Tanzania Partnership

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...

We celebrated our Tanzania Partnership in worship at the end of January.  This was the fourth or fifth time we've done this over the last dozen years, so things that were once really new and unexpected have come to be almost routine.  Like having the kwaya [choir] sing accompanied only by drums, and dressed in a collection of Tanzanian dresses, shirts and kitangas [fabric lengths] given to us by our partners. We've become accustomed to the auction at the end of worship, and there are people who show up on Sunday morning bearing items to be auctioned -- bananas, beans, eggs.  There was a chicken who made a little noise when the choir sang, but who stayed in her cage (unlike the chicken of 2013). The Kwaya ya Watoto [Children's Choir] added a new element this year, leading the singing of a Maasai song.  The children dressed in Maasai clothing and jewelry. Pastor Chris introduced the song to the congregation.  The text goes someth...