Tena na tena

Ever since 2002, Shepherd of the Valley travelers have made annual trips to visit our companions in Tanzania. Each time, we are welcomed lavishly and asked to return tena na tena, again and again.

What’s on the itinerary?

·        After a long journey and four flights, Pastor Wendy, her daughter Anna, and I will arrive in Iringa and will visit Huruma Center Orphanage and the Iringa Diocese Head Office our first day in town.

·        We’ll spend three days in each of our partner congregations: Makifu, Tungamalenga, and Usolanga.

·        We’ll spend a day at the school atop a mountain – Lutangilo Secondary School, where new science lab classrooms have just been completed.

·       Our trip includes a couple days at Ruaha National Park, to see the beauty of God’s creation in the Great Rift Valley.

We’ll see what’s new since our last visit.

·        We’ll visit Mpalapande Primary School, where school is in session for 60 kindergartners.

·        We’ll get an update on plans for two water projects in Ikwavila and Mpalapande.

·        We’ll see chapel construction in Kisilwa, Mbuyuni, and Kitisi congregations.

·        We’ll hear plans to expand the rural clinic at Tungamalenga into a small hospital.

We’ll deliver gifts of love from our congregation.

·        We’ll deliver medicines and mosquito nets to the clinic in Tungamalenga.

·        We’ll purchase rice, maize and other harvest offerings from our partners in Tungamalenga and Makifu, and then we’ll deliver that food to Huruma Center Orphanage.

·        We’ll purchase and deliver bikes that will be used by evangelists in each parish.

·        We’ll deliver a telescope and science supplies to Lutangilo Secondary School.

Most important, we will strengthen the relationship between SOTV and our partners. 

Meeting face to face and sharing concerns together is essential for clear communication and project planning. As we walk together from camp to chapel sites, as we share reports during village visits, as we sing and pray together, we strengthen the bond between our communities of faith. Thanks to all who support those who travel as ambassadors of SOTV.

Your generous contributions enable the travelers to present the gifts mentioned above. To give, write checks to SOTV with “TZ trip gifts” in the memo, or give online at http://www.sotv.org/giving. Thank you!