Safari Day 2

July 14, 2017

While some members of our traveling group were out at Ruaha National Park, getting closer to nature, Bobbie and I spent the day in Makifu Parish. 

Pastor Nejabel Madembo welcomed us to the church. Pastor Petro Shangalima and parish secretary George Kioniani were also there, along with partnership committee members Hosea Visima, chair, Evangelist Yohanna Ole Tunyoon, Evangelist Adam Kangai, Evangelist Joseph Kingiliyepi, Evangelist Azuberi Mhema, Evangelist Atuletye Msigwa, Evangelist Meshack Mkula, Dorothy Mota and Mariam Massinga.

Our meeting had five agenda items: construction, water project, scholarships, transport, and SACCOs.

We began by singing Yesu ni Rafiki Yetu [What a Friend We Have in Jesus] and reading John 12:26. Pastor Madembo led us in prayer.

Makifu parsonage

The parish reported that in the past year, three ongoing construction projects were roofed - Kisilwa chapel, Malunde chapel, and the pastor's house at Makifu. Coming up next - roofing the house in Makambalala. This will be the parish #1 priority, and is estimated to cost 3 million TSH. The second priority is to finish the pastor's home.

That will entail plastering the interior and exterior, flooring, and connecting the house to the local water line at the road.

The parish noted that the chapel at Kisilwa was roofed largely through the generosity of two individual members.  One, a former scholarship recipient, purchased 50 iron sheets. A second person purchased the other 20 sheets. SOTV contributions paid for timber, nails, and a pesticide to prevent termites. The parish noted that this year they put almost all SOTV contributions toward the prioritized construction projects.  That included our gift toward their strategic plan, their earnings from handcraft sales, and the gift from travelers. In the past, funds from handcraft sales were divided among the many village congregations who contributed handcrafts.  

Members of the committee noted, "When we divided the funds among many preaching points, it took many years to complete one project.  Now we all discuss, decide on one project at a time, and all congregations are working together. Start one, finish, and then move to the next."

We also received thanks for the Christmas gift funds, which were used for evangelist gifts. Pastor Madembo explained that the evangelists are doing the work in each local congregation, and are only paid 3000-5000 TSH per month ($2-3). "So when they get a Christmas gift, they see it as a gift from God."

Moving on, we discussed water projects.  Funds are already in Iringa for the project to connect the parsonage to the community water pipeline.  That project also includes locating a spigot outside the Makifu chapel, for community use.

The Ikwavila water project has been on the back burner for a couple years.  University of Minnesota engineering students studied the location and developed a three stage plan to provide water to this remote village and also upgrade the system that serves multiple other villages from Kisilwa through Mahuninga, to Makifu.

"We are ready to start digging the pipeline," we were told. And Azuberi cautioned, "when the project starts, let's have the work done in June or July rather than in January when the people are busy with farming."

SOTV's homework on this topic is to connect with St Paul Partners when we return home.

Next, we discussed scholarships. Last year, scholarship funds sent 48 students to school, including six who attended colleges while the rest attended secondary schools. 

The new BKB program for providing post secondary scholarships was introduced.  There were many questions about how the review board would select students from all those who apply. We were asked to speak on behalf of the idea that recipients should represent all areas of the diocese, even the remote parishes, and not just those near town.

Joseph spoke next about the continuing need for sturdy bikes to carry evangelists to their work over the rough roads. Someone from the committee will meet us in town next week to purchase four bikes.

Next there was a discussion about starting a parish savings and credit co-op, or SACCOs. Tungamalenga has one that is part of the Iringa Hope umbrella organization, and the evangelists here are wondering whether they could start one among themselves. There are several individuals who have experience with SACCOs and they caution that it may be easy to start but difficult to register as a legal entity with the government. In the end, they decide to consult with Iringa Hope.

Again, we purchased a large bag of rice to be delivered to Huruma Center.  We also mentioned that Pastor Joyce, the director of the center, would be coming out to serve as our translator over the weekend.  

Committee members then started a circle of sharing thanks for the many things SOTV has done. They thanked us even for the school at Mpalapande, which many of them had seen or heard about. "Thank you that we are working together for many things, for our family, our kids, our country and community."

Then our safari continued with an afternoon walk from the pipeline juncture at the bridge to Mahove. This is the fifth year I've walked the pipeline with our friends. It's kind of an inspection tour, noting where there are leakages or where pipe is exposed to the air and needs to be buried again. It's also kind of a memorial walk, reminding us of the daily trips the women and girls of this village used to take. 

This year there were only five places like this, where surface mud indicated a leak or break in the pipeline below. The first year, there were thirteen such places. It gets better every year, largely thanks to the local water manager, Efrim Matto.

Many of our village friends met us at the top of the hill, and we sang around the water spigot. Water is a gift here.