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Both Larry and Inge were born and grew up in the Congo, which
was known then as the Belgian Congo. Larry was born in Luebo,
in the south central part of the country. His parents, the Rev.
Charles Sthreshley and Florence (Moore) Sthreshley, were missionaries
appointed by the former Presbyterian Church in the United States.
Inge's parents were Methodist missionaries to the Congo, and she
was born in Likasi, in the far southeastern corner of the country
not far from the Zambian border. They now have two children, Lisa
and Michael, both born at the Good Shepherd Hospital in the Congo.
Since its beginning Larry has been involved in SANRU, a country-wide
program to develop the decentralized health care system in rural
areas. Phase I consisted mostly of emergency relief work in 28
health zones. Phase II is a more comprehensive program that includes
interventions for malaria, AIDS, emerging diseases, nutrition,
water and sanitation, vaccinations, and health infrastructure
support in 60 health zones. Phase II, which included a large training
component, was enabled by a grant from USAID. Though funded by
USAID and recognized by the Congo government as their health strategy,
it is totally implemented through the CPC.
The Sthreshleys first assignment after being commissioned as
missionaries by the PC(USA) in 1987 was also in the Congo. Larry
worked with the medical department of the Presbyterian Community
of Kinshasa, part of the Church of Christ in the Congo (ECC),
the umbrella organization of all Protestant churches in the Congo.
In between assignments in Congo, the Sthreshleys spent a term
of service in Cameroon, where Larry was the regional health consultant
for central and west Africa. Inge was part-time consultant to
women's groups in Cameroon and Congo in the areas of agriculture
and development.
Both Inge and Larry are well prepared for their respective assignments.
Inge earned a BS degree in tropical agriculture from the University
of Hawaii in Honolulu. Since then Inge has written a number of
brochures and published a book on agriculture and health educational
materials. Larry earned an undergraduate degree in public health
with a major in nutrition from the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill, and a master's degree in public health with a
major in population and family health from the University of California
in Los Angeles. In 2004 he finished his dissertation for his doctorate
in international health systems management at Tulane in New Orleans,
Louisiana.
Inge is a member of First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu, and
Larry is an affiliate member there. His primary membership is
with Robertson Presbyterian Chapel in Bear Grass, North Carolina.
Birthdays:
Larry - March 15
Inge - May 24
Lisa - August 8, 1990
Michael - December 4, 1993 |
