Tanzania Partnership

Our dear friend Enock Ndapisi went home to heaven this weekend.   We first met Enock in 2002.  He was the chair of the Tungamalenga Partnership committee and had retired from his job as headmaster of the Tungamalenga Primary School.  At the time, he was one of the few people in the village able and eager to converse with us in English.  He helped introduce us to many Tanzanian customs, and he was so kind and gracious. He suffered a stroke sometime after our visit, and even with limited medical services, recovered so well that he was able to travel to Minnesota in late 2006 with Pastor Alfred Kikoti and Twandisyege Ambele.  The three were Shepherd of the Valley's first Tanzanian guests.  They experienced snow and marveled that our houses could be so warm inside while it was so cold outside. Enock was such a gracious guest.  He even attended a lutefisk dinner, cleaned his plate, and asked for the recipe. The day he arrived in Mi...

Supporting a microfinance cooperative in Tungamalenga is one of several ways our partnership has worked together for economic development.  Rural Tanzanians have typically had little to no experience with banks or loans until the recent development of locally owned Savings and Credit CoOperatives (SACCOs). Most Tanzanians in the rural areas like Tungamalenga and Makifu are subsistence farmers.  They grow enough each year to feed their families, sometimes earning enough to pay a child's school fees.  There is usually not much left over to set aside for long term savings. Ottavina leads a microfinance training session Here's where Iringa Hope is helping to bring about change.  Iringa Hope is a nonprofit organization based in Minnesota and working to provide small loans in rural Tanzania.  (Iringa Hope has some close ties to Shepherd of the Valley -- SOTV members Ben Kilgore and Tim Campbell are board members.)  Iringa Hope operates in Tanzania...

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...

We are saddened to learn that our friend Dora Saga died early Wednesday.  Our hearts go out to her husband, Dr. Mufwimi Saga, their children, and to all the people of Ilula Hospital and the Iringa Diocese who mourn her death. From left, Dr. Mufwimi Saga, Dora Saga; far right, Kari Hurley. Shepherd of the Valley members first met Dora and Dr. Saga in August, 2002, when Dr. Randy and Kari Hurley visited the [then] Ilula Health Center.  Above, Kari delivered midwife kits to the health center.  At the time, Dr. Saga was the longest serving doctor onsite, and Dora served as the Nurse Matron [Nurse in Charge] for the facility. Through the years, the Saga family welcomed many of our travelers into their home for a meal and a tour of the health center that now has grown into a district hospital. Dora (left) visited Minnesota in 2010. We were so pleased to have the Sagas as our guests in the fall of 2010, along with Rev. Naftal and Angelina Ng'amillo....

I was very sorry and sad to learn this evening that Pastor Paul Edstrom died this afternoon. Pastor Paul and his wife Ruth have served many people, but to our Tanzanian partnership, they were some of our earliest supporters and most honest and trusted advisors.  Paul and Ruth had served as missionaries in (then) Tanganyika and Kenya during the 1950's, '60's and '70's.  They retired to Shepherd of the Valley a number of years ago, and Paul served as a visitation pastor for many years. There are many people who support our partnership in varied and important ways.  Pastor Paul Edstrom supported our partnership by sharing the aquired wisdom of his years of experience working in Tanzania.  He gave honest advice about what kinds of support could be helpful and what kinds of support would build dependencies.  He helped us think deeply about our partnership, our actions, and unintended consequences. Pastor Paul made me practice my Swahili in between visits, greet...

We received word this weekend that Pastor John arrived home Friday.  Long journey! Baby Patricia was born Saturday, around 12:30 PM Iringa time, via c-section.  We had a chance to chat on Facebook with John today, and he provided a few more details and observations. New Mom Addy is doing well, is up and around, nursing the baby, and baby is thriving.  Baby Patricia was 3.2 kg or just over 7 pounds when she was born. There is hope that Mom and Baby will go home Monday. John talked a bit about how hard Tuesday was, how touching the farewells were for him. "Really, it was so hard to say bye. It is easy to say welcome but not to say bye." Finally, I asked John how he felt about being a father at last. "I did not believe yesterday that I had a baby. Today was the good day when I spent time with her." Blessings to the new family. Kwaheri.

Patricia John Mhekwa was born today via c-section. Hongera sana [congratulations], Pastor John and Addy! Mungu awabariki.