Good Shepherd has a tradition of sponsoring a missionary. Since January, 2003 we have sponsored Dr. Mamy Ranaivoson, MD-MPH, an ELCA missionary in Africa. For a decade prior we sponsored Peter Kapenga, an educator, on the West Bank.
Dr. Mamy (as we are encouraged to call him) is stationed in Nairobi, Kenya, but has responsibility for all of Africa. On behalf of the Lutheran World Federation and the Division for Global Mission, ELCA, he is to assist African churches to combat HIV/AIDS.
An MD with training from his native Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, London and Johns Hopkins, he has previously served as a medical missionary in Papua New Guinea. He and his wife Noelisa have four daughters and one son.
In Geneva in June he took part in LWF strategic planning for the next five years (2006-2010) to fight AIDS/HIV. Conferences where he presented drew women to Rwanda and youth to Sierra Leone. In Tanzania and Madagascar he met with government officials to seek endorsements for the 5 year plan.
To actively support this ministry sign up for a specific Sunday on the chart in the narthex. Then write a check for $25 to Good Shepherd with missionary sponsorship in the memo line. This can be dropped in the collection plate on the given Sunday.
Dr. Mamy's e-mail address are mamy_ranaivoson@wananchi.com and Mamy_Ranaivoson@elca.org
