COMPANIONSHIP HISTORY FOR THE EAST CENTRAL SYNOD OF WI AND THE WISCONSIN RIVER VALLEY CONFERENCE

1988 1994

ELCA establishes the Companionship program. The East Central Synod of WI is paired with the Western Diocese of South Africa. An official delegation, representing the East Central Synod of Wisconsin, visit the Western Diocese: Rev. Rich Block, Judy Baumgartner (Green Bay), Darlene Bilstad (Neenah), Tyrona Schroeder (Stevens Point), Donna Weishoff (Clintonville), Shirley Shaw (Manitowac), Carla Burkat (student from Cedar Falls, Iowa), John and Teresa Emery (Fond du Lac) and Bishop John Bee.m Bishop Jim & Vicki Justman visit the Western Diocese in June. Rev. Wayne & Tondi Harrison and Andy Mocinski make the first Crossways visit to the Western Diocese in June. Second Crossways visit to Western Diocese Centre in March - Wayne Harrison and Andy Mocinski. Bishop & Mrs. Dithale from the Western Diocese visit our Synod. Women from the Moretele Circuit of the Western Diocese visit many congregations in the Synod. The first visit to a matched parish by four people from Grace Lutheran, Tomahawk to Lekubu Parish in South Africa - Rev. Mark and Claudia Ziemer, and Al and Deb Overhaug. A second official delegation from the East Central Synod of WI visit the Western Diocese - Rev. Kimberly Stowell, Ron Kuehl, Dave Frei, Rev. Bill Schruba, Mary Rades and her granddaughter, Beth (including representatives from Crossways) Dean S.W. & Mrs. Jeanette Seaketso, Dr. Benjamin Molokoe, and Alfred Mogorosi from the Madikwe Circuit visit Grace Lutheran, and a WI River Valley Conference meeting is held at Immanuel Lutheran, Wausau. An official companionship document is signed. Third Crossways visit to the Western Diocese. Nicole Welke, a part of the delegation and member of Grace, Tomahawk visited Lekubu Parish.

2002 2003 2004 2005

2006

2007

2008

2009 2010

Justice Pule from Lobatla Lutheran in the Madikwe Circuit visits Immanuel Lutheran, Wausau. First Conference-to-Circuit visit to South Africa (10 visitors from WI River Valley Conference: Florence Beese, Maria Budnik, Dean LaDonna and Jewel Ekern, Rev. Ben and Claudette Harring, Steve and Vicki Stretz, Amanda Ziemer and two representatives from Crossways, Sara Damrow and Dana Isaacson). Rev. Mark Ziemer, Grace, Tomahawk spent nine weeks on sabbatical hosted by Lekubu Parish and was also a part of the above mentioned delegation.

2012 2013

First Madikwe Circuit visit to the WI River Valley Conference. Grace Lutheran, Tomahawk delegation plan to visit Lekubu in the Madikwe Circuit.