Christmas gifts

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Just two weeks until Christmas -- is your holiday shopping done?
 
Here's an opportunity to share the joy and blessings of the season with some of our brothers and sisters on the other side of the globe.  Shepherd of the Valley's Christmas Gift Giving program offers families a way to share the gifts of the season with others, near and far.
 
Tungamalenga Partnership is one of the recipients of your generosity through Christmas Gift Giving.
 
Funds designated to Tungamalenga will be shared with our partners in two ways -- a gift of goats to help evangelists in the parish, and a gift to Huruma Center, the Iringa Diocese orphanage.

 
Last year when SOTV travelers visiting Huruma Center, we asked Mama Chilewa what the children needed for Christmas.  In the past, we have given a milk cow to improve the children's nutrition.  Another year, she told us they needed shoes.
 
This year, she asked for funds to buy a brand new set of clothing for each child.
 
"They do fine with hand me down clothing most of the year," she told us, "but at Christmas, it would be nice for them to have something new."

 
We have advanced the funds needed to purchase Christmas clothing for the children.  Thank you for donating to the Christmas Gift Giving Fund for these children!
 
**In Tanzania, most family homes include not only the nuclear family of mom, dad and children, but they almost always include orphaned nieces, nephews, grandchildren, or cousins, and grandparents.
 
Children who live at Huruma Center truly have no other family in this world.  We are grateful the Iringa Diocese provides a safe and nurturing place for them, and we are grateful for the opportunity to be a small part of providing for their needs.
 
Huruma in Swahili means "mercy."
 
Thank you for your gifts for the children this Christmas. You can make a donation here; just indicate that your gift is for "Christmas: Tanzania."

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