Tanzania Partnership

Thinking of traveling with Shepherd of the Valley to visit our partners next July? The deadline for joining the group has been extended to January 15. Travel information is available here:  http://www.sotv.org/tanzania . Pastor Wendy Steger and Kirsten Levorson will make the journey for sure, probably with these revised travel dates:  July 9 -25. Other individuals who have been considering the trip have decided to go in 2019.  It sounds like that year might be a large group of travelers, so if you want a more intimate experience, consider the 2018 trip. Contact Kirsten.Levorson@sotv.org  if you have questions.

Since 2001, Shepherd of the Valley has provided scholarship support for Tanzanian students who would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend secondary school or college. One of the great joys of this partnership is meeting students who have put that opportunity to good use, growing in skills and confidence, preparing for lives of service in their communities. ·         Shubi, a young woman from the Maasai tribe and the village of Isanga, was the first girl in her family to attend school. She did well in primary school, graduated at the top of her class in secondary school, and started college in October, attending the University of Iringa. Her pastor congratulated her and her mother, saying, “It is so hard for the Maasai to send girls to school, but you see she is confident and will go far.” ·         Mfaume graduated from college several years ago and now works in Mbeya as a community development officer. During our visit, his home congregation proudly announced that h

Here's one of our most important stories from the July trip. But Mpalapande is not the only story from our trip. If you'd like to hear more, please join us at Sunday Forum, 9:45 AM Sunday, September 17 in the Chapel at Shepherd of the Valley.

July 17, 2017 During our visit to Makifu Parish, we were routinely given small harvest gifts at every village. A parent would come forward with a bag of rice, a tin of maize, some sugar cane, or ground nuts. We've told the story before, of how we learned that we all have gifts to share . One year SOTV travelers decided to purchase some rice from our partners and delivered it to Huruma Center, the diocese orphanage. As our parish partners learned more about the diocese orphanage (some didn't know it existed), many individuals began to give us gifts to carry back to the Center. Parents of scholarship students used to give us personal gifts for the sponsors - a cross necklace of Maasai beads, or a kitange. But when they learned of Huruma and its work, they began to give us gifts of food, understanding that the gifts would be delivered to feed the children. It has become a beautiful circle of giving. We arrived at Makambalala in the early afternoon, got out of

July 15, 2017 We began our tour of Makifu Parish at the main station with Pastor Nejabel Madembo welcoming us with his warm smile. While waiting for everyone to arrive, we got a tour of the newly roofed parsonage and had a chance to share photos with friends. Then it was on to Kisilwa. There was a lot of joy here as the congregation proudly showed us the finished roof on this chapel that has been waiting several years since the walls went up. Even more impressive is the fact that two sons of the congregation contributed most of the money to buy iron sheets for the roof. Funds from SOTV were used to buy lumber, nails, and other supplies. Next, the group from the game park rejoined us at Misufi. This is a newer preaching point, still renting a house to use as a worship space. It's a two room structure, so it's kind of awkward for a gathering. Evangelist Lazaro Mlunza explained that there is a new primary school in Misufi and this d

July 14, 2017 While some members of our traveling group were out at Ruaha National Park, getting closer to nature, Bobbie and I spent the day in Makifu Parish.  Pastor Nejabel Madembo welcomed us to the church. Pastor Petro Shangalima and parish secretary George Kioniani were also there, along with partnership committee members Hosea Visima, chair, Evangelist Yohanna Ole Tunyoon, Evangelist Adam Kangai, Evangelist Joseph Kingiliyepi, Evangelist Azuberi Mhema, Evangelist Atuletye Msigwa, Evangelist Meshack Mkula, Dorothy Mota and Mariam Massinga. Our meeting had five agenda items: construction, water project, scholarships, transport, and SACCOs. We began by singing Yesu ni Rafiki Yetu  [What a Friend We Have in Jesus] and reading John 12:26. Pastor Madembo led us in prayer. Makifu parsonage The parish reported that in the past year, three ongoing construction projects were roofed - Kisilwa chapel, Malunde chapel, and the pastor's house at Makifu. Comi

July 13, 2017 Who's ready for a safari to the national game park, Ruaha? kiboko Mbuni Simba Tembo Wazungu The day began with a partnership meeting with Tungamalenga Parish's partnership committee. We gathered in the grassy area behind the camp, with tables and chairs that kept moving as the sun and the shade traded places throughout the morning.   To start, we were honored with the gift of clothing. Shirts for the guys, blouses and skirts for the women, we were all dressed to show our unity with our hosts. Pastor Rick, Matt and Christina were present for the first part of the meeting, until they had to depart for the game park along with Andrew, Lydia and Isabella. Bobbie and I remained. See above for some of the sights on safari. Pastor Eva was busy throughout the meeting, in many roles - senior pastor, translator, and even chair of the meeting until Daniel arrived to take on that task. The partnership committee included