Tanzania Partnership

I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy  because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phillipians 1:3-6 Most of the time our partnership with the people of Tungamalenga, Makifu and Usolanga Parishes in the Iringa Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania focuses on things that happen in Tanzania – a visit, a project, a celebration. This month, travelers share what makes them grateful about this partnership. There is much to be grateful for by joining other travelers in fellowship with our Tanzanian family and frequently I think of the lessons I learned. I was reminded of the value of second-chances, of being open to new people and soaking in new experiences without judgement. It was a living meditation and an opportunity to revel in the moment

As SOTV Travelers walked around the city of Iringa, Tanzania last July, one commented that “every time we turn the corner, we meet up with someone” who has a connection to our partnership. We met Enock, a former scholarship student and now the manager of the Toyota service station. We stayed at the Lutheran Center where Addy, another former student, is the assistant manager. Vumilia was a new hire at the lodge in the village, and Maria is the outstanding teacher at the Mpalapande Primary School. Pastor John is the new assistant headmaster at a diocese secondary school. Consolata, a 2004 scholarship recipient, established a career in business and has sent her own daughter and three siblings to secondary school and college. Meritho is working in wildlife conservation. 18 years of providing scholarships for secondary and university students has made an impact. The impact of our partnership was even more visible in the villages as we received thanks for bikes and m

In our Bega kwa Bega companionship, we like to say our relationship is built on the three pillars of prayer, presence and projects. Several times we have exchanged prayer cards in order to strengthen our relationship through prayer.  When we have a face and a name and we commit to pray daily for that person, we deepen our relationship and our commitment to one another. This year during our visit to Usolanga Parish, our newest partner, we took photos, gathered names, and asked our partners how they would like us to pray for them. Here's what they said. Pray that we live a long life so that we can be faithful ministers here, and for the children to do well in school and to have good relationships with other people. Pray that my daughter's national exam results come on time and be good results, so that she can continue her education and get a chance to join the university, so she can reach her dreams. Pray that my children grow and know God better. Pray that my fam

Usolanga Parish visit: welcome, chapels, making bricks, collecting photos and stories for prayer cards, and planning for three guests to visit SOTV in November. We visited Mtera Secondary School on Friday. What a welcome! x On our way to Tungamalenga and Makifu We bought so much medicine we needed an extra vehicle to carry it out to the Tungamalenga dispensary. Spent the first morning in Iringa catching up with Diocese General Secretary, Nayman Chavalla, and Pastor Msigwa. Then lunch at Neema and a walking tour of the market. Still to come, a visit to Huruma Center and dinner at Mama Iringa’s. Ran into a former student, Diana Saga, now a nurse at the regional hospital. Today (July 8) we drove to Tungamalenga and Makifu, enjoyed a warm welcome, participated in the final stages of the pipeline project to Ikwavila, walking the pipeline path, and then worked with the experts to figure out why the system is at less than optimal condition. The sys

Blessed for travel - some leaving the beginning of July, others leaving on July 15.

Last night our traveling group got together to pack some gifts we're carrying this year, and to go over final plans, schedules and questions. Now I'm ready to go. This year's journey ( itinerary details here ) is both the same as previous year's trips, and very different.  In early July, a small group of travelers will visit the three parishes we call our companions: Usolanga, Tungamalenga and Makifu.  During these visits we'll be asked to go from village to village, meet new people every day, observe and monitor parish projects, celebrate all that has been done in the coming year, sing and pray together, dance, and together with the partnership committees, plan for the coming year.  On the day that group heads back to Dar for the long journey home, a second group will arrive in Iringa for a very different experience. A twenty member choir, with people representing six different metro area congregations, will be based in Iringa for rehearsals and co