Greetings from Bishop Gaville

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Bishop Blastone Gaville


Just this week we received a letter from Bishop Blastone Gaville of the Iringa Diocese. Greeting Pastor Rick Summy and all friends at Shepherd of the Valley, he recalled his visit to Minnesota a year ago.

Bishop Gaville at SOTV in 2017

He wrote, "It was so great and good news to receive the letter from the Senior Pastor of SOTV and to see a group of the folks in August. Just after receiving the letter, I remembered a good time we had during my stay with you in US."



Bishop Gaville had just been out to visit our partners in Makifu and Tungamalenga Parishes, the letter continued. "I had very busy days in both parishes." In Makifu, he dedicated the new pastor's home, placed a cornerstone at the new chapel in Kisilwa, and visited Ikwavila and Malunde. He baptized 14 people.

The next day he visited Tungamalenga Parish, starting the day with worship and the dedication of the new chapel at Namelok.  Attending a second worship service at the main station in Tungamalenga, he baptized 16 people - 8 children and 8 adults. Later in the day, he attended the funeral of a Maasai woman, an elder from Namelok.

"In all the places I passed, I saw your footsteps in mission work and wonderful projects," the letter continued.  He named water projects, scholarship students, and chapel construction as "projects that are  like mission tools to evangelize." 

"Indeed you are in the hearts and souls of Makifu and Tungamalenga people. As I saw you busy in holding the community of Iringa in prayers, they do so and they love you so much. They asked to convey the warm greetings to you all."
Thank you for taking the time to send these greetings, Bishop Gaville.

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