Day Seventeen: BKB, Boutique, Baptisms

Today was Pastor John's day to meet and greet all his friends from other congregations in the Saint Paul Area Synod.  We attended the Bega Kwa Bega Fall Festival, held at Christ the King Lutheran Church in New Brighton.  Here are friends from Marine on St Croix, the church that was partnered with John's parish at Ugesa.

More fond reunions with friends.

During the worship service, John brought a word of greetings and thanks.  Mindful of his two minute limit, I've never heard John talk so fast!

Bishop Mdegella, Dean Gaville, General Secretary Blastone Gaville, BKB DIRA Coordinator Lusungu Msigwa and members of The Lutheran Center staff  brought greetings and words of appreciation for the ministry of Rev. Don and Eunice Fultz.  The theme of the day was Asante and Karibu -- thanks for all you have done, and welcome again to Tanzania.

Rev. Gary Langness recognized Rev. Don and Eunice Fultz for their amazing ministry coordinating these 70 partnerships over the past fourteen years.  Don and Eunice were presented with a check for $14 -- when they accepted the Coordinator position in 2000, they agreed to work for $1 a year.  But they have never been paid until now.

Throughout the morning, John reconnected with friends.  Pastor Rolf Olson shared photos of his family.

John with BKB Coordinators Bo and Juli Skillman.

John meets Todd Fultz, Don and Eunice's son. Also around the table, Trish and Roger Blomquist, Arne and Mary Blomquist.

John with Rev. Don and Eunice Fultz.

John embraces Rev. Gary Langness, chair of the Iringa Committee of the St Paul Area Synod.

I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone hug Gary Langness, so I had to get this in twice.

I really love this photo.

Rev. John would not leave the Bega Kwa Bega gathering until he had said goodbye to all his friends.

Here he is with Rev. Tom Nielsen.

We arrived at Shepherd of the Valley in time for the second half of the annual Holiday Boutique. Each year, we sell Tanzanian baskets, beadwork and other handcrafted items, to raise funds for village congregation projects in Tungamalenga and Makifu Parishes.

These delightful baskets make great Christmas tree ornaments.  Fill them with candy!

John  visited other handcraft booths.  This one is another Shepherd of the Valley ministry, supporting the Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, The Holy Land.

Marcia Nelson coordinates the boutique year after year.

Pastor John and Pastor Paul -- both are adept at multi tasking.

Pastor John, Pastor Paul, and John's host for the weekend, Susanne Miller.

John took the opportunity to thank Dannelle Bautista for her wonderful Tanzanian Dinner last week, by presenting her with a batik fabric.

John makes the babies smile!  This is Holden, the son of youth ministries staffer Erin Swenson-Hatzung.

A friend from a congregation in Golden Valley came down for an hour's conversation with John.  Ann was one of John's teachers at Tumaini when he was studying for his bachelor's degree in 2004.  

John prepares for worship with Pastors Diane and Duane.  

Technology! John's all set.

There were two baptisms this evening.

John participated, annointing each child and marking them with the cross of Christ.

Brendan Joseph was a delightful four year old.

Brendan Joseph, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.

Pastor John brought a word of appreciation and greeting to the congregation.

Pastor John delivered the Benediction in Swahili.  

Go in peace, serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Pastor John had a long line of well wishers greet him at the end of the service.

Pastor John Joseph and Brendan Joseph.  Brendan said, "My baptize was so good!"

They have the same middle name, and both middle names are given for their fathers.

Pastor John with Christine and Charles Quinn.

In the fall of 2001, before Shepherd of the Valley members had ever visited Tanzania, we learned of a need for scholarship support for students in secondary schools.  We had a list of six students, John was one of them.  I remember putting a short article about the partnership and the need for scholarship support in the [then] monthly newsletter. Two days after the newsletter was published and mailed to parishioners' homes, we received a check for a scholarship from the Quinns.  They have been our first and most faithful scholarship supporters ever since.

From six students in 2001 our scholarship program has grown to 160 students this year.  Scholarship recipients include 100 students from Tungamalenga and Makifu Parishes, another half dozen from Usolanga Parish, 30 - some secondary and primary students from Huruma Orphanage, and the rest are college and graduate degree students.  John has been one of our secondary students, then a college student, and most recently has pursued his masters degree.  

It was a full and blessed day.

Tomorrow:  We worship at 8:30, 9:45 and 11 AM.  Pastor John will again give his greetings, participate in Baptisms, and give the Benediction.  In the evening, we have potluck dinner at 6 PM, followed by a farewell worship service at which Pastor John will preach.

Karibuni sana.  You are warmly welcomed.