Mahove, day #3

Saturday, August 4, was a day of celebration in Mahove, Tanzania.

Preparations were extensive.  The congregation had hired two technicians to make sure the water system was in top shape, all leaks along the line had been repaired.

Outside the Mahove chapel, a canopy shaded the area where honored guests would be seated.  Tarps were laid down so that our walking would not kick up dust.  Chairs and benches had been brought in from the Makifu schools.

Behind the church, a couple dozen women cooked for the anticipated crowd of several hundred people.  Mahove villagers had contributed a cow, several goats, a sheep.  Vats of rice were prepared, and bottles of Pepsi, Fanta and Sprite sat at the ready.

Dignitaries from the Iringa Diocese arrived to officiate.  Second from left is the assistant to the Iringa Diocese Bishop, Blastone Gavile.  Pastors from the diocese, the parish and the preaching point were all assigned Bible verses to read.  SOTV travelers were each given a verse to read or recite.

After readings and prayers, Dean Gavile turned on the tap, let the water flow, and took a drink.  We each followed.  The water was cool, sweet and refreshing.

Then we got out of the sun and the speeches began.  Dean Gavile recounted the partnership that had brought about this accomplishment, and thanked the many participants.  General Secretary Nayman Chavalla followed with commendations on this project.  He is fond of noting that the water project is especially important because it benefits all in the community, it is not just for the Christians, and so it serves as an act of outreach and evangelism.

We were also given a chance to address the congregation.  We acknowledged that this project has not always followed a smooth path, and that at times during the planning stages there were challenges to overcome.  There were specific times when each partner may have considered walking away from the project, when the difficulties seemed insurmountable.  But at each of those challenging points, God sent a person with just the information we needed to move forward.  We believe this project was the plan of God.

We talked about how to this point, the project has been carried out bega kwa bega, or shoulder to shoulder, with each partner taking a part.  From this point on, the water project belongs to the people of Mahove, and it will be on their shoulders to maintain and sustain.

The people of Mahove were generous in their gifts to us.  Mama Petro, acknowledged as the visionary who asked Shepherd of the Valley to bring water to her village, dressed Kirsten in the Maasai clothing -- at the side are words embroidered -- "new strength 2012."

The village also brought a gift of a goat to Iringa Diocese General Secretary Nayman Chavalla (above) and a sheep for Shepherd of the Valley.  (Those gifts were later given to Huruma Center, an orphanage in Iringa.)

 

From left, Iringa Diocese General Secretary Nayman Chavalla, Dean Blastone Gavile, Kirsten from Shepherd of the Valley, Judy, and District Pastor Agnes.

The Mahuninga youth choir wore SOTV t- shirts.

The Maasai men offered their traditional dance.

We also distributed mosquito nets to Maasai children, given by SOTV children during the summer's vacation bible school sessions.  Even more than the gifts, the villagers of Mahove appreciated hearing some of the ways we at SOTV are building a love for our partners in our children, by providing times when they can experience a bit of Tanzanian life.

All in all, it was a beautiful day of celebration, community, and partnership in Christ.

Thanks be to God.