The Meros Center partners with Fox Valley Lutheran High School to give a few graduating seniors the opportunity to learn about health ministry, study health in a different culture, and practice community engagement in a Christian context. We are very thankful for FVL being willing to discover how to organize this program over the past two years
The 2026 Scholars recently traveled to Lusaka, Zambia to work with the Meros Africa team – Jennifer and Bill Hatzfeld and Moffat Ng’ombe. These opportunities lead to cross-cultural discovery, life-long relationships, and a posture of curiosity and humility. Connecting with and engaging people not like us strengthens empathy required to truly listen and be present with people, especially those we think we know well.
Health ministry requires such a posture that is often difficult to nurture in the classroom. By escaping the classroom, the Meros High School Scholars program turns the daily routine into the God-led adventure that it truly is. The students shared: "Exposure to Zambian culture came quickly as we tried traditional meals that included nshima (a thick corn porridge), bream (a local fish), pumpkin leaves, and even caterpillars. A ride on the crammed city mini bus carried us into the heart of Lusaka where we visited the city market, gathering our ingredients to make a Zambian meal. A sunset meal capped off these experiences by bringing us together with missionaries whose encouragement and stories gave us a fresh perspective."
The Scholars program gives students the opportunity practice the art of listening through research. “Over the weekend, we visited two churches allowing us to gather input to support an ongoing youth health research project. Small group discussions highlighted their assets and the resources the church can use to support youth health. The data we gathered will be shared with the church leaders to inform future youth physical and mental health programs." For Meros, research is ministry. It leads us to step back from our assumptions, releases the need to fix, and gives permission to understand and discover together.
Thank you for your continued support to make such experiences possible.
*We will share the full report and findings gathered by the FVL scholars and accompanying pictures as a Resource on the Meros website.
