Day Nine: Bible Study and Lutefisk!

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Our day began bright and early, leaving the house at 6 AM.  I decided to share my bad American habit with John -- breakfast from Starbucks, eaten while driving.  He said he liked the bacon, egg and gouda sandwich  with his tall latte.


The Friday morning men's bible study started on Tanzania time when Pastor Randy arrived about ten minutes late.


John continued the conversation with Dale Reed.  He enjoyed the depth of questions and discussion in the men's group, but he was surprised that the topic of the day was from a book by Rob Bell.  "I expected to have from the Bible, but no!  It was good."


Pastor John and Char Kilgore sat front and center for Pastor Mary's Bible study.  For this one, there was a Bible.



During breaks he was greeted enthusiastically by scholarship donors like Jenny Beran.  John was able to tell her a bit about her student and family, since they are from the same village.


Old friends Mollie MacLean and Judy Anderson caught up with John.  


Here's the thermometer created by our gifted Trip Sullivan, communications director at Shepherd of the Valley.  It will measure our progress throughout the month of November toward our goal of $60,000 for the Tanzanian Scholarship Program, which supports 160 students in secondary schools, vocational training, and universities.  Additionally, the program funds projects that improve education for all students -- this past year, we provided $5000 for a teacher training session held in September.


We joined Pastor Paul and Ruth Edstrom, and Lyn and Mollie MacLean for Shepherd of the Valley's Scandinavian Lutefisk Dinner.


Did John like the lutefisk?


No, although he said everything else was very, very good!


Greeting scholarship donor Bev Gustafson....


Thanking volunteers who served the dinner, Jim and Cindy Winslow, who are also scholarship donors.


Today was John's last day with me.  Our family has been so blessed by his presence and we have loved the conversations in the quiet mornings and at end of day. I know he will have wonderful experiences with each of the next host families.  

Tonight he is enjoying a meal at Pastor Diane Sponheim's home, and then he will settle in at Mollie and Lyn's home.

Tomorrow:  another day of confirmation at Shepherd of the Valley, worship at 5 PM, then dinner at Hendrickson's, a fundraiser for Iringa Hope where John will share information about how that microfinance program changed lives for the better in the congregation he served at Ugesa.

Blessings to all who are privileged to meet John today!

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