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Showing posts from October, 2020

Being Companions While We Are Apart

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  For the first time since our Tanzania Partnership began in 2001, our annual journey from Shepherd of the Valley to visit our partners in Tungamalenga, Makifu, and Usolanga Parishes was cancelled this past July. We describe our partnership as Bega Kwa Bega, the Swahili phrase that means shoulder to shoulder . We name three pillars of our companionship: prayer, presence, and projects. All of these imply spending time together – or do they? How can we be companions when we are apart? That is the question we have wrestled with for the past six months.   Our prayers for one another can be more fervent. Our companions are leading the way in this area, reporting that their parishes are meeting weekly to pray for us. Their prayers for us are full of trust that God will shelter us and protect us from the virus, and keep our relationship strong until we can meet again face to face. August Zoom meeting with Makifu leaders ·        Our presence can be experienced in new ways. During August