Usolanga Parish
There are 70 congregations in the Saint Paul Area Synod (SPAS) partnered with congregations from the Iringa Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. Shepherd of the Valley and Tungamalenga are one of these 70 partnerships.
These partnerships provide Tanzanian congregations with a basic gift of $1000 each year for parish projects -- like construction of chapels -- and may also provide the parish with a number of scholarships for secondary students.
Many, many SPAS congregations provide the basic $1000 annual gift plus six to twelve scholarships at $360 per scholarship per year.
The partnership between Shepherd of the Valley and Tungamalenga Parish is not a typical one. SOTV has resources that go far beyond those of most SPAS congregations. At the same time, Tungamalenga Parish with its 20 village congregations, located far away from the diocese center, has needs that exceed many Iringa diocese parishes.
In recent years, Shepherd of the Valley has sent between $75,000 and $100,000 each year for various projects that support our partnership. We send about $50,000 or more each year for educational scholarships. Another $5000 supports various construction projects -- village chapels and parsonages. Several thousand dollars each year provides medicines for the dispensary. About $30,000 was needed last year for the Mahove water project.
While every dollar that we send to Tungamalenga is money that is needed, and used responsibly, we are well aware that what Shepherd of the Valley is able to share with our partners is far beyond what most SPAS congregations are able to share with their partners. And we are aware that the discrepancy can cause difficulties and possibly resentments among other Iringa diocese congregations.
So while we are connected and committed to our partners in Tungamalenga, we at Shepherd of the Valley are also always looking for ways we can share our resources more broadly with the people of the Iringa Diocese. We provide support for the Huruma Orphanage, owned by the diocese. We have sponsored college students who will eventually be employed by the diocese owned hospital. We have given funds for textbooks for theology students at the diocese owned university. We have provided gifts of medicines and supplies for rural clinics owned by the diocese in areas far from Tungamalenga. We seek to balance the resources we share with our dear friends in our particular partner congregations with resources we share more broadly throughout the Iringa Diocese.
A year ago, another one of those opportunities came to our attention. The parish of Usolanga had been partnered with a Saint Paul Area Synod congregation from the inner city, St Paul. That SPAS congregation went through some changes and came to the conclusion it could no longer support its Tanzanian partnership. The Bega Kwa Bega office sent out a plea -- were there congregations who would be willing to step up and provide support for Usolanga's strategic plan and scholarship students until a new sponsor could be found?
Shepherd of the Valley said yes, we can.
So a year ago, Shepherd of the Valley provided $1000 to support Usolanga's strategic plan. We are told that they are using the funds to plaster the chapel building that is considered the "main station" of the parish. Typically, Tanzanian congregations are able to use local labor and resources to lay a foundation, and build walls of a new chapel. US funds are used to purchase timbers and iron sheets for roofing, and cement for the interior and exterior finishing.
Rev. Blastone Gavile, assistant to the bishop of the Iringa Diocese, expressed his thanks for Shepherd of the Valley's support.
We have received this good news with joy and gladness. We thank God for the report from SOTV about their willingness, commitments, love, and ability to help Usolanga in the time when their partnered congregation has pulled back its partnership. We will inform Usolanga parish to go on with setting their strategic plans including the names of students to be sponsored in 2012. I hope this news will encourage the congregation to keep on moving forward with their plans. It is true that among the congregations in Iringa Diocese, Usolanga is among the congregations that are highly need to be supported.
We are sending another $1000 in 2013 to support Usolanga's continued plans. Rev. Msigwa, the Bega Kwa Bega coordinator for the Iringa Diocese, expressed more thanks.
These partnerships provide Tanzanian congregations with a basic gift of $1000 each year for parish projects -- like construction of chapels -- and may also provide the parish with a number of scholarships for secondary students.
Many, many SPAS congregations provide the basic $1000 annual gift plus six to twelve scholarships at $360 per scholarship per year.
The partnership between Shepherd of the Valley and Tungamalenga Parish is not a typical one. SOTV has resources that go far beyond those of most SPAS congregations. At the same time, Tungamalenga Parish with its 20 village congregations, located far away from the diocese center, has needs that exceed many Iringa diocese parishes.
In recent years, Shepherd of the Valley has sent between $75,000 and $100,000 each year for various projects that support our partnership. We send about $50,000 or more each year for educational scholarships. Another $5000 supports various construction projects -- village chapels and parsonages. Several thousand dollars each year provides medicines for the dispensary. About $30,000 was needed last year for the Mahove water project.
While every dollar that we send to Tungamalenga is money that is needed, and used responsibly, we are well aware that what Shepherd of the Valley is able to share with our partners is far beyond what most SPAS congregations are able to share with their partners. And we are aware that the discrepancy can cause difficulties and possibly resentments among other Iringa diocese congregations.
So while we are connected and committed to our partners in Tungamalenga, we at Shepherd of the Valley are also always looking for ways we can share our resources more broadly with the people of the Iringa Diocese. We provide support for the Huruma Orphanage, owned by the diocese. We have sponsored college students who will eventually be employed by the diocese owned hospital. We have given funds for textbooks for theology students at the diocese owned university. We have provided gifts of medicines and supplies for rural clinics owned by the diocese in areas far from Tungamalenga. We seek to balance the resources we share with our dear friends in our particular partner congregations with resources we share more broadly throughout the Iringa Diocese.
A year ago, another one of those opportunities came to our attention. The parish of Usolanga had been partnered with a Saint Paul Area Synod congregation from the inner city, St Paul. That SPAS congregation went through some changes and came to the conclusion it could no longer support its Tanzanian partnership. The Bega Kwa Bega office sent out a plea -- were there congregations who would be willing to step up and provide support for Usolanga's strategic plan and scholarship students until a new sponsor could be found?
Shepherd of the Valley said yes, we can.
So a year ago, Shepherd of the Valley provided $1000 to support Usolanga's strategic plan. We are told that they are using the funds to plaster the chapel building that is considered the "main station" of the parish. Typically, Tanzanian congregations are able to use local labor and resources to lay a foundation, and build walls of a new chapel. US funds are used to purchase timbers and iron sheets for roofing, and cement for the interior and exterior finishing.
Rev. Blastone Gavile, assistant to the bishop of the Iringa Diocese, expressed his thanks for Shepherd of the Valley's support.
We have received this good news with joy and gladness. We thank God for the report from SOTV about their willingness, commitments, love, and ability to help Usolanga in the time when their partnered congregation has pulled back its partnership. We will inform Usolanga parish to go on with setting their strategic plans including the names of students to be sponsored in 2012. I hope this news will encourage the congregation to keep on moving forward with their plans. It is true that among the congregations in Iringa Diocese, Usolanga is among the congregations that are highly need to be supported.
We are sending another $1000 in 2013 to support Usolanga's continued plans. Rev. Msigwa, the Bega Kwa Bega coordinator for the Iringa Diocese, expressed more thanks.
Pastor Patrick Chaula from Usolanga was so thankful to SOTV and its leadership for your kindness to share with them what you have. They will use the funds for plastering the church at the main station then they will have to write a report on how they have spent the funds before asking the second installment.
Thank you for taking care and may God keep on blessing you.
Thanks to all of you at Shepherd of the Valley who support our partnership with Tungamalenga Parish and the Iringa Diocese. You are truly making a world of difference!
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