Tanzania Partnership

Last night we had a partnership meeting and heard all kinds of updates -- here's a brief recap. Children's Ministry continues to walk bega kwa bega [shoulder to shoulder] with us, raising funds and awareness.  This summer the kids are learning about malaria in their vacation bible school sessions, and they are collecting coins to purchase mosquito netting that will be distributed to children and pregnant moms through the Tungamalenga Dispensary. Kuzunguka zunguka will be the theme of a summer camp experience for first through fifth graders August 20-23, with kids delving more deeply into Tanzanian culture and learning about the hardships and blessings of Tanzanian life. Mahove Water Project is almost complete! We've authorized the final payment and expect to dedicate the project during our August visit.  We will follow up with some sanitation training and conversation about maintenance and sustainability.  Thanks to St Paul Partners for their unwavering support. S...

Tungamalenga Parish is comprised of twenty village congregations (often referred to as preaching points) scattered across an area that's roughly comparable to that of Apple Valley, Eagan, Rosemount, Burnsville, Farmington and Lakeville.  The pastors serving the twenty congregations have one motorcycle between them.  For a long time, there has been a recognition that the parish is too large and spread out to work effectively as a single parish. We've recently received word that change is coming to Tungamalenga Parish, and that a portion of the preaching points will split off and become an independent congregation.  That's really good news, indicating that the parish as a whole is also financially healthy enough to make the change, with each new congregation able to sustain operations and support its own pastor. We're not sure at this point how the parish will be divided.  A few months ago, we received a definitive statement from the diocese, passed along to u...

Our dear friends Joan & Richard are in Iringa, Tanzania for the next five months.  Follow their blog at http://joanandrichardattumaini.blogspot.com/ . 

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...

Wow! Look at the progress made on Makambalala Chapel! Pastor Naftal sent this photo today, showing the new walls and windows constructed at Makambalala. Notice how different the exterior is from the next photo, taken in August 2010. The original chapel was constructed with this lacey pattern in the brickwork. This style of construction is less costly -- no window panes or woodwork to purchase. But while it let in adequate light, it also let in the elements--wind, dust, rain. The new construction will be finished with a coating of stucco on the exterior walls, and plaster on the interior. Makambalala chapel, as well as the Mpalapande chapel, are scheduled to be completed and ready for dedication ceremonies in the fall. Bwana Asifiwe! Praise the Lord!

Humphrey Kahwage has a broken leg! Pastor Naftal emailed the news this morning. Apparently, Humphrey was walking home from school on Friday and was knocked over accidentally by another student riding a bike. Humphrey was taken to Ipamba for treatment. (That seems to be an indication of the seriousness of the injury. Ipamba is roughly halfway between Tungamalenga and Iringa, and there is at least one government health center closer.) He has a cast on his leg and is back at home with his mom and dad, Alice and Barnabas Kahwage. Humphrey is six. Read more about Humphrey and the Godzone class who prays for him here.

Today I had an email from Pastor Naftal in Tungamalenga. He said they have been praying for rain, that they have experienced drought for the past two months. Crops planted in January have withered, and the situation is serious. In the past week they have received rain, and they are adjusting by planting some crops with shorter term maturation. They hope the recent rain continues so that these crops will provide the food needed for the coming year. And then he asked, "How is the church? the congregants, the pastors, the children--we do remember them...we do remember them whenever we use the motorcycle. ...the bible study groups, the choirs, the chefs, parish workers, the children teachers, the confirmation classes and more. Pass them greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!"

Shepherd of the Valley's partnership with Tungamalenga Parish is just one of 70 such partnerships between congregations of the Saint Paul Area Synod and parishes of the Iringa Diocese. The Companion News is a quarterly publication providing news and updates on all the Bega Kwa Bega partnerships. The latest issue contains an article with photos showing the Idodi Secondary School one year after it experienced devastating losses from a dormitory fire. The photos were taken by SOTV travelers who visited the school in October 2009, just two months after the fire, and again in August 2010. The Companion News often has updates on other diocese wide projects, such as healthcare provided through the Ilula Hospital and seven rural dispensaries, work done by the Agriculture Institute, St Paul Partners working for clean water development, and updates from Tumaini University. Check it out!

shoes packed for the children at Huruma Orphanage Some seasons in our partnership are very public, like when we have guests and schedule gatherings and meetings and dinners, or when we celebrate our partnership in worship, or when we make announcements, temple talks, and staff informational tables in the narthex on Sunday mornings. This is not one of those public, eventful times, but there's still lots going on in our partnership this summer. We've ordered a motorcycle to be used by the pastors of Tungamalenga Parish, and we're about halfway through the three month wait for it to be delivered. We're collecting a very few, specifically chosen gifts to distribute among our partners when we visit in August. Often, we are able to take ten or more suitcases full of medical supplies, t-shirts, Bibles, school supplies and other practical gifts for our friends. Limits on luggage for this trip mean we're traveling light and having to choose wisely. We're limited to takin...