Tanzania Partnership

For the past year and a half, most of the posts here have revolved around the construction of Mpalapande Primary School. Finally, the school is completed, and the first class of sixty students are attending school in their own village, without the hours of walking to the next closest school, some 6-8 kilometers away. Bwana Yesu Asifiwe!  Praise the Lord Jesus! So what's next? Well, now it's time to address some issues of water. Mpalapande Village receives its water from a pipeline that starts in the hills around Mapogoro, follows the roadside, then continues to Mpalapande and Kitisi. The pipeline has been in place for thirty some years and was designed to provide villagers with water at 16 public spigots. Over time, individuals have tapped into the pipeline to bring water closer to their own homes. I've been told there are now some 60 places where the public water is connected for private use.  That, of course, has an effect on the amount of water available fo...

December was a busy month for our friends in Mpalapande, as they prepared for the January opening of the new primary school. They held a planning meeting, with diocese leaders including General Secretary Nayman Chavalla, District Pastor Ambrose Mwakikoti, and with BKB Coordinator April Trout all driving out from Iringa to discuss what still needed to be done. At the meeting in early December, they listed the things that needed to be done: hire a teacher, get desks, set the opening day.  They decided to start the school with one class of kindergartners, and add another class each year.  The local parish was tasked with finding a teacher, and the folks from Iringa would get estimates for the desks. Shepherd of the Valley sent the funds that were needed. On Tuesday, December 26, BKB Coordinator April Trout and Mr Frank Mkocha from the Diocese Head Office helped deliver 60 desks and benches for the students, and a teacher's desk and chair. The desk...

Here's one of our most important stories from the July trip. But Mpalapande is not the only story from our trip. If you'd like to hear more, please join us at Sunday Forum, 9:45 AM Sunday, September 17 in the Chapel at Shepherd of the Valley.

July 13, 2017 Who's ready for a safari to the national game park, Ruaha? kiboko Mbuni Simba Tembo Wazungu The day began with a partnership meeting with Tungamalenga Parish's partnership committee. We gathered in the grassy area behind the camp, with tables and chairs that kept moving as the sun and the shade traded places throughout the morning.   To start, we were honored with the gift of clothing. Shirts for the guys, blouses and skirts for the women, we were all dressed to show our unity with our hosts. Pastor Rick, Matt and Christina were present for the first part of the meeting, until they had to depart for the game park along with Andrew, Lydia and Isabella. Bobbie and I remained. See above for some of the sights on safari. Pastor Eva was busy throughout the meeting, in many roles - senior pastor, translator, and even chair of the meeting until Daniel arrived to take on that task. The partnership committee included ...

July 12, 2017 We arrived at Mpalapande ready to celebrate. We could see that preparations were still in progress. There was a tented area, with an altar and chairs for honored guests. The women were cooking off in the shade, and Maasai men were gathering under the shaded walkway of the school building. Two vehicles full of diocese leaders had just arrived. The school was looking spiffy, and the area around had been cleared of all construction debris.  The day before, mounds of sand had been leveled.  It all looked great. Look at those solid doors with their shiny golden handles. Inside, the windows were washed, the blackboards clean. Guests from the Iringa Diocese head office included district pastors and department heads. The Maasai mzee [elders] were standing by. The contractor was present, and members of his staff had put the final touches on the dedication plaque just the day before. Bishop Gaville, who had been consecrated and inst...