define Success?" Part of the group known as "The Lost Boys of Sudan," Chol wrote about coming from his home, where his parents were killed in the country's civil war, to the U.S. "As I started my school by sitting on stones for chairs and benches, and writing on the floor for my exercise books, I have made a conscious and beneficial choice not to take education for granted," he wrote. "Education is my tool for success."