Tanzania Partnership

Eight days is not very long for a journey in Tanzania. From Sunday, September 25 to Sunday, October 2, we virtually ran from one experience to the next. Here's a recap of the faces, places and experiences we had. Our group from SOTV included Joan and Richard Dornfeld and me, Pastor Diane Sponheim. We were fortunate to travel with seasoned Tanzania travelers, Dan and Sue McIntyre, who made everything easier to navigate because of their deep understanding of the culture. We also connected with two couples from Arizona who are new to partnering with their congregation north of Iringa, so we all enjoyed sharing experiences. I wish everyone reading this could experience what we do when we go to Tanzania. Words and pictures only begin to describe the experience of being there. Visiting with these beloved friends, hearing their songs, seeing their dances, and being warmly welcomed by them is truly a foretaste of heaven. Our first day in Dar es Salam and the journey from there to Iringa ar...

Pastor Diane bringing greetings to the congregation at Tungamalenga Richard, Joan, and Pastor Diane with interpreter Magalilwa presenting gifts at Kisilwa village congregation Thanks to Pastor Naftal for sending photos! More coming soon. 

Opportunities to learn and serve in partnership are right around the corner! Here's what's coming up this fall: Sunday, October 9, 6:30 -8 PM Not even home a week, Pastor Diane will share updates from her trip to Tungamalenga.  We'll discuss next steps for the Mahove water project, see photos of the newly dedicated chapels at Makambalala and Mpalapande, and get updates on ongoing scholarship, medical and construction efforts. Wednesday, October 12 & Sunday, October 16 Godzone learns about Tungamalenga Partnership this week!  Pastor Diane will share highlights of her trip with the children in large group, and travelers will help children explore three rotation stations, learning about how we partner to construct chapels, and experiencing a Tanzanian child's daily life at school and at play.  Volunteers needed at all Godzone hours -- please let Kirsten.Levorson@sotv.org know if you are available. Tuesday, October 18, 7 PM Learn about the 2012 Journey to Tung...

Richard (foreground), Bo, and children Pastor Diane, Joan and Richard sent some quick updates before they left for Tungamalenga on Friday. Our first stop after lunch in Tungamalenga will be to go to Mahove to see with our own eyes what's going on. We'll also have a partnership meeting Saturday. Naftal plans to have us visit 6-7 preaching points [village congregations] in addition to the chapel dedications, and he thinks we can do a partnership meeting in one hour early Saturday morning! The shopping [for items to sell at the SOTV Boutique in November] hasn't been terribly fruitful. Not much time, but we did get baskets today and a few ebony crosses. I hope to grab some of the shoulder bags tomorrow before we leave. Notecards are very scarce. And they aren't cheap! All is well! The days are full! *photo above taken by Dan McIntyre of Peace Lutheran, Maplewood. Dan's observations are always worth a read, check out http://danandsueintz.blogspot.com/ . In ...

Just a quick message to let you know that we've arrived safely and are having many good connections! We hear that the Packers won and the Vikings lost...that is the extent of the home news we've heard! :-) We hope you are all well! We arrived in Iringa last night [Monday] at about 9 PM, after a 12+ hour drive from Dar es Salaam, featuring a cracked radiator on the bus which took several stops to repair. It was a very long day. Today we are reconnecting with old friends, Dr Saga, and people from the Iringa Diocese. Tomorrow we meet up with Pastor Naftal and buy six or seven bikes for the evangelists and for the orphanage. Today we purchased $2000 worth of medicines for the dispensary. It all takes a lot of time because of working with two languages and two systems of currency! My head is spinning a bit! John Mhekwa is here, and is helping a lot with getting us around town and translating! He said Mfaume's wedding was beautiful. He will help us get Mfaume's card to ...

packed and almost ready to go! Prayers of commissioning were said last Sunday in worship as three members of our congregation are ready to travel to Tanzania again. Pastor Diane Sponheim and Joan and Richard Dornfeld depart on Friday. They carry with them the love, good wishes, and gifts of this congregation. We've packed four suitcases with gifts: banners to grace the two new chapels that will be dedicated at Makambalala and Mpalapande; colorful VBS t-shirts for children and adults; assorted medical supplies; a couple hundred handmade caps for newborns (thanks to Cris Ireland and Karen Piehler-Shaw); a variety of bibles and study books at levels that range in appeal from child to adult interests; about a hundred totes and book bags, a gift from Godzone children; an assortment of flash drives for university students; a dozen 2012 calendars; laminated posters visually depicting bible verses; sundry personal letters from past travelers or from scholarship sponsors to their students....