Tanzania Partnership

  I thank my God every time I remember you. - Philippians 1:3 It's the end of a long and challenging year. Our Tanzanian friends faced the challenge of heavy rains and flooding early in the year, a long period of rebuilding, and we've all experienced the global pandemic and all the challenges it brings. For the first time in over fifteen years, there was no travel between partners.  During January and February, our partners experienced heavy rains and flooding. Bridges were damaged at Idodi, Mapogoro, Tungamalenga, Makifu and Mahuninga. Visitors to Ruaha National Park crossed the river on foot, accompanied by local helpers. Crops and homes were damaged. Repairs began by the end of February, but took months to complete. At the end of September, many homes had still not been repaired. Back in Minnesota, life changed drastically on March 13. Sheltering at home, work and meetings and worship all moved online. Zoom became our meeting room. The first cancellation was the planned vis...

As Christmas Eve and the end of 2013 rapidly approach, here are three opportunities for those who want to support our Tanzanian partners. 1. Basket and handcraft sales -- so far in the last month, we've raised about $2000 for parish projects through the sales of baskets, jewelry and other handcraft items.  While most of our inventory of carvings and jewelry have been sold, we still have baskets in all colors and sizes.  We will not be holding any more public sales but if you are interested, we can arrange a private showing.  Contact Kirsten.Levorson@sotv.org for details. The proceeds from handcraft sales go directly to our partners and are distributed to village congregations, where they are used to complete chapel construction or build homes for the evangelists. 2. A second opportunity for year end giving is through Shepherd of the Valley's Christmas Gift Giving  program.  Monetary donations designated for our Tanzania Partnership are used t...

  Just two weeks until Christmas -- is your holiday shopping done?   Here's an opportunity to share the joy and blessings of the season with some of our brothers and sisters on the other side of the globe.  Shepherd of the Valley's Christmas Gift Giving program offers families a way to share the gifts of the season with others, near and far.   Tungamalenga Partnership is one of the recipients of your generosity through Christmas Gift Giving.   Funds designated to Tungamalenga will be shared with our partners in two ways -- a gift of goats to help evangelists in the parish, and a gift to Huruma Center, the Iringa Diocese orphanage.   Last year when SOTV travelers visiting Huruma Center, we asked Mama Chilewa what the children needed for Christmas.  In the past, we have given a milk cow to improve the children's nutrition.  Another year, she told us they needed shoes.   This year, she asked for funds to buy a brand n...

Suzanna, age 8 One of our favorite places to visit while in Iringa is Huruma Center, the orphanage owned by the Iringa Diocese.  Huruma means mercy. Right now there are about 34 kids at the center, with another 28 who live outside the center while attending schools.  Kids can come and go from this place -- some are dropped off or found living on the streets when parents or family cannot care for them, others leave the center when staff are able to locate other relatives willing to take them into their own homes. Shepherd of the Valley provides gifts to the center when we visit and at Christmas time.  I asked Mama Chilewa what the children need this Christmas and she immediately said, "a new set of clothing for each would be nice."  She explained that the children make do with hand me downs most of the year, but at Christmas she would like them to have something new. Can we make this happen, SOTV?  Sure we can.  Our Christmas gift funds fo...

January is a great time to get away from Minnesota weather (most years!) and go someplace warm -- that may be one reason there are so many Minnesotans in Iringa, Tanzania this time of year.  Here's a round up of other bloggers from around the Saint Paul Area Synod. http://ilula-friends-2012.blogspot.com/   This is the blog of a medical team working at the Ilula Lutheran Hospital.  Shepherd of the Valley members Dr. Randy and Kari Hurley and their daughter Angela are among the group.  The Hurleys will visit Tungamalenga around the weekend of January 21-22.  One of the big events the medical team will be working with is A Day of Grace, a new wellness retreat for pastors of the Iringa Diocese. http://lifeatctk.org/Blog/Carries-Corner/Guest-Post-Roger-and-Trish-Blomquist/  Here's a blog post from Trish and Roger Blomquist, members of Christ the King Lutheran in New Brighton.  Roger works with the Agriculture Institute at Tumaini University, particularl...

Richard Dornfeld's drawing accompanied his and Joan's Christmas letter.  He said it was fun to get back to "a little drawing" and gave permission to include it here. Greetings from our Tanzanian brothers and sisters continue to come to my inbox.  Some are very brief, but we know they are all heartfelt. Such a blessing to be connected in prayer. From Joachim, who completed studies and is now employed as a clinical officer at the government hospital at Tosamaganga:  Greetings and best wishes!  I am now married as of 26 November 2011.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! From Rev. Robert Mutta, a member of the theology faculty at Tumaini University, who has developed the very new counseling department for the college and who is helping with Bega Kwa Bega's Day of Grace (inviting all diocese pastors to attend a day with health and wellness resources available):  "This is another Christmas. The joy of our hearts reflecting back on...

Dear brothers and sisters, I wish to share with us all blessings from our Lord Jesus Christ on the end of this year, 2011. Wishing you a happy Christmas and new year, 2012. Amen. ~~Pastor Naftal We hope you are doing well.  We are doing well too. Jenitha is on holidays and she has come to stay with me in Mbeya. While on holiday she weaves some cloths for people who have ordered. I am happy being with her this December. We pray for you. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, ~~Mfaume & Jenitha (newlyweds whose jobs keep them living in different parts of the country) Bwana Yesu Asifiwe! I am doing well, the school is going on well, though it is tough. We did two tests and one term paper, and then on Tuesday we will have a test.  I like them. I will have a break on December 12, I am thinking of going to Iringa.  I hope to see Bibi Joan. How things going over you there? Blessings Mama, Son John  (an SOTV sponsored stude...

Beatta, with her t-shirt and school bag 'Tis the season of giving.  Here's an opportunity to give in a way that makes a real difference in our world. Shepherd of the Valley has a Christmas Gift Giving program that provides opportunities to make a difference both locally and globally.  Funds that are given through Christmas Gift Giving to Tungamalenga Partnership are used to provide extra gifts outside our normal partnership ministries of education, evangelism, healthcare and economic development. This year, a portion of the funds will be used to purchase food --corn flour and vegetables-- for the children at Huruma Centre, an Iringa diocese owned orphanage.  Beatta, the girl pictured above, lives at Huruma and appreciates the gift of a t-shirt and school book bag that was delivered by travelers a year ago. Another portion of the Christmas funds will be used for a special gift to the evangelists at Tungamelenga.  We purchase goats that are ...