Tanzania Partnership

When this partnership started about twelve years ago, we were told that only about ten per cent of Tanzanians had the opportunity to enroll in secondary education (high school).  At that time, the cost of a year's secondary tuition, room and board was higher than the Tanzanian per capita income. From the start, one of our partnership's highest priority ongoing efforts has been to provide secondary and university scholarships for students who meet academic standards.  It's the most important gift we can give, our partners often tell us. And so Shepherd of the Valley's support for scholarships has grown from six scholarships in 2001 to a consistent 140 scholarships for the past five years.  100 of those scholarships are for secondary students from Tungamalenga Parish ($360 each).  Another 25 secondary school scholarships are provided to orphans from the diocese owned Huruma Centre.  The rest are post secondary scholarships for students in a variety of settings -- theo

Our eight days in Tungamalenga last month were so jam packed, we still have untold stories.  Here's the day we arrived in Tungamalenga, just in time for the wedding of Daima and Leu.       The wedding processional had just begun as we pulled up to the church in our vehicle piled high with luggage and bikes.  One choir led the way, then came the bridal couple and attendants (above), then the pastor and worship leaders.   Another choir brings up the rear.   Tungamalenga is Daima's home village.  He now lives in Kihesa, a "suburb" of Iringa, and attends the Kihesa Lutheran Church.  Daima and Leu both sing in the kwaya (choir) there, and so the entire Kihesa choir came out to Tungamalenga to sing at the wedding.  They brought a sound system and technician, electronic keyboard, and some fancy dance moves along with the voices.   One fun fact about Tanzanian wedding services -- the bride and groom and attendants sit in chairs of honor at the fro