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Showing posts from 2010

Exchanging Gifts

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'Tis the season.... As these final shopping days before Christmas come to their frenzied end, I'll offer a few final options for gift giving. Gifts to the SOTV - Tungamalenga Partnership can be given in honor of a friend or relative. Please contact Kirsten.Levorson@sotv.org if you would like one of our "honor cards" to send to your gift recipient. Goats for the children of Huruma Center and for the evangelists of Tungamalenga Parish. We have a long and loving relationship with the children of Huruma Center, an orphanage owned and operated by the Iringa Diocese. In the past we have given milk cows and money for corn, we have collected shoes and purchased school supplies for the children, and we have provided scholarships for the children who reach the age of secondary school. Recently it has become difficult to sustain the cows because of the high cost of feed, so we are instead purchasing goats who will provide milk for the children's meals. Goats are also great

Look at that smile!

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Amos Kilipamwambu Amos is a student at Idodi Secondary School, near Tungamalenga. Hi father, Absalum, is one of the evangelists in the parish. Want to see more photos of the students we sponsor? Check them all out here . Thanks to Bo Skillman, one of the Companion Congregation Coordinators who staff the Bega Kwa Bega office in Iringa throughout the year, for taking the photos, and thanks to Kate Penz of the Saint Paul Area Synod staff for posting them online. You will not find photos for all 140 of SOTV's sponsored students. These are just the secondary students from Tungamalenga who happened to be at the school on the day the photographer visited. If you do not see your student here, they may be university students, they may attend a school that was not visited, or they may have been absent that day.

Christmas shopping?

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Still searching for the perfect Christmas gifts? Come to worship this weekend at Shepherd of the Valley! Tanzanian handcrafts will be on sale in the narthex, along with other fair trade items from around the world. Ebony cross necklaces are wonderful gifts--we've seen them worn by men, women, young and old. Handmade baskets woven by women of the Iringa region come in many colors, shapes and sizes. Fill a gift basket with fair trade coffee & cocoa from Equal Exchange, or give the small baskets as desk accessories, to hold paper clips, rubber bands, pens and pencils. Tote bags in beautiful batik fabrics are durable and distinctive. The teens who gather each Wednesday evening bought ten of them in one night after last summer's trip. The little hanging baskets in the photo make wonderful Christmas ornaments. Hang them on the tree, fill them with candy as a Christmas morning surpise. One of our members filled them with prayers and gave one to each of her neighbors. If someo

Tunafanya kazi pamoja

Here's a great little blog entry at Lutheran World Relief about their work with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania educating about malaria . Tunafanya kazi pamoja = we are working together. Yes.

Thanksgiving # 2

Here's another letter of thanks, this time from one of our students who completed both secondary and university studies as an SOTV scholarship recipient. I am grateful to hear from you. I am walking from my living room to my work place. While on my way, I have been visiting my electronic mail and reviewed your encouraging emails you sent to me when I was studying at secondary school and college. Your and other americans' messages reveal the great love of God through his people. It reminds me of the word of God that tells the world that "when you are in difficulties and in need, if you bow unto him who knows you inside and out, he will open the door of your difficulties and needs" and I believe, God does this through his people as he did and does to me. This makes me think of him and you and teaches me to love every and each person I meet. May the almighty father who is in heaven bless you abundantly for what you do for the people of my kind and throughout the Ir

Thanksgiving

Here's a letter we received from one of the 140 students sponsored by Shepherd of the Valley, who receive financial support for tuition, room and board at secondary schools and university in Tanzania. My dear friends, I greet you in the name of God. My health, it is well . And my studies, I am still proceeding on the studies. I thank for you through God for proceeding paying for the cost of school for me. In my family, the total number of children is ten. I am the last child. At this time I have 20 years. I started the secondary school education in February 2004 at Idodi Secondary School after being selected from the students who passed the primary examination which I did in 2003. I passed the form two national examination and then the form four national examination. From those results I was selected to join form five at Njombe Secondary School for the combination of PCM -- Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. I transferred to Mwembetoga Secondary School in order to study th

Scholarship Fund: A Dollar a Day

Every fall, we ask for support for the Tanzanian Scholarship Fund. When we entered into this partnership ten years ago, SOTV provided six scholarships. Now we provide 140 secondary and university students with scholarships. So far this fall, we have received funds to provide 60 secondary scholarships at $360 per year. Friends, we have a ways to go. By December 1st, we need to tell our partners in Tanzania how many scholarships we can provide in 2011. They understand that the US and global economies are struggling, and they are hoping that we can commit to simply sustaining the level of support that we have provided in the past two years--100 secondary scholarships for students from Tungamalenga Parish, an additional 25 scholarships for orphans living at Huruma Center in Iringa, plus 12 to 15 scholarships for university students. Our partners tell us that fewer than 15% of all Tanzanians are able to attend secondary school. Fewer than 10% of those are able to attend college. We need to

Hands on learning

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children's daily chores: carry water dressing up in Tanzanian clothing pounding corn into flour clothing from the Hehe tribe, jewelry from Maasai tasting ugali hearing about children's health issues and sleeping under a mosquito net About 700 SOTV children in grades 1-5 had the opportunity to experience Tanzanian daily life and culture during our guests' visit. Pastor Diane and Mama Anjelina taught them Tanzanian songs and dances, as well as the custom of greeting elders with the word "shikamoo" and receiving the blessing, "mara haba." Dr Saga and Dr Randy Hurley helped the children understand the importance of drinking only boiled water to prevent diarrhea and other water borne illnesses, and the importance of sleeping beneath netting treated with insecticide to prevent malaria. Dora Saga helped children try on kitangas and other traditional Tanzanian clothing and jewelry. In other rooms, volunteers showed children the variety of fruits and

Feel at home

"Feel at home" is one of the phrases my Tanzanian friends use often when groups from Shepherd of the Valley visit them. Hospitality is truly one of the riches of Tanzanian culture. So now that they are here spending time in my home, I find myself saying it and wondering how I can help them feel more at home. There are small 'tells' as when Mama wants to help clear the dishes after dinner. My first impulse is to take the dishes from her and treat her like the honored guest she is, and then I realize it is good to do this simple thing together. [There's that bega kwa bega -- shoulder to shoulder --thing again.] I realized tonight that Mchungaji Naftal must be feeling a little more at home because we are both forgetting the camera and the impulse to take a picture of him with each person who greets him. Naftal and Anjelina have been with us now a week, and it hardly seems to have been more than a few days. When I travel to their country, especially with people

School

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Tungamalenga Primary School Today we visited Rosemount Elementary School. Thanks very much to SOTV member Jeanne Fifield, the school nurse, who gave us a tour and arranged our schedule. We visited a kindergarten class where students were learning the alphabet and letter sounds by singing, and we visited a fourth grade class where students were doing math problems using the Smart Board technology. The disparities between Tanzanian and American educational systems were very apparent. A Tanzanian classroom might have one text book for every three to four students to share, Pastor Naftal reports. One classroom might hold 50 to 80 students, some even 100. Teachers in the Tanzanian system may have only a secondary level education, or they may have only one or two years of college. Pastor Naftal reflected on his own daughter, Eliza, who is in standard five. Imagine having her sit next to a student from America at the same level. A teacher in America tries to be a friend to the student, obser

Partnership

Tonight we held a partnership meeting. We began by sharing a meal, a simple meal of soup and sandwiches. We thanked God for the food, for the hands that had grown it and the hands that had prepared it, and for all who gathered to be strengthened by it. We introduced ourselves. Around the table, we had people who have been involved in this partnership since its inception in June 2001, people who traveled and became involved more recently, people who have never been to Tanzania but who have been faithful supporters and volunteers here in Minnesota. We dealt with the logistics and the minutiae of the next few weeks---events, dates, deadlines, volunteers for children's ministry events, volunteers to sell handcrafts, volunteers to set up for the congregational dinner coming up next Saturday. And then we asked our guests to adress the committee with any comments they wished to make. Dr. Saga offered his thanks for this partnership between the Saint Paul Area Synod and the Iringa Diocese.

Sunday morning

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Pastor Naftal greeting congregation members Sunday mornings at Shepherd of the Valley can be stimulating and almost exhausting even for those of us who go there every week. Three services in the sanctuary plus two in the Table, a narthex full of people, children dashing toward the donut table, the parking lot overflows.... Today our guests participated in worship, were the speakers at Adult Forum, Pastor Naftal brought a word of greetings and thanks to the congregation at every service and presented both Bishop Rogness and the SOTV pastors with gifts that visually depict our two congregations connected through the cross of Christ, Dr Saga presented our congregation with a gift of ebony candlesticks and with the observation that we will be reminded that the light of Christ is shining around the globe. And in between services our guests were greeted by many people with words of welcome. At the end of the morning, we shared a meal and delightful conversation with Bishop Rogness befo

Blessings, bishops, babies

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Breaking bread together: Pastor Chris, Anjelina, Ameya, Linda, Pastor Naftal, Asher, Dennis & Amy Anjelina & Asher Pastor Chris, Pastor Naftal, Bishop Peter Rogness Today we attended the Global Health Ministries annual conference. Bega Kwa Bega coordinator Rev. Don Fultz was the keynote speaker, talking about how companion synod relationships like the one between the Saint Paul Area Synod and the Iringa Diocese can engage congregations and individuals in mission and ministry like the health care ministry GHM supports in 40 countries. When we build relationships across cultures, the Spirit moves us in mighty ways. This evening we worshipped at Shepherd of the Valley, where Saint Paul Area Synod Bishop Peter Rogness was the guest preacher. He challenged the congregation to "bear good fruit" and lifted up our partnership with Tungamalenga Parish as one of those ways that we are indeed bearing the fruits of faith, even across the globe. After worship, Pastor Na

A beautiful view

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Our guests: Dora, Naftal, Mufwimi, Anjelina One of the true blessings of this partnership is the transformation that happens when we travel to experience another culture. We see the world through a new set of eyes, we gain a new perspective, and we come home to view our own lives and homes and communities through the perspective of another. When we bring guests from Tanzania to Minnesota, we receive that blessing again, being able to see our own lives and surroundings through the eyes of our friends. Doctor Mufwimi and Dora Saga, Pastor Naftal and Anjelina Ng'amillo arrived yesterday. Though tired from 24 hours of travel from Dar es Salaam through Amsterdam to Minneapolis, they eagerly greeted each person who came to welcome them. Several times they reflected on the long journey and commented that they had a new appreciation for the journey we undertake when we visit them. "What is it that brings you to make this journey again and again," they asked in wonder. We a

Tanzanian Dinner

On Saturday, October 30th, you can join our guests for a Tanzanian dinner at Shepherd of the Valley. At 6 PM we'll serve a traditional meal with rice, sauteed greens, stew, chicken, fruit. Families and children are welcome! Please register online . There will be a freewill offering at the door, suggested donation is $10 for adults and $5 for children.

Karibuni sana

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Pastor Naftal & Anjelina Ng'amillo In just a couple short weeks, we will be hosting guests from Tanzania. Pastor Naftal and Anjelina Ng'amillo from Tungamalenga Parish, along with Dr Mufwimi and Dora Saga from the Ilula Lutheran Hospital, will arrive in Minnesota October 21 for a stay of just over two weeks. What better way to welcome them than to learn a few words in their language? Karibu sana or, if you are addressing more than one person, Karibuni sana , means "we warmly welcome you." It's pronounced like this: KAH ree boo SAH nah or KAH ree boo nee SAH nah. Jambo means "hello." Another greeting is Habari, which is more like "how are you," to which a Tanzanian might respond Nzuri [good], Salama [peace], or Njema [fine, well, good] and then they might add, Habari yako [and how are you?]. When Tanzanians are in a gathering, like at church or at a meeting, and they rise to speak to the assembly, they almost always start by say

Companion News

Shepherd of the Valley's partnership with Tungamalenga Parish is just one of 70 such partnerships between congregations of the Saint Paul Area Synod and parishes of the Iringa Diocese. The Companion News is a quarterly publication providing news and updates on all the Bega Kwa Bega partnerships. The latest issue contains an article with photos showing the Idodi Secondary School one year after it experienced devastating losses from a dormitory fire. The photos were taken by SOTV travelers who visited the school in October 2009, just two months after the fire, and again in August 2010. The Companion News often has updates on other diocese wide projects, such as healthcare provided through the Ilula Hospital and seven rural dispensaries, work done by the Agriculture Institute, St Paul Partners working for clean water development, and updates from Tumaini University. Check it out!

Prayer partners

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Rachel Joseph Elliot & Julie Ombeni Alice One of the really fun goals we had for this past summer's trip was to connect Shepherd of the Valley members and Tungamalenga Parish members more closely through prayer. During July, we spent Sunday mornings in the narthex taking photos of SOTV members, and then created prayer cards that said, "Jambo, Elliott and Julie are praying for you and for the partnership between Shepherd of the Valley and Tungamalenga Parish -- Mungu Akubariki!" (Jambo means 'hello' and Mungu Akubariki means 'May the Lord bless you.') We laminated and gave away the prayer cards at each village congregation that we visited, and we took photos of the recipients. Now that we're home, we created another set of prayer cards with the Tanzanian photos, for the SOTV members. This gift of prayer was accepted with great enthusiasm by our partners, who are eager to know us by name and by face. The faces of this partnership are many and

And now, a doctor

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SOTV traveler Mari Feld with Joachim Mgimba, 2006 We just received exciting news this week from Joachim Mgimba--he has completed his post secondary training and is working as a clinical officer at the district designated hospital in Tosamaganga, just down the road a ways from Tungamalenga. Congratulations, Joachim! Joachim attended secondary school because of a scholarship provided through our partnership. He was orphaned as a youth and was raised by elderly grandparents in Idodi village. When we met him in 2006, he was a star pupil in form six, chosen to deliver a speech of thanks to our group on behalf of all the students we sponsor. He attended Kibah Medical School for three years to receive his certificate as a clinical officer.

Reaching out - "What a privilege!"

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Sponsor and student sharing their stories About two hundred individuals and families contribute to the Tanzanian Scholarship Program at Shepherd of the Valley, providing secondary and university scholarships to 140 students from our partner congregation in Tungamalenga, Tanzania. Why do they do it? "We started sponsoring students in 2004 in lieu of buying Christmas gifts for our friends," said one sponsor. "Fortunately, we were able to sponsor the same student each year through college graduation. Our student corresponded faithfully with us over the years and so we really got to know him. Last year I went to Tanzania to attend our student's graduation. I was able to meet our student in person and be a part of this important event in his life. What a privilege! We still correspond and pray for our African son. Now we are sponsoring two more students and hope to become involved in their lives." Scholarships fund tuition, room and board for students. At se

Scholarships make a world of difference

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Devotha Mhalwike, proud secondary school graduate Just a few years ago, Devotha Mhalwike was a village girl whose one living parent was unable to pay the fees for her secondary school education. Without an education, her future held little hope--subsistence farming, a daily struggle to provide water, food and the necessities of life. But Devotha had been a bright student in primary school, and she earned a scholarship for her secondary studies through the partnership SOTV shares with Tungamalenga Parish. She completed four years of secondary school, studied community development at Rungemba College, and now she is working as a data clerk at the government health center in Idodi. She is optimistic about her future, and she wants to thank Shepherd of the Valley members who support the Tanzanian Scholarship Program. Devotha and dozens like her have had their lives changed by your generous scholarship support. SOTV provides 125 secondary scholarships -- many to students who have been orpha

Benjamin's funeral

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Rev. Dr. Benjamin Ngede leaving Kihesa Lutheran Church Bishop Mdegella Our friends in Iringa, Tanzania are reporting that Benjamin Ngede's funeral was the largest in anyone's memory, with estimates of a crowd as large as 3,000 attending the gravesite services. Here is an account written by Pastor Kent Claussen Gubrud from Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Apple Valley. Literally thousands of people came to mourn and remember Rev. Dr. Benjamin Ngede, gathering from far and wide across Tanzania. We were picked up at noon and brought to Kihesa Church gathering hall for a bite for lunch, as all of the pastors gathered together putting on their robes and stoles for the procession to the church, along with the faculty of Tumaini University all decked out in their academic robes. Our instructions from Rev. Msigwa were to go to the church ahead of time to be seated, which turned out to be in the middle of all the pastors, to the left of the family, who either sat up front or on the fl

On the way home

I'm now in Amsterdam, feeling the weird re-entry culture shock that always hits. About 24 hours ago we woke in Iringa. Pastor Julie received a call at 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning from the family of Benjamin Ngede; his body was on its way to Iringa and would arrive at his home in about one hour. We were invited to come pay our condolence call before our departure for Dar and eventually Minneapolis. We arrived just after the truck carrying the coffin, and followed a line of vehicles filled with people to the house. We could hear the amplified music several homes away, and the house was filled with family and friends. Thank God for our friend Tuti, who embraced us and led us through the unfamiliar cultural norms. We greeted family members as they watched as the coffin was unloaded. She led us into the house, past the men standing in the courtyard, past the living room full of women mourning, down the small hall to the bedroom where close family and friends were supporting Benjamin'

All is well

Hearts are grieving all over the Iringa Diocese and the St. Paul Area Synod with the news that our dear friend Benjamin Ngede died suddenly yesterday afternoon. Benjamin was a pastor in this diocese, professor of theology at Tumaini University, a father, son, husband and friend to many. For those of in the Saint Paul Area Synod, he was one of the foundational members of this Bega Kwa Bega partnership. He had been the first Tanzanian pastor to come to Minnesota in the 1980s as part of a pastor exchange program. He befriended Rev. Don and Eunice Fultz, then from Faith Lutheran in Forest Lake, who later became coordinators of this partnership. In the early years, congregational visitors from St Paul frequently were accompanied by Benjamin as interpreter on their village visits, and many of us were honored to share a meal in his home--evenings which were memorable for the warmth of hospitality, good food, wonderful storytelling, heartfelt singing, and for the blessing of friendship in Chri

Carrots and Potatoes

I've visited Huruma Centre three times this week. Huruma is the orphanage operated by the Iringa Diocese and it is run by a small dedicated staff led by Mama Chilewa. She's amazing. There are partners from Germany who provide most of the buildings, friends from the Saint Paul Area Synod who provide gifts of school uniforms, and many of the visiting congregations (like ours) stop out to play with the children and offer gifts. Many of us bring t-shirts, toys, crayons, soccer balls. Shepherd of the Valley members provide scholarship support to twelve students who have reached the age of secondary school. Most of these attend local government day schools and sleep at the orphanage. However, in recent years the government has more strictly enforced the age limits for those housed at the center, and some of our older students have had to find places to live outside the center. I was back at Huruma Tuesday to take photos of the secondary students. Mama Chilewa gathered them in h

Greetings

Habari, Kamwene, How are you? One of the small but telling details about Tanzanian culture is the attention and care that is given to greeting people. Sometimes I am walking about with my Tanzanian friends and I watch them greet so many people they pass and find out only later that they barely know the person. But each person they pass or meet is greeted with the same respect and warmth. It's an interesting contrast to our american culture that teaches its children not to speak to strangers, and that emphasizes moving forward to the goal rather than enjoying the journey. Think about the time I spend in the grocery store at home. I'm focused on my list, on getting in and out in as short a time as I can. I don't stop for conversation with other shoppers. Yet here in the market we all stop for 'how are you' and to exchange a word or two or three. When I was at Idodi Secondary School last week, I had a young woman walk me across campus a couple times. She would hold my

Safari Njema!

It's Monday, and early this morning Pastor Randy, Mark, Stephen, and Brandon boarded the bus with driver Peter for the long journey to Dar. They'll get in to the city in time to shop at Slipway (and I think they surprised themselves with the amount of shopping they ended up doing these past few days), have a nice dinner at Sea Cliff, and then get to the airport for their 11:30 PM flight to Amsterdam. In about 24 hours, they'll be landing in Minneapolis. May the roads be smooth and the traffic be light today. I'll miss their good humor and cheerful company. This was one of the most low-maintenance groups I've ever accompanied on this wonderful journey. They were always ready for the next adventure, and we had many. Stephen and Brandon had really studied their Swahili in preparation for the trip and were able to pick up lots of new phrases while here. For first time visitors, they all showed great insights and willingness to be open to the cultural differences t

The days are packed

We're back in Iringa after an eventful week in Tungamalenga. Each day was filled with so many experiences that it feels as though we were there at least three weeks, not just one. We worshipped with our brothers and sisters, sometimes in chapels and sometimes beneath the shade of beautiful trees. We saw three new babies born at the Tungamalenga Dispensary, and we gave our condolences to at least three families who have experienced death in recent weeks. We prayed with those who are sick, we visited schools and dispensaries, and we learned much about the challenges and joys of living in the rural areas of Tanzania. We are always so grateful for the ways our partners open their homes and their lives to include us on our visits. We also sat together in meetings--meetings at the diocese head office, a partnership meeting, a meeting with all evangelists, a meeting with leaders of the SACCOs (microfinance cooperative), a meeting with the elders of a remote congregation and their loca

On the road again

It's Saturday morning in Iringa, we've completed our tasks in the market, and soon will be on the road to Tungamalega. We will spend the next six days in the villages and on safari, meeting our brothers and sisters and learning more about what we can do together to support evangelism, education, heath care and economic development. As we have spent time in Iringa, we have met old friends and made many new ones. Barnabas and Pastor Naftal have been with us much of the time, assisting us as we purchased medicines, solar lamps, school supplies and other gifts for our partners. We had an especially moving time yesterday at Huruma Orphanage, where as always Mama Chilewa is facing the challenges of caring for children who have overcome many challenges themselves. What a joy it is to see them playing, to share a few gifts, to see their smiles. We brought t-shirts, school supplies, and huge bags of maize. Looking ahead, we are ready to meet close friends in Tungamalenga. There is much

Less is more!

After two eight hour plane rides, an eleven hour bus ride, and a time change that puts you in a zombie-like state, we are finally here! Immediately upon our arrival in Africa, many things came to my attention. But the most significant thing that I have seen in the few days since our arrival is the quality of life that the men and women of this country seem to have. Although many Americans attempt to quantify quality of life with money earned or job positions held, our brothers and sisters in Africa have a different measuring system for their happiness (And no, it's not the metric system!). Poverty in Africa is widespread and very sad to see. It's easy to imagine how many Africans live from the comfort from our homes in America. But in order to fully grasp the life that these men and women live, I believe a firsthand experience is necessary. Driving through downtown Dar es Salaam yesterday could be very painful at times to see how the other half lives. Many families live on a da

Traveling companions

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Stephen, Brandon, Mark, Pastor Randy, & Kirsten We're packed for the journey and ready to go. Stephen, Brandon & Mark will depart Monday evening, with Pastor Randy & Kirsten not far behind them on Tuesday morning. We'll all meet in Amsterdam for the flight to Dar es Salaam. Here's our rough itinerary for the next few weeks: August 5 bus ride to Iringa August 6 visit Iringa Diocese head office, market, orphanage August 7 bus to Tungamalenga August 8 worship at Idodi village, tour Namelok village in the afternoon August 9 partnership committee meeting, tour Mpalapande village August 10 Mahove village tour, meet with elders & local government leaders to discuss water August 11 most of group goes on safari to Mwagusi Camp, Ruaha National Park; Kirsten continues village visits at Malunde, Makambalala, Tungamalenga Dispensary, and gathering with evangelists August 12 Idodi Secondary School visit, Kibaoni village tour August 13 farewell gathering in Tungamalenga,

With Sympathy

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Pastor Naftal and Anjelina Ng'amillo This morning we received the sad news that Pastor Naftal's mother in law died this past week. He said that last Sunday she experienced "a headache, and her body lost energy." She was taken to the Iringa government hospital for care, where she died on Thursday, and the burial took place on Friday. Pastor Naftal said he thanks God that he and his wife were there in Iringa to take care of things. Please keep the family in your prayers.

The Gift of Prayer

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Evangelist Alex Kidisangu holds a picture of his prayer partner During our visits to Tungamalenga, we exchange many gifts. Some are tangible, the gifts of resources and supplies and tokens of our affection, and others are intangible, the gifts of hospitality and understanding and the faithful witness to the power of God's love. Our Tanzanian partners have been especially generous in sharing their gift of prayer with us. From the start of our partnership, we were told of how representatives from each of twenty village congregations would gather at a central location once a month to pray for Shepherd of the Valley and for the ministry we do together. Some of these evangelists would walk or bike for hours to spend a day in prayer for us. When we visit our partners, our days are filled with prayers. At the start of any journey, even a ten minute drive to a neighboring village, we pause to pray for safety on the road and for the skill and attentiveness of our driver. At the end of

Education--the gift of a lifetime

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university graduation day From the start of our partnership together, our friends in Tanzania have told us that educational scholarships are the greatest gift we can give them. In Tanzania, primary school education is provided relatively free of charge in most villages. Standards one through seven are roughly equivalent to our grades one through six. Secondary school, equivalent to our grades seven through twelve, is often only available regionally in the rural areas, via boarding schools, while urban areas have a day school option. Most of these secondary schools cost about $300 or more per year. That's a challenge for most families, whose income is often at the subsistence level in the rural areas. Per capita income in Tanzania overall is roughly $400, and that has almost doubled in the past ten years. When our partnership began, we were told that perhaps ten percent of the population attended secondary school, and that only ten percent of those graduates were able to attend col

The Evangelist's Roof

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I had an email from Pastor Naftal this morning. Among other news, he mentioned that the Mapogoro Evangelist's roof had been repaired. He thanked us for all that we are doing to support this partnership and observed that the roof "somehow, it is very nice." The photo above is Jacob's house as it stood in January 2009. Jacob is the evangelist at the congregation of Mapogoro, a village just down the road from Tungamalenga. Mapogoro is one of the oldest village congregations in the parish, with a couple hundred members, and a church and home built 30 years ago. Look at that 30 year old roof. It had holes the size of softballs over the living room furniture, and when the rains come each year, no one's bed stays dry. The iron sheeting had come loose and was held in place by tree limbs and old tires. SOTV travelers have been shown this roof since our first visit in 2002, and it has always been on the congregation's wish list of projects we could help them complete.

Behind the Scenes

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shoes packed for the children at Huruma Orphanage Some seasons in our partnership are very public, like when we have guests and schedule gatherings and meetings and dinners, or when we celebrate our partnership in worship, or when we make announcements, temple talks, and staff informational tables in the narthex on Sunday mornings. This is not one of those public, eventful times, but there's still lots going on in our partnership this summer. We've ordered a motorcycle to be used by the pastors of Tungamalenga Parish, and we're about halfway through the three month wait for it to be delivered. We're collecting a very few, specifically chosen gifts to distribute among our partners when we visit in August. Often, we are able to take ten or more suitcases full of medical supplies, t-shirts, Bibles, school supplies and other practical gifts for our friends. Limits on luggage for this trip mean we're traveling light and having to choose wisely. We're limited to takin