2013 Journey

It's almost time for departure.  You'd think the itinerary for the trip would be set. But we are open to surprises and changes.  We are waiting to hear from our partners, to see what they want us to see and do when we arrive in Tanzania.

From our perspective, here are some the highlights we hope to hit on this journey.

• Kirsten is departing about 8 days before the rest of the group, in part to do some of the detail work of the partnership, in Iringa and around Tungamalenga.
• We will assist in the process of applying for visas for the three guests we hope to bring to Minnesota in October/November.  This involves a complicated online application form, with many questions that can only be answered by the hosting entity (SOTV). We hope to be in country when our guests have interviews scheduled with the US embassy for approval of their visas, in case we can be of assistance.
• We hope for a day trip to the parish of Usolanga.  SOTV has stepped in as an interim partner for this congregation for the past two years, and we want to make a personal visit to the parish.  Usolanga previously was partnered with another congregation in the Saint Paul Area Synod which is no longer able to sustain a partnership.  SOTV will continue to support this parish with an annual gift toward their strategic goals and a gift of five scholarships until a new, permanent partner can be identified.
• We will be purchasing medicines for diocese dispensaries, mosquito nets to be distributed to families with young children, and bikes for evangelists.  We will deliver these gifts to Tungamalenga and Makifu parishes.
• We will meet with Iringa Diocese staff and with Bega Kwa Bega office coordinators to ensure that all the financial transactions that support our partnership are being handled with transparency and accountability.
• Our group will explore several of the diocese ministries -- Huruma Orphanage, Ilula Hospital and Tumaini University.
• We will explore some of the sights unique to Tanzania and Iringa -- the Isimila Stone Age Site, Mikumi and Ruaha Game Parks.
• We will have deep conversations with our partners about the growth in Tungamalenga Parish that has led to the parish being split into two independent parishes -- Tungamalenga Parish and Makifu Parish. We will have conversations to clarify how we will move forward with SOTV making commitments to both parishes.
• We will visit schools where we support secondary students through our scholarship program, and where we support schools with gifts toward teacher training, textbooks, and technology.
• We will revisit the site of the Mahove water project one year after its dedication, to learn how the villages are maintaining the new water system.
• We will visit the many village congregations that comprise our partner congregations, and no doubt we will hear the hopes and dreams and project proposals at each stop.
• We will have partnership meetings with both Tungamalenga and Makifu parish partnership committees, to set new goals and priorities for the coming year.

That's the checklist, the "to-do" list.  But what we will do every day of our visit is really this:  nurture relationships, learn new things, share cross cultural perspectives, reunite with dear friends, and bask in the joy of our fellowship in Christ.

We are grateful for all our family, friends, and congregation members who support this ministry through their gifts and their prayers. Asante sana.