Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Andrew Hinderlie can be contacted at chempastaaoldcom
Country of Service: Togo
Training Group: Rural Development/Construction
Cities you served in: Notse
Arrival Year: 1978
Departure Year: 1980
Work Description:
Rural Construction primary schools etc...
Bring us up to date on your life after the peace corps:
Cameroun 1982-84 English Teacher
US 1984-1992 Worked as bartender and second cook weekends at Harborview Cafe, Pepin, WI., Dayton's Ticket Office and Eddy Bauer Mpls, MN weekdays, youth director Woodlake Lutheran, and teaching assistant systematics while attending Luther Northwestern Seminary St. Paul, MN taking an MA in Systematic Theology and an MDiv becoming a pastor in 1992 after internship in Cabrini Green and CPE at Mayo Clinic. I served in Kenner, LA as an assistant pastor in Youth and Family Ministry for five years. Met my wife who worked for Shell Chemical and wanted something more fulfilling and so we went first to Central AFrican Republic as teachers and now serve as Regional Representatives for the ELCA-DGM in EAST AFRICA (Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sudan and Uganda) listening to what the needs are of people here rather than telling them. We have one son and another child on the way. I have written seven novels, none published, but enjoyable for me as most of them take place in Africa or have African themes and Peace Corps experience.
Any thoughts you have now looking back on peace corps days?:
They were wonderful and hard. I wouldn't trade them for anything and though I have been out of touch with most of those I knew, I do not stop thinking about them nor praying for them and for all they meant to me and all they taught me, Togolese and Ex-pat alike.
Anyone you are looking for or would like to hear from?:
If anyone from my days and recalls me reads this I would hope they would get in touch and know that Vic Volunteer and Sam Stagaire still exist inside of me and they are welcome here.
Any message for returned volunteers?:
Don't give up on what is out there and don't forget as Soren Kierkegaard said, "To risk and fail, that is in God's hands, not to risk is to live in an eternity of hell." And always remember you to were a stranger.
Originally posted: February 19, 2005
