Rev. John Mhewkwa asks for your prayers

This is the month that the University of Mzumbe grants admission to students who have applied to its masters program. Our own John Mhekwa is waiting for news.

John was one of the first six students sponsored by Shepherd of the Valley, way back in 2001 when he was a secondary student at Pommern Secondary School and when none of us had ever visited Tanzania.

We first met John during our August 2002 visit. From that time, he has been a steadfast friend to travelers from Shepherd of the Valley.

During many of our subsequent visits, John served capably as a translator. He was always a wonderful cultural guide, teaching us how to barter for goods in the market, getting us the best deals, accompanying some of us on solo trips from Iringa to Dar es Salaam, procuring a 'faithful' taxi driver when one was needed, making sure that we in our ignorance did not get cheated by unscrupulous business people.

John did well in secondary school, and was admitted to Tumaini University. That year, several of us received letters, thanking us for the support Shepherd of the Valley had promised and asking our advice. "Should I study law or theology, Mama?" We were flabbergasted to be asked, and advised John to follow his passion. He chose theology.

In 2008 he graduated, and in January 2009 Shepherd of the Valley had a contingent of travelers present in Iringa for his ordination. We could not have been more proud if he had been our own son.

By this time, Rev. John had many Minnesotans he called, with respect, Mama or Dada [sister] or Kaka [brother].

Rev. John has served three years in the Lutheran parish at Ugesa. During that time, his congregation has overseen construction of a girl's dormitory at the local secondary school. Funding for the construction was provided by Mama Patricia, one of Rev. John's friends and admirers from California.

Now, Rev. John would like to return to university to study for a masters in administration with an emphasis on human resources. The advanced education would be a boon for the Iringa Diocese, which administers seven secondary schools, a university, a hospital, eight rural dispensaries, and other programmatic ministries that involve many employees.

So he asks that we pray for him, that he be admitted to the program. We would add a request for prayers that the financial needs be met, for John and for all of the 150 students attending secondary schools and university, supported by Shepherd of the Valley.

May the funds be available, so that the opportunities for life changing education can be grasped and made use of to their fullest measure.

Mungu akubariki. God bless you, Rev. John.