This past week, we have enjoyed many of our favorite sites to relax and spend time appreciating all the gifts of nature. Of course, we saw some spectacular wild life, such as: giraffe, lions, elephants, impalas, zebras, wildebeasts, hippos, rhinos, and so much more. Not every park has the same animals; but, we were fortunate to see 22 lions and 2 rhinos in the Ngorongoro Crater this time. A first for many of us was watching a group of male Cape Buffalo wallowing in a pool of mud--some folks would pay a lot for a mud bath.
Wherever we went, we saw beautiful scenery. From the veranda at Tarangire Lodge, we could look down over the hills and winding riverbed that was home for many animals. We watched an elephant cross the river while we enjoyed popcorn on the veranda. Near our tented abode, were huge baobab trees, a favorite of elephants and bigger in diameter than the seven of us standing next to each other.
From here, we went to Gibbs Farm, a garden of Eden. We have never seen so many beautiful flowers and manicured gardens. Intermingled were vegetable gardens and a barnyard of animals that provided us with fresh, organic food everyday. We didn't want to leave this oasis of rest and relaxation. Our final amazing stay was at the Ngorongoro Crater. From our room, we could look over the lush rim of trees and into the crater floor, 600 meters deep and 320 kilometers square. It is here where nearly all varieties of wild animals live, with the exception of giraffe since there aren't enough tall trees in the crater.
We are nearing the end of our trip; it all went too quickly. We were blessed to visit so many sites where Christ the King has connections or relationships with people we knew. At each site, people expressed their gratitude to us and asked us to express their gratitude to you...Christ the King...for your support of their projects, scholarships, etc. They appreciate the funding that comes through alternative Christmas gifts, Global Mission offerings, and for specific funding through grants. For example, we were able to see the solar panels installed at the MaaSae Girls Lutheran Secondary School. Thanks to you, we have made a difference, personally and economically, in so many people's lives in Tanzania. As Pastor Medson from our companion congregation would say, "Thanks a LOT!"
We want to thank all of our prayer partners for their ongoing prayers. At this point everyone is safe and healthy. Finally, we are bringing a bit of Tanzania home with us. On Global Mission Sunday, you will have an opportunity to purchase jewelry, baskets, animal carvings, handbags, and much more. See you all next week.
Marlys
Friday, February 19, 2016
Monday, February 15, 2016
On to Arusha (written by Marlys Melius)
Getting out of Ruaha was also an adventure. The roads were very muddy and we predicted that we would get stuck. The drivers were very skilled and we didn't get stuck; but, they did have to rebuild the road twice enroute to the airport. Flight to Arusha was uneventful.
Our first evening in Arusha was spent at Mark and Linda Jacobson's home. They had also invited Joe, Deb, and Krista Troester, ELCA coordinators for East Africa. It was good to get updates and share experiences. It was also good to feel secure about eating "safe food;" however, we continue to drink bottled water.
Our first full day in Arusha included visits to the Arusha Lutheran Medical Center, the Nursing School, and the Plaster House, all of which CTK and the Foundation have supported at one time. Dr. Jacobson, an ELCA missionary we sponsor, accompanied us to all these sites, which he had a hand in building. At the Nursing School, both the Andersons and Meliuses were excited to visit with students they knew from the MaaSae Girl's Lutheran Secondary School, who will soon also graduate from the Nursing School. These students are particularly needed in the hospital.
Later in the afternoon, we stopped at Widow's Mite, where widows sell the many products they create, allowing them to support their families. Linda Jacobson helped them develop this market for their products. Most of the products that we purchased from the widows will be sold at the bazaar on Global Mission Sunday (April 10).
On Saturday, February 13, we visited the schools of Moringe Sekoine and the MaaSae Girl's Lutheran Secondary School (MGLSS). Although, CTK supports students at both schools, the funding is handled differently. At Moringe Sekoine, the funding goes into a general scholarship fund. At MGLSS, funding is directed to a specific girl. Each family on this trip sponsored a specific girl. On Sunday, we attended a very special church service at MGLSS. We enjoyed both the Swahilli and Maasai choirs and a very animated pastor, who admonished the girls to focus on their faith and their education.
Above all, we enjoyed spending more time with the girls we sponsored. In their individual ways, each girl let us know what a difference this education has meant/will mean to them. Each one has goals of becoming a teacher, doctor, engineer, etc. They are very bright girls that may have been hand selected by their church to attend school. This change in the Maasai culture will make a difference to future generations and the economy of Tanzania. Often these girls are able to provide an education for their brothers and sisters as a result of getting a good job.
In general, all is well with us. However, nearly everyone has a number of mosquito and fly bites. Our arms and legs look like we have the measles.
Marlys Melius
Our first evening in Arusha was spent at Mark and Linda Jacobson's home. They had also invited Joe, Deb, and Krista Troester, ELCA coordinators for East Africa. It was good to get updates and share experiences. It was also good to feel secure about eating "safe food;" however, we continue to drink bottled water.
Our first full day in Arusha included visits to the Arusha Lutheran Medical Center, the Nursing School, and the Plaster House, all of which CTK and the Foundation have supported at one time. Dr. Jacobson, an ELCA missionary we sponsor, accompanied us to all these sites, which he had a hand in building. At the Nursing School, both the Andersons and Meliuses were excited to visit with students they knew from the MaaSae Girl's Lutheran Secondary School, who will soon also graduate from the Nursing School. These students are particularly needed in the hospital.
Later in the afternoon, we stopped at Widow's Mite, where widows sell the many products they create, allowing them to support their families. Linda Jacobson helped them develop this market for their products. Most of the products that we purchased from the widows will be sold at the bazaar on Global Mission Sunday (April 10).
On Saturday, February 13, we visited the schools of Moringe Sekoine and the MaaSae Girl's Lutheran Secondary School (MGLSS). Although, CTK supports students at both schools, the funding is handled differently. At Moringe Sekoine, the funding goes into a general scholarship fund. At MGLSS, funding is directed to a specific girl. Each family on this trip sponsored a specific girl. On Sunday, we attended a very special church service at MGLSS. We enjoyed both the Swahilli and Maasai choirs and a very animated pastor, who admonished the girls to focus on their faith and their education.
Above all, we enjoyed spending more time with the girls we sponsored. In their individual ways, each girl let us know what a difference this education has meant/will mean to them. Each one has goals of becoming a teacher, doctor, engineer, etc. They are very bright girls that may have been hand selected by their church to attend school. This change in the Maasai culture will make a difference to future generations and the economy of Tanzania. Often these girls are able to provide an education for their brothers and sisters as a result of getting a good job.
In general, all is well with us. However, nearly everyone has a number of mosquito and fly bites. Our arms and legs look like we have the measles.
Marlys Melius
Saturday, February 13, 2016
Days of Adventure (written by Marlys Melius)
We certainly had a few days of adventure this week.
On Tuesday, February 9 (as Pr Peter, and Neil and Courtney Hess were in transit) the remaining travelers left for Ruaha National Park. Travel took considerably longer than anticipated due to all the rains and washed out roads. Our first evening in Ruaha was pleasant, as we did a game drive through the park and enjoyed seeing one sleepy lion. We also enjoyed seeing some colorful wild dogs, animals none of us had seen in previous trips.
Then, there was Wednesday, February 10. We were anticipating going on another game drive early in the morning; but it had been raining much of the night and still raining in the morning. Our vehicles certainly would have gotten stuck on the deeply rooted roads. Therefore, we decided against a game drive for the moment. Everyone went back to their Banda (free-standing structures where safari guests stay) to do some relaxing, reading, or just watch the river rise. It wasn't more than an hour and the raging river continued to climb, eventually coming into our Bandas.
Now, the resort staff became concerned and began moving us and our luggage to higher ground. Some of us were moved to the kitchen, then to the vehicles, and finally to the owner's Banda. Others were brought to the main dining room to wait out the flooding. The river continued to rise and concern turned to fear as we thought about our safety. One group was completely surrounded by water and continued to move to higher areas in the dining room. Consequently, the staff had to use their zip line to go back and forth between both of our small groups. Staff continued to reassure us that we were safe; but, we didn't have that same level of confidence.
Around noon on Wednesday, the rains stopped and eventually the river began to subside. Nearly all of us had markers on buildings, trees, and other landmarks that we used to watch the river go down. We later learned that the river had risen approximately 18 feet!
The staff were amazing in caring for us and eventually served us a gourmet lunch and free drinks mid-afternoon. Since water had totally filled some of our Bandas, we were assigned different Bandas, including some sharing of rooms, for that evening. By the end of the day, the river had gone down about 8-10 feet and we enjoyed a gourmet dinner by candlelight; however, I don't think anyone slept too soundly that night.
More adventures to come!!
Marlys
Monday, February 8, 2016
Super Sunday! (Posted from the departure lounge of Julius K Nyerere Internanional Airport, Dar Es Salaam)
February 7, 2016
It may have been the Big Game back at home, but for us, Sunday the 7th was the big worship service. While we didn’t start on time (I really didn’t expect to; during our days in Dakar we used to say that all a 10:00 worship service means is that it won’t start before 10:00 am. This proved to be the case here, too.
A little background: as I had been informed well ahead of time by Pr Medson that they would like me to preach on the Sunday when the group was there, I thought I’d dust off the ol’ Swahili. I remembered that I used to preach weekly in Swahili and assumed, like riding a bicycle, you never really forget how.
Reality check: the last time I preached in Swahili was June of 1993.
So, I prepared something in English, and then sent it off to Iringa to be translated by Pr Msigwa, the BKB Director on the Iringa Diocese side of the equation. I figured I’d have at least a few days to practice it. Pastor Msigwa sent the translation via email on Wednesday. But before Peter Harrits could print it out for me (and as you may have figured out by now), the internet went down. All over the Iringa region. I would be able to preach the Swahili version of my sermon, but only from Peter Harrits’ phone.
By Saturday night, as it has still not come back, Peter H (the other one) resorted to taking screen shots of the pages, connecting his phone to his computer and then printing it off. It came out landscape, in two columns and at about 18 pt font. But I had it. And so I practiced.
We arrived for tea at the parsonage, and then right around 10 headed next door for worship. I met with the Pastors (Medson and Tumsifu) and the lay leaders (Flora and Samba) and we prayed together for the worship service. And then as we processed to the singing of the Kwaya ya Amani (Choir of Peace, their adult choir), we led the folks from Nduli and Christ the King in what turned out to be right around a 4-hour service. Believe me, it was not this preacher’s fault….
The flow of the ELCT liturgy is a bit different from that of the ELCA, and I admit that's the CtK we’ve monkeyed with the order more than would be tolerated in the ELCT as well. But after the opening Psalm, it all started coming back to me. Turns out it’s the sung liturgy that is more like riding a bike. I knew the tunes. I knew many, perhaps even most of the words. Those I did not know, I knew where to find in the book—even the parts where we jumped around a bit. “Utukufu ni wa Mungu juu Mbinguni” (Glory to God in the highest heaven); “Bwana akaiye nanyi; akaiye na roho yako” (The Lord be with you, and with your spirit); “Hilo ndiyo ni Neno la Bwana” (this is the Word of the Lord). I’d never been to worship in Nduli before, but I this liturgy I began to feel at home.
The time came for the gospel and the sermon, and I stood in the pulpit and closed my eyes briefly to pray. I heard the voice of Pr. Wilson Sanga, one of my “unofficial” internship supervisors, saying “you can preach this, Hanson!” And so I did. I pulled up my socks and did my level best, as my LJS students used to say. It seemed longer than 20 minutes (actually clocked in at 18) and it was at least 10 degrees warmer in the pulpit than in the pews, but I think it went ok. Nobody laughed in appropriately. The only one I noticed falling asleep was a babe in arms (and a couple of the CtK visitors, perhaps, who were not able to follow along). I felt good about it. I felt like I was able to preach the gospel in a way that could be understood by the people we are called to accompany.
Of course, even after the sermon, the service was still not half over.
We continued with the presentation of gifts—shirts for all the male travelers, dresses for all the women, plus honey and peanut butter from the parish’s economic development projects. We offered a communion plate to match the chalice they use at Nduli, as well as colorful wristbands with motivational words in both English and Swahili. Then there were the offerings. Yes, plural—they had two offerings, one for the regular ministries of the parish, one in thanksgiving for the gift of Holy Communion. Worshippers processed up the aisle to place their offering into the basket at the front, all the while singing and/or hearing one of the three choirs that sang that morning (Amani, youth, and children). The youth choir in particular featured many different soloists, as well as some incredible dancing!
Then came holy communion, with Pr Medson and I co-presiding at the Words of Institution. Had I known, I would have also practiced this portion of the liturgy; but as I heard later from CtK folks and Nduli people alike, having both languages was very much appreciated. As we brought the worship service to a close, we followed the ELCT tradition to have the entire congregation recess to the back door, and then gather around outside the church for one more some and a second benediction. At that point I did check my watch—1:15 pm, verifying that it was a four-hour service—but up until then, it didn’t seem that long (ok, it seemed long, but not that long).
A great lunch was followed by a quick trip to hear about the parish’s SACCOS or micro-credit program, as well as to see their milling machine, currently not functional, as they have paid for a new one and are awaiting some legal decisions concerning the company that took that money and has not yet delivered their machine. Finally, we met together with the evangelists of the various preaching points that make up the parish. Any last thoughts and concerns were shared—a particular concern about post-secondary education was asked to be passed along to BKB, for example—and then we began to say our goodbyes to Pastor Medson, his family and the parish leaders at Nduli. I’m sure we created some new connections and deepened some others. I for one look forward to building on what we’ve done already.
Back in Iringa Town, we began our debriefing of our companion synod experience at the BKB office, where we were hosted by Julia Hubbard and Peter Harrits, along with Gary and Carol Langsness and Birdie Olson. While part of the group would be continuing on to Ruaha National Park, and another, smaller group to Arusha as well, Neil and Courtney Hess and I were set to leave before sunrise on Monday morning. This was a great exercise to begin to bring our trip to some closure, focusing on how best to share this experience with others, and in the process helping us understand it better ourselves. I’d like to reflect more on that later. But let me say now, what a blessing it is to be so ably served and led by the BKB staff and volunteers. I feel like this was exactly what I needed to begin to figure out what this trip—and this partnership—might mean in the not-too-distant future.
Bega Kwa Bega (Shoulder to Shoulder),
Pr Peter
It may have been the Big Game back at home, but for us, Sunday the 7th was the big worship service. While we didn’t start on time (I really didn’t expect to; during our days in Dakar we used to say that all a 10:00 worship service means is that it won’t start before 10:00 am. This proved to be the case here, too.
A little background: as I had been informed well ahead of time by Pr Medson that they would like me to preach on the Sunday when the group was there, I thought I’d dust off the ol’ Swahili. I remembered that I used to preach weekly in Swahili and assumed, like riding a bicycle, you never really forget how.
Reality check: the last time I preached in Swahili was June of 1993.
So, I prepared something in English, and then sent it off to Iringa to be translated by Pr Msigwa, the BKB Director on the Iringa Diocese side of the equation. I figured I’d have at least a few days to practice it. Pastor Msigwa sent the translation via email on Wednesday. But before Peter Harrits could print it out for me (and as you may have figured out by now), the internet went down. All over the Iringa region. I would be able to preach the Swahili version of my sermon, but only from Peter Harrits’ phone.
By Saturday night, as it has still not come back, Peter H (the other one) resorted to taking screen shots of the pages, connecting his phone to his computer and then printing it off. It came out landscape, in two columns and at about 18 pt font. But I had it. And so I practiced.
We arrived for tea at the parsonage, and then right around 10 headed next door for worship. I met with the Pastors (Medson and Tumsifu) and the lay leaders (Flora and Samba) and we prayed together for the worship service. And then as we processed to the singing of the Kwaya ya Amani (Choir of Peace, their adult choir), we led the folks from Nduli and Christ the King in what turned out to be right around a 4-hour service. Believe me, it was not this preacher’s fault….
The flow of the ELCT liturgy is a bit different from that of the ELCA, and I admit that's the CtK we’ve monkeyed with the order more than would be tolerated in the ELCT as well. But after the opening Psalm, it all started coming back to me. Turns out it’s the sung liturgy that is more like riding a bike. I knew the tunes. I knew many, perhaps even most of the words. Those I did not know, I knew where to find in the book—even the parts where we jumped around a bit. “Utukufu ni wa Mungu juu Mbinguni” (Glory to God in the highest heaven); “Bwana akaiye nanyi; akaiye na roho yako” (The Lord be with you, and with your spirit); “Hilo ndiyo ni Neno la Bwana” (this is the Word of the Lord). I’d never been to worship in Nduli before, but I this liturgy I began to feel at home.
The time came for the gospel and the sermon, and I stood in the pulpit and closed my eyes briefly to pray. I heard the voice of Pr. Wilson Sanga, one of my “unofficial” internship supervisors, saying “you can preach this, Hanson!” And so I did. I pulled up my socks and did my level best, as my LJS students used to say. It seemed longer than 20 minutes (actually clocked in at 18) and it was at least 10 degrees warmer in the pulpit than in the pews, but I think it went ok. Nobody laughed in appropriately. The only one I noticed falling asleep was a babe in arms (and a couple of the CtK visitors, perhaps, who were not able to follow along). I felt good about it. I felt like I was able to preach the gospel in a way that could be understood by the people we are called to accompany.
Of course, even after the sermon, the service was still not half over.
We continued with the presentation of gifts—shirts for all the male travelers, dresses for all the women, plus honey and peanut butter from the parish’s economic development projects. We offered a communion plate to match the chalice they use at Nduli, as well as colorful wristbands with motivational words in both English and Swahili. Then there were the offerings. Yes, plural—they had two offerings, one for the regular ministries of the parish, one in thanksgiving for the gift of Holy Communion. Worshippers processed up the aisle to place their offering into the basket at the front, all the while singing and/or hearing one of the three choirs that sang that morning (Amani, youth, and children). The youth choir in particular featured many different soloists, as well as some incredible dancing!
Then came holy communion, with Pr Medson and I co-presiding at the Words of Institution. Had I known, I would have also practiced this portion of the liturgy; but as I heard later from CtK folks and Nduli people alike, having both languages was very much appreciated. As we brought the worship service to a close, we followed the ELCT tradition to have the entire congregation recess to the back door, and then gather around outside the church for one more some and a second benediction. At that point I did check my watch—1:15 pm, verifying that it was a four-hour service—but up until then, it didn’t seem that long (ok, it seemed long, but not that long).
A great lunch was followed by a quick trip to hear about the parish’s SACCOS or micro-credit program, as well as to see their milling machine, currently not functional, as they have paid for a new one and are awaiting some legal decisions concerning the company that took that money and has not yet delivered their machine. Finally, we met together with the evangelists of the various preaching points that make up the parish. Any last thoughts and concerns were shared—a particular concern about post-secondary education was asked to be passed along to BKB, for example—and then we began to say our goodbyes to Pastor Medson, his family and the parish leaders at Nduli. I’m sure we created some new connections and deepened some others. I for one look forward to building on what we’ve done already.
Back in Iringa Town, we began our debriefing of our companion synod experience at the BKB office, where we were hosted by Julia Hubbard and Peter Harrits, along with Gary and Carol Langsness and Birdie Olson. While part of the group would be continuing on to Ruaha National Park, and another, smaller group to Arusha as well, Neil and Courtney Hess and I were set to leave before sunrise on Monday morning. This was a great exercise to begin to bring our trip to some closure, focusing on how best to share this experience with others, and in the process helping us understand it better ourselves. I’d like to reflect more on that later. But let me say now, what a blessing it is to be so ably served and led by the BKB staff and volunteers. I feel like this was exactly what I needed to begin to figure out what this trip—and this partnership—might mean in the not-too-distant future.
Bega Kwa Bega (Shoulder to Shoulder),
Pr Peter
Saturday (and still no internet...)
February 6, 2016
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, the pattern has remained the same. Breakfast at the Lutheran Center, off to Nduli for second breakfast (aka “tea”), then off to visit a preaching point or two before lunch at the parsonage, another between lunch and afternoon coffee at the parsonage, and back home in time for dinner. For the record, that’s five meal-like times a day. Hospitality, to be sure, but bordering on overkill.
Today’s visits are much more easily accessible by our famous Coaster bus. The first stop , after tea was to another preaching point known as Kinywanga’anga. There, we were introduced to the evangelist and his family—eight children, including one of the students Christ the King had sponsored. The members of this preaching point also presented us with a altar cloth that we could use during either of the the “green” seasons (after Pentecost or after Epiphany). From there, we went to Kising’a, by far the largest preaching point apart from the main Nduli station.
Some of the excitement around Kising’a involves their new partnership with Compassion International to set up a child development program at Kising’a. Compassion International provides the money and training for the child development staff, while the parish (with the help of Christ the King Foundation) provides funds for the construction of the classrooms, kitchen, and office related to the Child Development Center. The kids from the program shared songs, dances and an elaborate skit with us, and the people responsible for the program shared their vision for the future. It was exciting to see so many kids around the preaching point, and hope that this new development in accompaniment of children living in poverty will also empower the preaching point (and the parish in general) to become more active in their outreach and social ministry programs for the community around them.
After lunch at the parsonage, we returned to Kising'a, to hear more from the leaders of the preaching point as well as to share some questions for Joshua, the confident and well-spoken program director for the Compassion site. IN addition to the more general questions offered by the group, I was able to talk a bit with Joshua and to share our contact information as well. I truly believe that this model of cooperation with groups like CI represents a newer and more helpful way to help children living in poverty to access education and other life skills. Rather than a one-to-one child sponsorship program, CI partners with local organizations, especially church parishes like Nduli, to provide the same access. The result is a better balanced community and congregational strategy, with far less rivalry built up among scholarship recipients.
Dinner was at Saivilla, a rather fancy restaurant located in the house that used to be shared between the Blomquists and the Langnesses during their time as a more constant presence in Tanzania. We ended the evening a bit earlier than usual, as we have a long day ahead of us including Sunday worship at the Nduli main station church. Did I mention I'm preaching? In Swahili?
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, the pattern has remained the same. Breakfast at the Lutheran Center, off to Nduli for second breakfast (aka “tea”), then off to visit a preaching point or two before lunch at the parsonage, another between lunch and afternoon coffee at the parsonage, and back home in time for dinner. For the record, that’s five meal-like times a day. Hospitality, to be sure, but bordering on overkill.
Today’s visits are much more easily accessible by our famous Coaster bus. The first stop , after tea was to another preaching point known as Kinywanga’anga. There, we were introduced to the evangelist and his family—eight children, including one of the students Christ the King had sponsored. The members of this preaching point also presented us with a altar cloth that we could use during either of the the “green” seasons (after Pentecost or after Epiphany). From there, we went to Kising’a, by far the largest preaching point apart from the main Nduli station.
Some of the excitement around Kising’a involves their new partnership with Compassion International to set up a child development program at Kising’a. Compassion International provides the money and training for the child development staff, while the parish (with the help of Christ the King Foundation) provides funds for the construction of the classrooms, kitchen, and office related to the Child Development Center. The kids from the program shared songs, dances and an elaborate skit with us, and the people responsible for the program shared their vision for the future. It was exciting to see so many kids around the preaching point, and hope that this new development in accompaniment of children living in poverty will also empower the preaching point (and the parish in general) to become more active in their outreach and social ministry programs for the community around them.
After lunch at the parsonage, we returned to Kising'a, to hear more from the leaders of the preaching point as well as to share some questions for Joshua, the confident and well-spoken program director for the Compassion site. IN addition to the more general questions offered by the group, I was able to talk a bit with Joshua and to share our contact information as well. I truly believe that this model of cooperation with groups like CI represents a newer and more helpful way to help children living in poverty to access education and other life skills. Rather than a one-to-one child sponsorship program, CI partners with local organizations, especially church parishes like Nduli, to provide the same access. The result is a better balanced community and congregational strategy, with far less rivalry built up among scholarship recipients.
Dinner was at Saivilla, a rather fancy restaurant located in the house that used to be shared between the Blomquists and the Langnesses during their time as a more constant presence in Tanzania. We ended the evening a bit earlier than usual, as we have a long day ahead of us including Sunday worship at the Nduli main station church. Did I mention I'm preaching? In Swahili?
Labda kesho (maybe tomorrow; the Internet that is...)
Pr Peter
Friday (a bit late, since Internet was out throughout Iringa
February 5, 2016
We were concerned that the recent unseasonably heavy rains (which apparently have knocked out the Internet in the area around Iringa Town) would make the roads impassible to the preach points we wanted to visit on Friday. Kulwah suggested that rather than chance t with our 25 passenger Coaster bus, we should opt to take two Land Rover 4x4s, designed for off-roading. While that meant an extra expense, it turned out to be well worth it.
We got two Land Rovers along with an extra driver named Esau. The road to Nduli was not the issue, but after tea at the parsonage, one of the two vehicles dug itself VERY deep it the soft, wet clay in the front of the church compound. Parish workers arrived, seemingly out of nowhere, to put down boards and bricks, while Esau and Kulwah—with expert engineering advice from Dave Bollmeier—attached some chains between the two rivers and prepared to yank the one car out of the mud. Success! Any lingering doubt as to whether we needed to trade the bus for the 4x4s vanished, and we headed out to Kipilulu.
Though later than previewed, a welcoming committee was waiting for us at the main road, and danced and sang us up to the church building. More singing, more introductions, a report from the evangelist, the presentation of a gift from the preaching point—all followed the familiar pattern. In fact, the pattern was so familiar it played out move for move at the next preaching point, Ngongwa, as well.
While heartfelt and sincere, I began to wonder, too, about the routine of this type of welcome. How often has this exact scene played itself out in the biennial CtK trips? What about the other congregations in the Bega Kwa Bega partnership? How scripted is this type of welcome? Again, not to question the sincerity of the people whom we are visiting, but might we all be ready for something different? Something more? Is it possible, to go deeper in these relationships, deeper than the warm welcome, heartfelt singing, exchange of gifts, and report of projects? I'm convinced that it must be; the question of course is “how?”
After lunch, the pattern changed a bit. We went out it visit the site for a new preaching point, one that had not been fully developed yet. And this drive, in the now blazing sun, was the most adventurous so far. We had to cross what we imagine is a dry river bed most of the year. Today, it was somewhere between a roaring stream and a small river. How deep? How muddy? Kulwah, Esau, and Pastor Medson went to check it out, measuring with sticks, shoes, and conversation with some of the local population. Eventually, they decided the best path and blasted through, splashing mud up to the windows, but making it through nonetheless.
Once at the site, we walked for a bit, then surveyed the plot that had been sold to the church at a favorable price by a member of the congregation, and a potential leader of the new preaching point. We walked to the place where worship was happening currently--I'm not sure exactly what it was, but it seemed like a spare room in the rural Tanzania version of an agricultural outbuilding. The vision for this new preaching point in this particular place was both logical and compelling. As the city of Iringa grows toward Nduli, a new secondary school has recently been opened at this site, and is currently adding a grade every year. As they do, they are also building teachers’s housing. Lots of new people, especially young people, are newly in the area. In fact, the bulk of the worshipping group at the temporary site are children and youth.
To prepare for growth in a place that is growing is a great move on the part of the parish leadership. To expand where there is a emerging critical mass of young people is wise indeed. At the same time, I'm reminded of something our Presiding Bishop has been fond of saying. We have to stop referring to young people as the future of the church, she says. The youth are the present of our church. Jesus is the future of the church.
Let's see what tomorrow brings...
Mchungaji Peter
We were concerned that the recent unseasonably heavy rains (which apparently have knocked out the Internet in the area around Iringa Town) would make the roads impassible to the preach points we wanted to visit on Friday. Kulwah suggested that rather than chance t with our 25 passenger Coaster bus, we should opt to take two Land Rover 4x4s, designed for off-roading. While that meant an extra expense, it turned out to be well worth it.
We got two Land Rovers along with an extra driver named Esau. The road to Nduli was not the issue, but after tea at the parsonage, one of the two vehicles dug itself VERY deep it the soft, wet clay in the front of the church compound. Parish workers arrived, seemingly out of nowhere, to put down boards and bricks, while Esau and Kulwah—with expert engineering advice from Dave Bollmeier—attached some chains between the two rivers and prepared to yank the one car out of the mud. Success! Any lingering doubt as to whether we needed to trade the bus for the 4x4s vanished, and we headed out to Kipilulu.
Though later than previewed, a welcoming committee was waiting for us at the main road, and danced and sang us up to the church building. More singing, more introductions, a report from the evangelist, the presentation of a gift from the preaching point—all followed the familiar pattern. In fact, the pattern was so familiar it played out move for move at the next preaching point, Ngongwa, as well.
While heartfelt and sincere, I began to wonder, too, about the routine of this type of welcome. How often has this exact scene played itself out in the biennial CtK trips? What about the other congregations in the Bega Kwa Bega partnership? How scripted is this type of welcome? Again, not to question the sincerity of the people whom we are visiting, but might we all be ready for something different? Something more? Is it possible, to go deeper in these relationships, deeper than the warm welcome, heartfelt singing, exchange of gifts, and report of projects? I'm convinced that it must be; the question of course is “how?”
After lunch, the pattern changed a bit. We went out it visit the site for a new preaching point, one that had not been fully developed yet. And this drive, in the now blazing sun, was the most adventurous so far. We had to cross what we imagine is a dry river bed most of the year. Today, it was somewhere between a roaring stream and a small river. How deep? How muddy? Kulwah, Esau, and Pastor Medson went to check it out, measuring with sticks, shoes, and conversation with some of the local population. Eventually, they decided the best path and blasted through, splashing mud up to the windows, but making it through nonetheless.
Once at the site, we walked for a bit, then surveyed the plot that had been sold to the church at a favorable price by a member of the congregation, and a potential leader of the new preaching point. We walked to the place where worship was happening currently--I'm not sure exactly what it was, but it seemed like a spare room in the rural Tanzania version of an agricultural outbuilding. The vision for this new preaching point in this particular place was both logical and compelling. As the city of Iringa grows toward Nduli, a new secondary school has recently been opened at this site, and is currently adding a grade every year. As they do, they are also building teachers’s housing. Lots of new people, especially young people, are newly in the area. In fact, the bulk of the worshipping group at the temporary site are children and youth.
To prepare for growth in a place that is growing is a great move on the part of the parish leadership. To expand where there is a emerging critical mass of young people is wise indeed. At the same time, I'm reminded of something our Presiding Bishop has been fond of saying. We have to stop referring to young people as the future of the church, she says. The youth are the present of our church. Jesus is the future of the church.
Let's see what tomorrow brings...
Mchungaji Peter
Thursday (posting delayed, no internet in Iringa
February 4, 2016
We got to the heart of what our Bega Kwa Bega relationship is all about today as we began to visit the various sites of our sister congregation, the Nduli Parish.
Nduli is located just a few kilometers outside of Iringa Town, by the Iringa Airport. To get there, you head out on one of the newest and nicest roads in the area, the recently renovated road to Dodoma. Smooth sailing all the way from the Lutheran Center until the last stretch—which is less than a kilometer, I believe. We arrived at the Nduli “main station” compound right on time, and were greeted by some of the central figures in the life of the congregation. Pastor Medson was among the first, along with associate, Pastor Tumsifu. She has been working with the parish just since her ordination this past January 17—that is, about three weeks ago!
In addition to the pastoral staff, we were greeted by the elders of the congregation, including the choir director, who led the others in several welcoming songs, accompanying them on a large drum. Parish workers (what we might call custodians or stewards) were also there, as well as some of the members who live the closest to the church building.
We shared in a time of devotions, with the ad hoc choir offering some songs, as well as leading us in another, with the help of the ELCT hymnal (and the fact that Swahili is a completely phonetic language). We introduced ourselves, sang some more, and then headed into the parsonage for “tea,” what some of us might have called “second breakfast” of boiled eggs, chapati (fried flat bread), mandazi (a lot like beignets), fruit and porridge.
This is the first time at CtK group has seen the parsonage fully inhabited by the lead pastor and his family. It is large and comfortable, with room for groups of visitors like ours. We met (for most, not for the first time) Maka, who is the pastor’s wife and a graduate student in education, majoring in French and Swahili. We also met Samuel, Maka and Medson’s son, born since the last group was there, but whom we had heard so much about.
After this gracious and abundant hospitality at the parsonage, we loaded up the Coaster bus and headed out to the first of our three visits to Nduli’s preaching points—or so we thought. Arriving at the first preaching point, Mtalalgala, and having been warmly greeted by folks there, who approached us on the dirt path, singing a welcome song to us, Pastor Medson let us know that with the creation of a new parish in the area, this preaching point, as well as the one we would visit next, would be transferred from Nduli to the care of the new parish. He wanted to make sure we visited these all the same, so that we could understand this news in context. While a bit of s surprise, it can only be considered good news, as it is a sign of the Church’s continued growth and the strength of its evangelistic outreach, having to add new parishes and redivide the preaching points.
The leaders of this preaching point presented the CtK groups with a pair of kangas (traditional cloths with Swahili proverbs on them). These, which are red and yellow: Kupendana ni kuvuvuka udugu yetu. “To love one another is to strengthen our relationship” (the last word, however is more specific than the general sense of relationship: more like familial ties). What a great gift and reminder of the familial ties we are working to strengthen through our prayer, presence, and projects.
From there, we went to the second preaching point to be transferred to the newly created parish. Mgongo’s leaders, including the new parish pastor, the evangelist, the general secretary of the parish (think Church Council president), as well as elders and members met us, welcomed us, pledged their continuing prayers for us, and presented us with a gift. This time, it was not the traditional kanga, but rather an altar cloth, on which is embroidered in Swahili the opening verse to Psalm 133: “how good, how pleasant it is when God’s people live together in the unity.” Not only had this been our devotional text the day before (coincidence? I think not…) since the altar cloth is purple, we will be able to use this during the season of Lent, which begins the day after my return to Minnesota. What a great visible sign of our unity as the people of God!
We returned to the parsonage in a bit of a downpour, which had actually started at Mgongo before we left the church building. By now, the rain was starting to make some ruts in the dirt road—not a problem if we were to head back to town on the Dodoma road; but this third preaching point included a muddy last leg. Kulwah was concerned, but not exactly worried—he had already proven himself as a very capable driver in a whole host of conditions.
Lunch was the definition of abundance, provided by Maka and some other women from the parish. Rice, peas, cabbage plus grilled chicken and goat meat, chicken in a tomato based sauce, and beef in an onion gravy. IN addition to water and soda, Maka had made to fresh juices, one a mango & papaya mix, one an avocado-passion fruit blend. Very refreshing, and a perfect complement to the gracious hospitality offered from start to finish. During this lunch pause, we also had our daily devotions, led by Marlys Melius, and we rehearsed a song that we might be able to sing as a visitor’s group, should we be called on at one of the next stops.
Ingingilanyi was our third visit, and by far our warmest welcome. As it was afternoon, school children from the parish were now finished with school, and they and they elders met us where the paved road met their dirt road. This was a good thing for Kulwah and the bus, of course, and we ventured out into what was now deep, think, squishy mud. We sang and danced with the greeting crew, all the way up to the site of the preaching point. Once in the church building, we heard both from the adult choir, led by a very animated director, and from the children’s choir, who sang both in Swahili and English. As we had done at all three sites, we introduced ourselves, received a brief report of the preaching point’s activities, and then received a gift. This time, though, they called on us to sing—and we were prepared! We are Marching in the Light of God, we sang in English, with church members joining us in Swahili. They even let me borrow a drum…. The gift was another purple cloth, perhaps too large for the altar, but which could be easily converted to an accompanying banner for Lent.
In case we had not felt warmly enough welcomed (we had!) we went back to the parsonage for additional hospitality, afternoon coffee or tea, with fresh roasted peanuts. It was the end to a wonderful and wonderfully full day of visits, addition building blocks to the solid foundation of relationship between Christ the King and the Nduli Parish. Though our shoes might need some cleaning off after yesterday’s muddy paths, they are easily cleaned off for another day of visits.
We got to the heart of what our Bega Kwa Bega relationship is all about today as we began to visit the various sites of our sister congregation, the Nduli Parish.
Nduli is located just a few kilometers outside of Iringa Town, by the Iringa Airport. To get there, you head out on one of the newest and nicest roads in the area, the recently renovated road to Dodoma. Smooth sailing all the way from the Lutheran Center until the last stretch—which is less than a kilometer, I believe. We arrived at the Nduli “main station” compound right on time, and were greeted by some of the central figures in the life of the congregation. Pastor Medson was among the first, along with associate, Pastor Tumsifu. She has been working with the parish just since her ordination this past January 17—that is, about three weeks ago!
In addition to the pastoral staff, we were greeted by the elders of the congregation, including the choir director, who led the others in several welcoming songs, accompanying them on a large drum. Parish workers (what we might call custodians or stewards) were also there, as well as some of the members who live the closest to the church building.
We shared in a time of devotions, with the ad hoc choir offering some songs, as well as leading us in another, with the help of the ELCT hymnal (and the fact that Swahili is a completely phonetic language). We introduced ourselves, sang some more, and then headed into the parsonage for “tea,” what some of us might have called “second breakfast” of boiled eggs, chapati (fried flat bread), mandazi (a lot like beignets), fruit and porridge.
This is the first time at CtK group has seen the parsonage fully inhabited by the lead pastor and his family. It is large and comfortable, with room for groups of visitors like ours. We met (for most, not for the first time) Maka, who is the pastor’s wife and a graduate student in education, majoring in French and Swahili. We also met Samuel, Maka and Medson’s son, born since the last group was there, but whom we had heard so much about.
After this gracious and abundant hospitality at the parsonage, we loaded up the Coaster bus and headed out to the first of our three visits to Nduli’s preaching points—or so we thought. Arriving at the first preaching point, Mtalalgala, and having been warmly greeted by folks there, who approached us on the dirt path, singing a welcome song to us, Pastor Medson let us know that with the creation of a new parish in the area, this preaching point, as well as the one we would visit next, would be transferred from Nduli to the care of the new parish. He wanted to make sure we visited these all the same, so that we could understand this news in context. While a bit of s surprise, it can only be considered good news, as it is a sign of the Church’s continued growth and the strength of its evangelistic outreach, having to add new parishes and redivide the preaching points.
The leaders of this preaching point presented the CtK groups with a pair of kangas (traditional cloths with Swahili proverbs on them). These, which are red and yellow: Kupendana ni kuvuvuka udugu yetu. “To love one another is to strengthen our relationship” (the last word, however is more specific than the general sense of relationship: more like familial ties). What a great gift and reminder of the familial ties we are working to strengthen through our prayer, presence, and projects.
From there, we went to the second preaching point to be transferred to the newly created parish. Mgongo’s leaders, including the new parish pastor, the evangelist, the general secretary of the parish (think Church Council president), as well as elders and members met us, welcomed us, pledged their continuing prayers for us, and presented us with a gift. This time, it was not the traditional kanga, but rather an altar cloth, on which is embroidered in Swahili the opening verse to Psalm 133: “how good, how pleasant it is when God’s people live together in the unity.” Not only had this been our devotional text the day before (coincidence? I think not…) since the altar cloth is purple, we will be able to use this during the season of Lent, which begins the day after my return to Minnesota. What a great visible sign of our unity as the people of God!
We returned to the parsonage in a bit of a downpour, which had actually started at Mgongo before we left the church building. By now, the rain was starting to make some ruts in the dirt road—not a problem if we were to head back to town on the Dodoma road; but this third preaching point included a muddy last leg. Kulwah was concerned, but not exactly worried—he had already proven himself as a very capable driver in a whole host of conditions.
Lunch was the definition of abundance, provided by Maka and some other women from the parish. Rice, peas, cabbage plus grilled chicken and goat meat, chicken in a tomato based sauce, and beef in an onion gravy. IN addition to water and soda, Maka had made to fresh juices, one a mango & papaya mix, one an avocado-passion fruit blend. Very refreshing, and a perfect complement to the gracious hospitality offered from start to finish. During this lunch pause, we also had our daily devotions, led by Marlys Melius, and we rehearsed a song that we might be able to sing as a visitor’s group, should we be called on at one of the next stops.
Ingingilanyi was our third visit, and by far our warmest welcome. As it was afternoon, school children from the parish were now finished with school, and they and they elders met us where the paved road met their dirt road. This was a good thing for Kulwah and the bus, of course, and we ventured out into what was now deep, think, squishy mud. We sang and danced with the greeting crew, all the way up to the site of the preaching point. Once in the church building, we heard both from the adult choir, led by a very animated director, and from the children’s choir, who sang both in Swahili and English. As we had done at all three sites, we introduced ourselves, received a brief report of the preaching point’s activities, and then received a gift. This time, though, they called on us to sing—and we were prepared! We are Marching in the Light of God, we sang in English, with church members joining us in Swahili. They even let me borrow a drum…. The gift was another purple cloth, perhaps too large for the altar, but which could be easily converted to an accompanying banner for Lent.
In case we had not felt warmly enough welcomed (we had!) we went back to the parsonage for additional hospitality, afternoon coffee or tea, with fresh roasted peanuts. It was the end to a wonderful and wonderfully full day of visits, addition building blocks to the solid foundation of relationship between Christ the King and the Nduli Parish. Though our shoes might need some cleaning off after yesterday’s muddy paths, they are easily cleaned off for another day of visits.
Neema na Amani,
Pr Peter
Wednesday (posting delayed, lack of Internet)
February 3, 2016
I'm not sure we could have had a fuller day.
We began with breakfast at the Lutheran center, which is clean, well-appointed, and very well run with a friendly and competent staff. We shared devotions on Psalm 133, in which Nate Crary and beard oil may or may not have been mentioned. And then off to a very charged day.
First, we visited the Head Office of the Diocese of Iringa (DIRA) where we received both a warm welcome and a helpful introduction from the General Secretary of the Diocese, Mr Nayman Chavalla (think of him as the assistant to the bishop for administration). He reminded us of the three main pillars of the BegaKwaBega partnership, valid on among both the Tanzania and USAmerican partners: prayers, presence, and projects.
For prayers, he said that this is not optional for congregations in DIRA, and that Tanzanian parishes pray for their USAmerican companions every Sunday, and some every day. Speaking of presence, he stressed the importance of visitation in both sides, too. Simply being in one another’s space helps understand the daily life of the other. Projects, he said, are I moorland, too, as we are able to participate in the economic development of our partners, leading to them being sustainably self-reliant in the future. Mr Chavalla also reminded us of the importance of relationships over time, noting that we started llate, he still gave us our fully allotted time and more (meaning someone else may have been waiting for him) because our relationship trumps his schedule.
From there, we drove to the University of Iringa, and received both a great tour and history of the founding of the University (founded as Tumaini University) by BKB Coordinator Emeritus, Pr Gary Langness. Despite its current financial problems, we could still see—and in many ways feel—the hope for the future reflected in the name Tumaini. As the plaque at the obelisk at the center of campus rightly states, that university is itself a tribute to the tenacity and vision of Bishop Mdagella and Arne and Mary Blomquist.
From there we went to Neema crafts, a workshop and café that employs deaf people and people living with different disabilities. A social ministry of the Anglican Church (with support coming from the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota) Neema has a great café and guest house, and makes all sort of craft products—clothing, jewelry, hand bags, notebooks, even neckties and boxer shorts! Most of the waiters in the café are deaf, so orders ar completed using sign language (a few simple gestures are included in the menu) or submitted in written form. It was amazing how easy it turned out to be. And great food, too!
From there we drove out to Huruma orphanage. Huruma—compassion in Swahili, apropos of our annual CtK theme—was founded in 1994, at the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis in Tanzania. Before decent treatment like anti-retrovirals (ARVs) became widely available, being HIV positive was pretty much a death sentence. Hundreds of children were living on the streets in Iringa, and would pass in groups by the diocese office. A task force was put together, including Mama Chilewa, and eventually an orphanage was established under her direction. They have maintained a ministry for orphans and other vulnerable children since those days. Today, they have 30 children who live there, plus another 30 or so who remain under their surveillance while living “off campus.” Mama Chilewa is a tireless advocate and consummate “mama” to many children—now even a second generation. She is certainly clothed not only with compassion, but also with humility, meekness, kindness and patience. God is continuing to bless her to be a blessing to so many throughout this region. As fitting as the name Huruma is for this orphanage, it could just as easily be called “Tumaini” (hope), “Imani” (faith), or even “Mama Chilewa’s extended family.”
We finished the evening at Mama Iringa pizza, which, as it turns out is part of an non-governmental organization connected with an Italian Roman Catholic order. Great pizza, great pasta, and another ministry of empowerment for young people.
Tomorrow, we begin our more formal visits to the Nduli parish and its seven preaching points. I can’t wait…
Mungu awenanyi (may God go with you all),
Peter
I'm not sure we could have had a fuller day.
We began with breakfast at the Lutheran center, which is clean, well-appointed, and very well run with a friendly and competent staff. We shared devotions on Psalm 133, in which Nate Crary and beard oil may or may not have been mentioned. And then off to a very charged day.
First, we visited the Head Office of the Diocese of Iringa (DIRA) where we received both a warm welcome and a helpful introduction from the General Secretary of the Diocese, Mr Nayman Chavalla (think of him as the assistant to the bishop for administration). He reminded us of the three main pillars of the BegaKwaBega partnership, valid on among both the Tanzania and USAmerican partners: prayers, presence, and projects.
For prayers, he said that this is not optional for congregations in DIRA, and that Tanzanian parishes pray for their USAmerican companions every Sunday, and some every day. Speaking of presence, he stressed the importance of visitation in both sides, too. Simply being in one another’s space helps understand the daily life of the other. Projects, he said, are I moorland, too, as we are able to participate in the economic development of our partners, leading to them being sustainably self-reliant in the future. Mr Chavalla also reminded us of the importance of relationships over time, noting that we started llate, he still gave us our fully allotted time and more (meaning someone else may have been waiting for him) because our relationship trumps his schedule.
From there, we drove to the University of Iringa, and received both a great tour and history of the founding of the University (founded as Tumaini University) by BKB Coordinator Emeritus, Pr Gary Langness. Despite its current financial problems, we could still see—and in many ways feel—the hope for the future reflected in the name Tumaini. As the plaque at the obelisk at the center of campus rightly states, that university is itself a tribute to the tenacity and vision of Bishop Mdagella and Arne and Mary Blomquist.
From there we went to Neema crafts, a workshop and café that employs deaf people and people living with different disabilities. A social ministry of the Anglican Church (with support coming from the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota) Neema has a great café and guest house, and makes all sort of craft products—clothing, jewelry, hand bags, notebooks, even neckties and boxer shorts! Most of the waiters in the café are deaf, so orders ar completed using sign language (a few simple gestures are included in the menu) or submitted in written form. It was amazing how easy it turned out to be. And great food, too!
From there we drove out to Huruma orphanage. Huruma—compassion in Swahili, apropos of our annual CtK theme—was founded in 1994, at the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis in Tanzania. Before decent treatment like anti-retrovirals (ARVs) became widely available, being HIV positive was pretty much a death sentence. Hundreds of children were living on the streets in Iringa, and would pass in groups by the diocese office. A task force was put together, including Mama Chilewa, and eventually an orphanage was established under her direction. They have maintained a ministry for orphans and other vulnerable children since those days. Today, they have 30 children who live there, plus another 30 or so who remain under their surveillance while living “off campus.” Mama Chilewa is a tireless advocate and consummate “mama” to many children—now even a second generation. She is certainly clothed not only with compassion, but also with humility, meekness, kindness and patience. God is continuing to bless her to be a blessing to so many throughout this region. As fitting as the name Huruma is for this orphanage, it could just as easily be called “Tumaini” (hope), “Imani” (faith), or even “Mama Chilewa’s extended family.”
We finished the evening at Mama Iringa pizza, which, as it turns out is part of an non-governmental organization connected with an Italian Roman Catholic order. Great pizza, great pasta, and another ministry of empowerment for young people.
Tomorrow, we begin our more formal visits to the Nduli parish and its seven preaching points. I can’t wait…
Mungu awenanyi (may God go with you all),
Peter
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
February 2, 2016
We have arrived in Iringa!
Most of us slept quite well to the sound of gentle rain on the thatched roofs over our tented room sites. With a later start time than yesterday, we ambled up to breakfast, shared in some devotions, and then left Mikumi park around 9--destination Iringa.
Kulwah proved himself once again as a very skilled driver, negotiating the tight turns, steep climbs and (seemingly) steeper descents on the way to Iringa town. Though perhaps not as thrilling as a game drive through the park, the vibrant and lush scenery, as well as the distinct contrasts to what we had seen both in Dar and Mikumi did seem to keep our attention during the drive. We arrived in Iringa for a late lunch: and as Pr Peter Harrits (Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Bega Kwa Bega for the St Paul Area Synod) spotted our bus arrive in town, he met us at one restaurant in order to recommend a different one, based on both the hour and the input he had received from the owner of the understaffed first place. After lunch we made our way to the very comfortable Lutheran Centre, found our rooms, and settled in for week.
I took the opportunity to go and see Peter in the BKB office across the street, where I also met up with BKB program coordinator, Julia Hubbard, and short-term volunteer, Birdie Olson. After two years on the Iringa Committee, it was great to finally see the nerve center of our Synod's companion work in Tanzania. It was fun to connect with Peter, Julia, and Birdie, too.
We had the afternoon free, during which time some of us rested, others shopped, others explored Iringa, others planned our visits with Nduli Parish pastor Medson; I connected with the LC's wi-if and posted the blogs from the past few days. The evening ended with some great conversations with our BKB leadership, plus the unveiling of our visit schedule for the next few days. Tomorrow, we're off to the Diocese office, plus Neema crafts (a workshop for handicapped adults), the University of Iringa, plus Huruma orphanage. A full day, to be sure, and also one of great relationship-building and discovery of some of the great work we have the privilege of accompanying.
I'm torn between wanting to have a broader experience of the many wonderful things to take in within the Iringa Diocese and wanting to have a deeper experience of a few of them.To be sure it will be good to see the breadth of ministry being done here. At the same time, I crave the opportunity to get to know some of the people doing this ministry a little bit better. At least, I want to lay the groundwork of some of these relationships that could then develop over time, bridging the great distance between Nduli and New Brighton, between Tanzania and the USA.
Mostly, though, I want to be sure that I don't enter into the next few days of visits with the same attitude one has on a safari game drive: going from here to there, observing from a safe distance, checking things off my list.
I want to begin to know who these brothers and sisters are. What are their joys and their struggles? How can I best pray for them? What might I truly learn from them? How might the practice of my faith in Jesus Christ be deepened and broadened for having shared with them in the practice of their faith? What road might we make by walking together?
Neema na Amani,
Mchungaji Peter
We have arrived in Iringa!
Most of us slept quite well to the sound of gentle rain on the thatched roofs over our tented room sites. With a later start time than yesterday, we ambled up to breakfast, shared in some devotions, and then left Mikumi park around 9--destination Iringa.
Kulwah proved himself once again as a very skilled driver, negotiating the tight turns, steep climbs and (seemingly) steeper descents on the way to Iringa town. Though perhaps not as thrilling as a game drive through the park, the vibrant and lush scenery, as well as the distinct contrasts to what we had seen both in Dar and Mikumi did seem to keep our attention during the drive. We arrived in Iringa for a late lunch: and as Pr Peter Harrits (Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Bega Kwa Bega for the St Paul Area Synod) spotted our bus arrive in town, he met us at one restaurant in order to recommend a different one, based on both the hour and the input he had received from the owner of the understaffed first place. After lunch we made our way to the very comfortable Lutheran Centre, found our rooms, and settled in for week.
I took the opportunity to go and see Peter in the BKB office across the street, where I also met up with BKB program coordinator, Julia Hubbard, and short-term volunteer, Birdie Olson. After two years on the Iringa Committee, it was great to finally see the nerve center of our Synod's companion work in Tanzania. It was fun to connect with Peter, Julia, and Birdie, too.
We had the afternoon free, during which time some of us rested, others shopped, others explored Iringa, others planned our visits with Nduli Parish pastor Medson; I connected with the LC's wi-if and posted the blogs from the past few days. The evening ended with some great conversations with our BKB leadership, plus the unveiling of our visit schedule for the next few days. Tomorrow, we're off to the Diocese office, plus Neema crafts (a workshop for handicapped adults), the University of Iringa, plus Huruma orphanage. A full day, to be sure, and also one of great relationship-building and discovery of some of the great work we have the privilege of accompanying.
I'm torn between wanting to have a broader experience of the many wonderful things to take in within the Iringa Diocese and wanting to have a deeper experience of a few of them.To be sure it will be good to see the breadth of ministry being done here. At the same time, I crave the opportunity to get to know some of the people doing this ministry a little bit better. At least, I want to lay the groundwork of some of these relationships that could then develop over time, bridging the great distance between Nduli and New Brighton, between Tanzania and the USA.
Mostly, though, I want to be sure that I don't enter into the next few days of visits with the same attitude one has on a safari game drive: going from here to there, observing from a safe distance, checking things off my list.
I want to begin to know who these brothers and sisters are. What are their joys and their struggles? How can I best pray for them? What might I truly learn from them? How might the practice of my faith in Jesus Christ be deepened and broadened for having shared with them in the practice of their faith? What road might we make by walking together?
Neema na Amani,
Mchungaji Peter
February 1, 2016.
We woke up before breakfast, as my grandfather used to say, to get an early start through the Dar es Salaam traffic. More or less rested, well fed and back on the bus, we headed out at 7am, but not before Kulwah asked us if we were going to pray before we began the trip. With the group politely deferring to me as mchungaji (Swahili for pastor), I offered thanksgiving for our safe arrival and prayers of blessing and protection for all of us--and Kulwah in particular--and off we went.
Almost immediately, we hit the morning rush hour traffic. Even on the far side of downtown, Dar is enough of a sprawling city that the first few kilometers went very slowly, caught in traffic jams. The first turn we made, though, was onto the University Road, and at the first seemingly-forever stoplight we caught a glimpse of the University of Dar es Salaam--Nkrumah Hall, the colorful covered amphitheater at the center of campus along with the tall dormitories like my own "Hall 6." Turning west, we got on the Morogoro road, and then settled in for the drive to Mkumi National Park.
About four hours into what turned out to be a six hour drive, we passed Morogoro, and specifically the entrance to the Lutheran Junior Seminary, where I had served my internship year in 1992-93. Even from the highway, I was able to see the row of staff houses where Sarah and I lived, along with the chapel, cemetery, and the assembly grounds. I'm looking forward to stopping in and looking around on the way back to Dar next week, and truly wonder if there's anyone there I remember, or who might remember me!
About 1 pm, we arrived at Mkumi's main gate, and waited to have our luggage transferred to the Land Rovers that would take us deeper into the park, where we'd be spending the night. A good decision not to take the bus on those roads--thanks to the light rain that was falling, even the four-wheel-drives were slipping just a little bit. We checked into our "rooms" at the tented camp (glamping, I believe this is called) had lunch and a rest, then met up for a game drive through the Park at 4. Giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, impala, elan, baboons, many different birds (including some vultures), jackals, hippos--we saw these all again and again, but no lions and an elephant only from the distance. Sadly, there are no more rhinos in Mkumi.
It's hard not to be awed by this incredible glimpse of God's creation and God's creatures in their natural habitat. Wide open spaces, animals mostly oblivious to our intrusion into their lives, skilled guides and drivers making sure we saw what we set out to see. The folks who run the tented camp, with its solar power and gently-engineered infrastructure are certainly being God stewards of this place, caring for it rather than exploiting it, using the tourist trade to preserve this habitat as best as can be done.
Still, it feels a bit surreal, too. As thrilling as our first safari has been, I'm anxious to get to the core of our trip together--walking alongside our sisters and brothers in Christ in the Nduli Parish of the Iringa Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. This journey of accompaniment and transformation seems like it hasn't quite started yet.
Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for the wonderful opportunity to be at Mkumi and go on a game drive--and I appreciate the great amount of organizing and effort it took to arrange for this to happen. But since this trip, and indeed our entire companion relationship with Nduli, DIRA and the ELCT has to do with relationships, I want to begin diving into those relationships, to meet Pastor Medson, the evangelists, and leaders, as well as the faithful members of the parish and its 8 preaching points. I'm ready to see and experience the church in action, in the schools, clinics, orphanages, agricultural projects, and university of the Diocese. With the short time we have here, I want to make the most of these connections--to not just pray for and about these fellow believers, but actually pray WITH them.
Patience. Let us pray for patience. And Let us pray for the open eyes, open heart, and open mind to see what God is up to in this place, among these people. To actually see it for the first time! as some among us will do. And for the rest of us--myself included, of course--to see it all over again, as if for the first time.
We woke up before breakfast, as my grandfather used to say, to get an early start through the Dar es Salaam traffic. More or less rested, well fed and back on the bus, we headed out at 7am, but not before Kulwah asked us if we were going to pray before we began the trip. With the group politely deferring to me as mchungaji (Swahili for pastor), I offered thanksgiving for our safe arrival and prayers of blessing and protection for all of us--and Kulwah in particular--and off we went.
Almost immediately, we hit the morning rush hour traffic. Even on the far side of downtown, Dar is enough of a sprawling city that the first few kilometers went very slowly, caught in traffic jams. The first turn we made, though, was onto the University Road, and at the first seemingly-forever stoplight we caught a glimpse of the University of Dar es Salaam--Nkrumah Hall, the colorful covered amphitheater at the center of campus along with the tall dormitories like my own "Hall 6." Turning west, we got on the Morogoro road, and then settled in for the drive to Mkumi National Park.
About four hours into what turned out to be a six hour drive, we passed Morogoro, and specifically the entrance to the Lutheran Junior Seminary, where I had served my internship year in 1992-93. Even from the highway, I was able to see the row of staff houses where Sarah and I lived, along with the chapel, cemetery, and the assembly grounds. I'm looking forward to stopping in and looking around on the way back to Dar next week, and truly wonder if there's anyone there I remember, or who might remember me!
About 1 pm, we arrived at Mkumi's main gate, and waited to have our luggage transferred to the Land Rovers that would take us deeper into the park, where we'd be spending the night. A good decision not to take the bus on those roads--thanks to the light rain that was falling, even the four-wheel-drives were slipping just a little bit. We checked into our "rooms" at the tented camp (glamping, I believe this is called) had lunch and a rest, then met up for a game drive through the Park at 4. Giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, impala, elan, baboons, many different birds (including some vultures), jackals, hippos--we saw these all again and again, but no lions and an elephant only from the distance. Sadly, there are no more rhinos in Mkumi.
It's hard not to be awed by this incredible glimpse of God's creation and God's creatures in their natural habitat. Wide open spaces, animals mostly oblivious to our intrusion into their lives, skilled guides and drivers making sure we saw what we set out to see. The folks who run the tented camp, with its solar power and gently-engineered infrastructure are certainly being God stewards of this place, caring for it rather than exploiting it, using the tourist trade to preserve this habitat as best as can be done.
Still, it feels a bit surreal, too. As thrilling as our first safari has been, I'm anxious to get to the core of our trip together--walking alongside our sisters and brothers in Christ in the Nduli Parish of the Iringa Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. This journey of accompaniment and transformation seems like it hasn't quite started yet.
Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for the wonderful opportunity to be at Mkumi and go on a game drive--and I appreciate the great amount of organizing and effort it took to arrange for this to happen. But since this trip, and indeed our entire companion relationship with Nduli, DIRA and the ELCT has to do with relationships, I want to begin diving into those relationships, to meet Pastor Medson, the evangelists, and leaders, as well as the faithful members of the parish and its 8 preaching points. I'm ready to see and experience the church in action, in the schools, clinics, orphanages, agricultural projects, and university of the Diocese. With the short time we have here, I want to make the most of these connections--to not just pray for and about these fellow believers, but actually pray WITH them.
Patience. Let us pray for patience. And Let us pray for the open eyes, open heart, and open mind to see what God is up to in this place, among these people. To actually see it for the first time! as some among us will do. And for the rest of us--myself included, of course--to see it all over again, as if for the first time.
January 31: Arrival.
We arrived in Dar es Salaam late in the evening. By the time we cleared immigration, got our luggage and changed money, it was already after 11 pm (and more than 24 hours since most of us arrived at the airport in Minneapolis).
And while most of us were feeling some degree of travel fatigue, that sense was more then tempered by an exhilaration to be in Tanzania. For three of us, it was the reality of arriving for the first time after all the preparations, including hearing stories from the more seasoned travelers. For others, it was the thrill of being back in a place that has meant so much to them, full of people who have had an impact on these return CtK travelers' lives. For me, it was a return after near 23 years to the first place my feet ever stood on African soil.
Much had changed, of course, since the last time I was here. There was a jetway, for starters, no hot, humid descent from the airplane on an open staircase. The immigration and customs process seemed better organized, as was the luggage claim and money exchange. But the covered terrace just outside the arrival lounge seemed very familiar--and I had a rush of nostalgia like for my first arrival in Dar in 1985 as I stepped out onto that patio space.
We were met not only by the bus driver, Kulwah, who will be with us for the week in Iringa, but also by two young people who had been scholarship students sponsored by the Chapmans. Our luggage loaded in the back, we headed out towards our hotel for the night, as I struggled to see any familiar sites on the dark highway. Beyond the general "look" of Dar by night, there weren't that many; of course my fondest memories of Tanzania are not usually found in the industrial zone near the airport!
Early takeaways:
Appropriate technology: while the electronic key cards at our hotel were slick, we weary travelers may have appreciated an old-fashioned skeleton key to get us to our beds a half hour or so earlier.
My Swahili is rusty, dormant, and buried under a few other languages. But it is fun to test that muscle memory and see to what degree it might return.
I am mostly ready to be in Iringa and with our ELCT companions. I might have even put up with a long bus ride through the night to be there already today.
The Tanzanian Schilling has changed incredibly in value since my first trip. The official exchange rate in 1985 was 17 Schillings to 1 US Dollar. Tonight we got more than 2100.
Azam bread, whose bakery we passed last night, no longer has the motto "fortified with extra fat and sugar."
These ten days a going to fly by...
Neema na Amani (grace and peace)
Peter
We arrived in Dar es Salaam late in the evening. By the time we cleared immigration, got our luggage and changed money, it was already after 11 pm (and more than 24 hours since most of us arrived at the airport in Minneapolis).
And while most of us were feeling some degree of travel fatigue, that sense was more then tempered by an exhilaration to be in Tanzania. For three of us, it was the reality of arriving for the first time after all the preparations, including hearing stories from the more seasoned travelers. For others, it was the thrill of being back in a place that has meant so much to them, full of people who have had an impact on these return CtK travelers' lives. For me, it was a return after near 23 years to the first place my feet ever stood on African soil.
Much had changed, of course, since the last time I was here. There was a jetway, for starters, no hot, humid descent from the airplane on an open staircase. The immigration and customs process seemed better organized, as was the luggage claim and money exchange. But the covered terrace just outside the arrival lounge seemed very familiar--and I had a rush of nostalgia like for my first arrival in Dar in 1985 as I stepped out onto that patio space.
We were met not only by the bus driver, Kulwah, who will be with us for the week in Iringa, but also by two young people who had been scholarship students sponsored by the Chapmans. Our luggage loaded in the back, we headed out towards our hotel for the night, as I struggled to see any familiar sites on the dark highway. Beyond the general "look" of Dar by night, there weren't that many; of course my fondest memories of Tanzania are not usually found in the industrial zone near the airport!
Early takeaways:
Appropriate technology: while the electronic key cards at our hotel were slick, we weary travelers may have appreciated an old-fashioned skeleton key to get us to our beds a half hour or so earlier.
My Swahili is rusty, dormant, and buried under a few other languages. But it is fun to test that muscle memory and see to what degree it might return.
I am mostly ready to be in Iringa and with our ELCT companions. I might have even put up with a long bus ride through the night to be there already today.
The Tanzanian Schilling has changed incredibly in value since my first trip. The official exchange rate in 1985 was 17 Schillings to 1 US Dollar. Tonight we got more than 2100.
Azam bread, whose bakery we passed last night, no longer has the motto "fortified with extra fat and sugar."
These ten days a going to fly by...
Neema na Amani (grace and peace)
Peter
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Day one: In transit
January 31, 2016
The first leg of the journey is complete! 12 of the 14 CtK travelers met up at MSP international airport (the Hesses flew through Chicago) to begin the first leg of our Tanzania journey of accompaniment. They always tell you to get there early for an international flight, but tickets, baggage and security went so well that we had plenty of time before they actually started boarding. As we waited, we shared our our excitement and anticipation--along with some snacks we had brought.
The flight from Minneapolis to Amsterdam was uneventful and passed quickly (at least it did for me). I caught up on some films; others, I understand, got some sleep or did some reading. We are now more or less about halfway to Tanzania, both in miles and hours.
Trip leader Jean Spong shared with us our prayer partners--those people who will be praying specifically for each of us, in addition to those who will certainly be praying for the entire group. I always find it to be a wonderful and wonderfully humbling experience to know that someone is praying for us by name. And now that I know their names, I'll be sure to pray for each of them by name as well.
It's 6:30 am, but my body thinks it's coming up to midnight. I really should sleep on this next flight, but something tells me that I'll be even more excited as we get closer to the African continent. It's been four years since I was last in Senegal, and more than 22 since I last left Tanzania. I am ready to rediscover the country as her people. I'm especially anxious to experience the life of the Iringa Diocese and the rest of the ELCT.
I just realized it's Sunday, and I suddenly have part of the ELCT liturgy stuck in my head:
Utukufu ni wa Mungu juu mbinguni! (Glory to God in the highest).
Pr. Peter
The first leg of the journey is complete! 12 of the 14 CtK travelers met up at MSP international airport (the Hesses flew through Chicago) to begin the first leg of our Tanzania journey of accompaniment. They always tell you to get there early for an international flight, but tickets, baggage and security went so well that we had plenty of time before they actually started boarding. As we waited, we shared our our excitement and anticipation--along with some snacks we had brought.
The flight from Minneapolis to Amsterdam was uneventful and passed quickly (at least it did for me). I caught up on some films; others, I understand, got some sleep or did some reading. We are now more or less about halfway to Tanzania, both in miles and hours.
Trip leader Jean Spong shared with us our prayer partners--those people who will be praying specifically for each of us, in addition to those who will certainly be praying for the entire group. I always find it to be a wonderful and wonderfully humbling experience to know that someone is praying for us by name. And now that I know their names, I'll be sure to pray for each of them by name as well.
It's 6:30 am, but my body thinks it's coming up to midnight. I really should sleep on this next flight, but something tells me that I'll be even more excited as we get closer to the African continent. It's been four years since I was last in Senegal, and more than 22 since I last left Tanzania. I am ready to rediscover the country as her people. I'm especially anxious to experience the life of the Iringa Diocese and the rest of the ELCT.
I just realized it's Sunday, and I suddenly have part of the ELCT liturgy stuck in my head:
Utukufu ni wa Mungu juu mbinguni! (Glory to God in the highest).
Pr. Peter
Tanzania Travelers Embark on Their Journey
Last Sunday, this group of 13 people (plus one not pictured) were commissioned for their travel to Tanzania, to visit both our Sister Parish in Nduli, Tanzania, as well as schools and health ministries CtK supports in Arusha, Tanzania. We leave this afternoon, arriving in Dar es Salaam, TZ, tomorrow night. Part of the group will return on Feb. 9, the rest on Feb. 20.
Please pray for these folks as they embark on this journey of accompaniment and transformation:
(front row, left to right) Marlys Melius, Jean Spong, Becky Anderson, Ann Bollmeier, Arlene Kringle, Dorothy Chapman. (Back row, left to right) Neil Hess, Robert Melius, Pastor Peter Hanson, Wayne Anderson, Dave Bollmeier, Scott Kringle, and Doug Chapman. Not Pictured: Courtney Hess.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)