A million trees

85,000 tree seedlings were planted this year at Iringa Diocese secondary schools and another 150,000 will be planted in early 2012.  The eventual goal of this project is to plant a million trees, to secure reforestation in the Iringa area and to jump start a lumber industry that will provide jobs and income.

The Million Trees Project is one of several outrgrowths of the Bega Kwa Bega partnership between the Saint Paul Area Synod and the Iringa Diocese.  From a synod to diocese relationship that dates back to the 1980s, this partnership has grown to include 70 partnerships between specific congregations in each country, and then has further developed affiliate partners, some of them independent nonprofit organizations, that work to support healthcare, water and sanitation, a radio station, microfinance, an agriculture extension system, and now this reforestation project.

The growth of organizations like Shoulder to Shoulder (healthcare, Ilula Hospital), St Paul Partners (wells and sanitation), and now the Million Tree project, has been interesting to watch.  I think it's fair to say that Dr Randy Hurley from Shepherd of the Valley and Dr Gary Moody from Our Savior's, Hastings, didn't plan to form a nonprofit organization when they first visited Tanzania in 2002.  But they both visited Ilula Health Center, were asked to provide support as the health center aspired to developing into a hospital, and step by step they worked with others from Minnesota who had an interest in healthcare and now find themselves with a pretty active nonprofit organization.  Others involved in these affiliate groups have similar stories.

Interesting to see how the spirit moves in these partnerships and what grows.  A hospital, a hundred wells, a radio station, a microfinance operation, a million trees.  What next?