Come hear the stories from far away

TACOMA — The time is coming once again this year for the much-anticipated "Global Stories" gathering, where mission abroad is lifted high, bringing renewed inspiration and expanded knowledge to all who attend.
The event, presented by the Southwestern Washington Synod, takes place from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at St. Mark's by The Narrows Lutheran Church.
The day will feature stories from many people throughout the synod who've gone on missions; nuts-and-bolts instruction on how to do a mission trip; and much more.
The keynoter for this year's event is Puget Sound-based author Anne Bayse. She will speak on how living simply here can help ease poverty and crisis there. She will be encouraging listeners to live life in a pared-down way to avoid unintended consequences abroad.
Barbara Robertson, this synod's missionary in Tanzania for the past 12 years, is back home on a rare visit to many congregations. She'll tell listeners all about her work as a AIDS/HIV program officer with the Morogoro Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Persons interested in long-term mission work will get a feel for what it' really like in conversations with the ELCA missionary.
Among the workshop presenters will be a husband-and-wife team of pastors who have begun two new Chinese/Lutheran worshipping communities in the 32-mile stretch between Seattle and Tacoma where there was none before. Mike Wang leads Grace Chinese Lutheran Church of South King County, which meets in Renton. Wife Rowena leads Federal Way Chinese Fellowship. Their work straddles two synods, and their worshippers, who've had only house churches until now, are grateful for all the Wangs have done. Come hear the stories of these impressive toilers of God's mission.
Two-dozen youth from Silverdale Lutheran Church will share with the gathering their experiences from a mission trip to Nanchang, China, in July. While there, the two-dozen young cleaned a sports facility, painted a home for retired nurses and sold newspapers, the proceeds helping to send Nanchang students to college. They were led by the Revs. Steve Ray, executive director of the nonprofit group ChinaConnect and Jonathan Sansgaard of Silverdale Lutheran. Even now, the Washington youth are Facebooking with their new friends from No. 2 Upper Middle School. To learn more about ChinaConnect, visit http://chinaconnectonline.org/.
A Lacey family that sailed around the world, spreading and receiving the Word, will tell their story, as well.
Diane Armbrust, chairwoman of the synod's Global Mission Committee, explained that "Global Stories" is for sharing the past year's global-mission experiences with others, creating inspiration and bringing new knowledge.
"It came about because we realized there was a lot going on in our synod around global mission — stories we wanted to hear, but that there wasn't really a forum for making that happen," she said.
Proceeds from an offering will be split between the synod companion relationship with its counterpart in Namibia, and to the ELCA Malaria Initiative.
The suggested donation is $10, and includes lunch. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. and the event begins at 9 a.m. Optional preregistration can be done by emailing globalstoriesmissions@gmail.com.
St. Mark's is at 6730 North 17th St. For more information, contact Beth Ann Johnson of the Global Mission committee at bajohnsonfreelance@gmail.com.

Pictured: A conversation in Nanchang, China between Silverdale Lutheran Church youth and a new friend.