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
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