Tanzania Partnership

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...

  a chicken in church?! I hope at least some of you had as much fun at worship last weekend as I did. I hope you had even half as much fun as I did.  I had a lot of fun. Senior choir leads worship with songs and drums    Worship was a celebration of our partnership with Tungamalenga Parish.  As soon as you walked into the building, you could see gifts from our partners on display: ebony carvings, colorful kitangas, favorite photos from our travels. The songs we sang in worship were largely gifts from our partners as well.  Asante sana Yesu, Amejaa Neema, Hosannah, Baba Yetu -- all songs we've learned from our partners.  All but one of the hymns in the sanctuary were accompanied by drums that have been given to us by our partners.  The one hymn that we sang with piano accompaniment was a hymn that we have sung together in Tanzania, with words that call us "to act with justice, to love tenderly, to serve one another, to walk humbly...

One of my favorite memories from my first trip to Tanzania in 2002... I have a clay pot that I brought back from my August 2002 visit to our partner congregation in Tungamalenga, Tanzania.  It's brick colored, like the dirt in that part of Africa.  It's a little lopsided, slightly cracked, and stained with charcoal from being set near a fire many times. It may not look like much of a souvenir, but it is a powerful reminder to me of the grace and compassion our Tanzanian brothers and sisters in Christ show one another. In Tanzanian churches, at the end of worship the congregation leaves the sanctuary singing and dancing, to form a circle outside.  "Our Christianity is not just for inside the church building, and this signifies bringing our faith out to the villages," said our hosts.  The singing, dancing and drumming continues until the pastor gives the benediction.  Then the fun begins. Members who are so poor that they have no cash to place in the chu...