Eight Week Trip to Africa Took 50 Years

January 4, 2010

By Lori Van Ingen
Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era

Eight-week trip to Africa took 50 years

It took him more than 50 years, but Ken Espenshade finally made it to Africa.

Espenshade had wanted to become a foreign missionary as he started his career, but that was not to be.

After his first pastorate, from 1957 to 1960, at a United Zion Church in Lebanon, he told the mission board he wanted to go into the mission field.

But they wanted him to get his bachelor's degree in Bible. He did that and went back to the board. But again he was rebuffed and told to get his teaching degree.

So he went to Millersville University for that degree. He then was told he needed some teaching experience, not just a certificate.

Espenshade then taught at Ephrata Area School District for a year. But he was told he should stay for three years to get tenure. He stayed for 29 years.

While he taught in Ephrata, he also served as interim pastor at Speedwell Heights Brethren in Christ Church and was the assistant to the United Zion bishop at Ephrata United Zion Church. He also served at Akron United Zion Church for three years.

Espenshade's ordination was then accepted into the Lancaster Mennonite Conference as pastor-at-large in Lancaster, covering nine churches for 17 years when other pastors went away.

After retiring from teaching in 1990, Espenshade helped Lancaster Bible College establish its elementary education program and get its certification.

By August 2007, Espenshade's wife, Charlotte, needed to move into a healthcare unit at Landis Homes in Lititz.

"She was getting such excellent care that I saw my opportunity to go to Africa for eight weeks," Espenshade said. He sold their property and moved to Landis Homes himself on Dec. 15, 2008.

"I had no responsibility, so I was free to go to Africa. After a 52-year-long dream, I got there last May at (age) 81," Espenshade said.

Espenshade first traveled to Zimbabwe for 11-w weeks, then on to Zambia for four weeks and Malawi for 11 days before returning home.

Espenshade's goal was to encourage missionaries, bishops, ministers and congregations, as well as to encourage the teachers and students at Christian schools there.

"It was beyond my expectations. I was so thrilled. I felt the group gave a lot to me and I gave a lot to the group," Espenshade said. "I learned a lot of things about the different cultures. They were as congenial and polite as you can expect anyone to be."

Espenshade first flew into Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, then drove out to the bush area, taking 11 people with him for a week's project at the Brethren in Christ's Numhumba Mission Station.

The mission station had been working on a library for 10 years, and Espenshade's group helped put the finishing touches on it before its dedication in August.

"They were expecting 200 to 300 people, but the bishop said 2,000 people came from all directions and there wasn't enough room for everyone," Espenshade said.

After leaving Zimbabwe, Espenshade traveled alone to Choma, Zambia, where he visited four schools and the 10 or so churches in the area.

He then went to Malawi, where he visited two churches and 10 village Bible studies, which draw as many as 50 people, who sit on the ground or on porches for the studies.

"The people were so open and inviting. I'm glad the people were encouraged and strengthened," he said.

Now that Espenshade is back from his trip, he has gotten involved in volunteering at Landis Homes.

He speaks at both the East and West chapels, visits residents to help the chaplains, does some devotionals, sits at the front desk as receptionist once a month and drives the retirement home's shuttle every Friday morning.

Espenshade begins his stint on the resident council this month and serves on the activities committee. He also continues to speak at area churches.

"There's no lack for things to do," he said.

Espenshade said he would love to go back to Africa, but doesn't believe he will get that opportunity. He's grateful, however, that friends, churches and business organizations paid for his entire trip to Africa and back.

"I had opportunities to show pictures and am open to showing them to others if they want me to," he said.

lvaningen@lnpnews.com
© 2010 Lancaster Newspapers

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