Greetings from the General Secretary
Our day began today with the General Secretary of the Iringa Diocese, Mr. Nayman Chavalla, who spent an hour with our group. He talked about how we visit our partners at Tungamalenga and Makifu, and how we might get the idea that the Bega Kwa Bega partnership might be just about congregational partnerships like ours. He used the time to help our travelers understand our own partnership within a broader context of the partnership between the St Paul Area Synod and the Iringa Diocese. Some highlights follow.
Prayer, presence and projects are the traditional three pillars of these partnerships. As partners, we pray for one another. The act of presence - sharing visits between partners - shows that we are serious about our partnerships, serious about learning about one another, serious about learning about our different cultural situations, and serious about our shared values. Finally, the projects that we undertake together are things that speak to the surrounding communities, things that tell others who we are and what we do as a church.
In some instances, people are drawn to the church because of our projects. They see things we are doing together, and they come to believe the church is a good thing.
General Secretary Chavalla highlighted several of the projects SOTV and our partners have undertaken. The general ward constructed at the Tungamalenga Dispensary serves a wide catchment area in the community, bringing health services to children, women and men throughout the area. So many chapels and parsonages in the villages congregations will help those congregations grow. At Mahove, bringing water to the village brought people to the church, too.
General Secretary Chavalla spoke about the current project, building a primary school at Mpalapande, where young children are currently walking almost five miles one way to attend first, second and third grades. "We talked for so many years about this project. Then last year we said enough talking. You gave us a difficult homework. Our assignment was to obtain confirmation from the government that they would provide the teachers if we build the school. We struggled to get that, but at last it is confirmed, the government will provide the teachers."
He described how he posed a challenge to the staff at the diocese head office: if they would be willing to work alongside the villagers to dig the foundation, transportation to Mpalapande would be provided. A dozen staff members eagerly volunteered to participate.
The next step in the Mpalapande project will be to select a contractor for the project. Chavalla described how he decided that the decision would wait until our group from SOTV had arrived to participate in the discussion. In the coming weeks, bids will be sought from at least three contractors. The planning committee members, comprised of representatives from Mpalapande village, from Tungamalenga Parish, the diocese and district, will all participate in the decision making process. We will seek project bids and check the references of the potential contractors.
The General Secretary repeated his previous statement of gratitude for support for the scholarship program: we live in extended families. When you help one person, there may be ten or fifteen more standing behind that person, depending on them. When you help one, you are helping at least ten or fifteen more.
Prayer, presence and projects are the traditional three pillars of these partnerships. As partners, we pray for one another. The act of presence - sharing visits between partners - shows that we are serious about our partnerships, serious about learning about one another, serious about learning about our different cultural situations, and serious about our shared values. Finally, the projects that we undertake together are things that speak to the surrounding communities, things that tell others who we are and what we do as a church.
In some instances, people are drawn to the church because of our projects. They see things we are doing together, and they come to believe the church is a good thing.
General Secretary Chavalla highlighted several of the projects SOTV and our partners have undertaken. The general ward constructed at the Tungamalenga Dispensary serves a wide catchment area in the community, bringing health services to children, women and men throughout the area. So many chapels and parsonages in the villages congregations will help those congregations grow. At Mahove, bringing water to the village brought people to the church, too.
General Secretary Chavalla spoke about the current project, building a primary school at Mpalapande, where young children are currently walking almost five miles one way to attend first, second and third grades. "We talked for so many years about this project. Then last year we said enough talking. You gave us a difficult homework. Our assignment was to obtain confirmation from the government that they would provide the teachers if we build the school. We struggled to get that, but at last it is confirmed, the government will provide the teachers."
He described how he posed a challenge to the staff at the diocese head office: if they would be willing to work alongside the villagers to dig the foundation, transportation to Mpalapande would be provided. A dozen staff members eagerly volunteered to participate.
The next step in the Mpalapande project will be to select a contractor for the project. Chavalla described how he decided that the decision would wait until our group from SOTV had arrived to participate in the discussion. In the coming weeks, bids will be sought from at least three contractors. The planning committee members, comprised of representatives from Mpalapande village, from Tungamalenga Parish, the diocese and district, will all participate in the decision making process. We will seek project bids and check the references of the potential contractors.
The General Secretary repeated his previous statement of gratitude for support for the scholarship program: we live in extended families. When you help one person, there may be ten or fifteen more standing behind that person, depending on them. When you help one, you are helping at least ten or fifteen more.
Our group continued the day by visiting the site of Million Trees, a project of reforestation. Three women in the backyard of the diocese compound spend their day planting and tending tree seedlings that will eventually be sent throughout the diocese. We also visited Radio Furaha [Joy] which reaches an audience of 500,000 people with programming that includes Christian music, preaching, and educational programming around issues of agriculture, economic development, and health.
Finally, we visited the University of Iringa, a beacon of hope in this area for over 25 years.
We are grateful for the company of Pastor Eva these past few days, and for so many others who have welcomed us to Iringa.
Tomorrow we depart Iringa for some time in the villages. Saturday, Sunday and Monday will be spent in Tungamalenga Parish. Tuesday and Wednesday will be a safari at Ruaha National Park for the group, while Kirsten remains in the villages for meetings with partnership committees. The end of the week will be spent in Makifu Parish.
We may or may not have access to internet during the next week. If you don't hear from us, know that we are enjoying our time with our partners and will b e in touch again as we are able. Asante.
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