Did you know that Pastor Nelson can break-dance?

It's true!  And we have video to prove it!  We celebrated Eric's 16th birthday at the home of the Mwalusamba's - the familiy of one of the church elders. The African music and fellowship moved everyone and Pastor Nelson broke out into his version of an African break-dance! We leave on safari early tomorrow morning. Although it sounds morbid, we hope to witness a kill, then sit back and watch the circle of life happen. Habari!  Kit

Soooo, What Happened to Thursday's Blog?? - Here 'tis!!!

Jambo (Hello)!  Habari Gani (How are you)?

Between visiting, traveling, meeting new and "continued" friends (plus eating, sleeping. . .), the amount of time for emailing/blogging is very limited.

So, our Thursday's doings:

First, we've decided to change our "Mission Tanzania" focus to include our Balloon and Soccer Ball" Ministry.  Jan Orf - along with the assistance of others - created balloon animals and hats to the delight of all (except one little boy named Norris who is the grandson of one of the congregants who hosted the dinner on Thursday).  I could see in his young, but wise, eyes:  "those crazy Americans and their idea of entertainment!!"

We have also created lots of smiles and laughter and maybe a few potential future Tanzanian professional football (not American football) team players with the almost 40 donated soccer balls - (twenty were donated by the Washington County Attorney's Office).

We boarded our bus at 9:30 am for our visit to the village of Kilolo and its church and school, accompanied by a number of Cathedral Lutheran church elders. 
Most of the roads in the Iringa area require speeds of about 20 mph so we did a little bouncing, talking loudly to be heard and hanging on tight!  But we made it and it's hard to describe the warm and gracious and joyful greeting we received - the same greeting that has so characterized our entire experience in Iringa!  We were fed, introduced, thanked and blessed.  After tea (please read other blogs to get an idea of what "tea" really means. . . ) we walked over to the church for worship together with prayers and singing - our hosts in Swahili and Bethel members in English - but sharing the same spirit of the songs, "The Church's One Foundation" and "Now Thank We All Our God".  We also shared a dialog of concerns that churches half way around the world (and 9 time zones) experience regarding the challenges of keeping our youth active in their faith and also bringing new members to add to the vitality of our churches.

Although the drive was long, we had the opportunity to be witnesses to the countryside's beautiful scenery, the picturesque hills and lush vegitation, native cows called "Zeeboos" and one friendly, but stubborn goat who has an issue about "right-of-way".

After arriving back at the Lutheran Center, we had just enough to freshen up and get back on the bus for dinner at another Cathedral parishioner's home - we as yet have never gone hungry - and once again, I'm using the same words and phrases to describe our time with the families who have opened their hearts and homes to welcome us - "beautiful", "gratious", "kind", "generous", "thoughtful", "overwhelming" - I think I could really use a Thesaurus!  I hope and pray that we at Bethel will someday have the opportunity to have these same loving expressions spoken of us as we share our families and homes with visitors from Iringa.

Asante!

A Message from Pastor Nelson

-- Hi Friends,

It is Sunday afternoon in Iringa. The Bethel travelers were up and at 'em early this morning. We had to be at the Cathedral at 7 for the first of two worship services this morning.  They scheduled only two for today as opposed to the usual three.

The schedule was 7-10:45 or so for the first service and from 11 to 1:15 for the second.

It was capital campaign appeal Sunday.  I was the guest preacher. Pastor Gaville put my sermon into Inswahili so the folks who don't understand English could be a part of the message.  It was fun to be a
part of a very active worship service.  During the service I was able to present a $5,000 cash gift for their capital campaign to fund the construction at the Wilolesi site where they are building a building for a new congregation.

If I had to characterize the stewardship pledging time I would have to say that included a lot of laughter as one of the leaders demonstrated with a broom stick how it takes everybody to get the task
accomplished. There was a great spirit that included a lot of laughter and leadership by some marvelous lay leaders who handled the whole effort.

When the time for pledging and giving came, the opportunity was given for individiuals and families to indicate their intention on a pledge card and then give that card to an attendant. The attendant brought
the completed cards to the front of the church where one of the lay leaders read the name of the pledger and the amount pledged or given. An opportunity was given for others with smaller resources to make
their way to the offering boxes and drop their gifts into it.

There were multiple choirs that sang and danced marvelously at each of the services.  We had a chance to preview them on Saturday evening in a special concert they offered for our benefit.  These folks can use
more of their bodies to praise God than I knew I had. Wow!

We had lunch in a beautiful home of one of the Cathedral's member families. That has been the pattern. We eat breakfast at the Lutheran Center and lunch dinner elsewhere.We've been at very splendid homes
and some that are quite modest. I'm enjoying the food although some are fantasizing about a Big Mac or some other juicy cheeseburger! Mostly I'm missing salads!

After the noon meal today we had a chance for the requisite Sunday afternoon nap. Following some brave among us, including me, took the roughest bus ride I've ever imagined up the mountain side to a place
where we walked and then climbed and crawled up a crevice between two enormous boulders, to an overlook from which we could see the whole city as it is nestled in the Ruhah Valley.  (the valley is part of the 'Great Rift" that begins north of Galilee in the Holy Land and continues through the continent of Africa.)

The hike was not long, but it was vertical and a bit challenging for my knee. But I made it and feel happy to have made the effort!

Our plan is for a day with the folks at the Cathedral tomorrow. On Tuesday we are off on a four-hour very rough ride over typical African non major roads. The last such trip we took had us averaging about 10
miles an hour. The destination this time is a base camp for a safari that will bring us into close contact with African wildlife.  It won't be our first encounter.  ON the way to Iringa we saw giraffes, elephants, impalas, zebras and musk ox AKA 'tatanka' in Swahili.  I'm still at the beginning stages of being able to say anything in that language, alas, so I thought I'd show off with the one animal name I know!!

All is well. It is wonderful to be with the beautiful people of Iringa. We have been welcomed and welcomed again.

More later!

Thanks

DRN

Day 5 in Tanzania!

Friday, March 12, 2010


Day 5 in Tanzania. Another scrumptious breakfast at the Lutheran Center, followed by a walk to the Diocese office. We started at the Kindergarten and watched as the students sang their national anthem. The expressions on their faces were adorable. They then played a few games as we watched and took photos. Alan and Patti presented a book and distributed sheets completed by Bethel’s pre-school students. Each sheet included a Bethel student’s name, likes and dislikes, and a photo. The Tanzanian children each held up their sheets for a group photo. We hope that the Tanzanian teachers will use this as an opportunity to teach the students a little bit about America.

Next we went to the Diocese conference room and we were greeting by Pastor Msigwa. Pastor Msigwa is the Bega Kwa Bega coordinator and works closely with Don & Eunice Fultz. He then introduced Nayman Chavala who is the General Secretary of the Diocese. Mr. Chavala explained that the Iringa Diocese has been in operation for 24 years, includes 72 parishes and another 600+ preaching points. These parishes and preaching points serve over 75,000 members in the Iringa area. Mr. Chavala told us about the major projects supported by the Iringa Diocese in conjunction with the St. Paul Area Synod.

Next, we took a short bus ride (short compared to the last two days’ rides) to Tumaini University. Gary Langness began with a short history of the school. Today, Tumaini has almost 3,000 students. After our tour, we headed back to the Cathedral for lunch. Our drive was briefly interrupted when a herd of goats crossed the main highway. Since they were in a crosswalk, however, Peter yielded.

Many in the group ventured on to the Huruma Centre Orphanage. The students greeted the group with singing and dancing, then “Mama” gave a tour. There are 28 students at the orphanage between the ages of 5 and 16.

Dinner was at 7:00 at Mfugale’s home. Another warm welcome, delectable dinner, and inspiring conversation. After a quick trip back to the Lutheran Center, the travelers met to continue the conversation at the Embassy. The “beer bottle symphony ministry” was born and a great time was had by all.

Asante Sana!

Mama Eric (formerly known as “Kit Elert”)

Adventures for Wednesday, March 10,2010

  The day began for many of us with the now familiar call to worship sounding from the loudspeakers throughout the city. After our breakfast we had time to head to the internet cafe for contact with friends at home.

   Today was the first day that some of us parted company. Kit taught an EXCEL course for the staff at the Cathedral. Brian, Eric, and Gary drove to the Lutanglio School. This trip had been planned for all of us but the roads would not accommodate our bus. Before leaving they purchased 180 kilos of rice. The director of the school told Gary that if they were unable to make it the last 4 miles to the school, he would close the school and the children would walk in and carry the rice back. They are in need of food. Fortunately they did make it to the school, driving over a wooden bridge. This is remarkable because, in the construction of the bridge, they failed to nail down the boards. The school is located is a pristine mountainous area that brings up images of The Sound of Music. The school, however, is very basic and without electricity.

  The remainder of our group left on a journey to the Ilula Hospital. The road to Ilula was familiar. In fact, the combination of rows of corn, yellow sunflowers, and road construction could momentarily  transport one back to a summer drive in Wisconsin.

  During a traffic delay on the highway, several boys were stationed along the road with food and water to sell. When interest in buying their products was low, they  played soccer with a make-shift soccer ball created from plastic bags. The joy in their faces was beyond description when Greta tossed a new scooer ball out the wnidow of the bus. This process of tossing soccer balls out to childrena at play was repeated several times during the trip. At first I questioned  how one soccer ball could be such a source of celebration. At the end of the day my question changed to  Who is really having more fun??

  We were greated in Ilula by the hospital staff the the pastor from the church. Our visit began with morning tea served with eggs, chapati, and peanuts. Morning tea, served every day, is becoming a satisfying replacement for a latte at Starbucks.

  The hospital administrator told us that the hospital has recently become part of the national hospital system which has made it possible to provide free services to pregnant women and children. The hosptial provides all  services including surgery and dental care. The highlight of the tour for many of us was the visit to mothers who had deliverd babies that morning. We distributed baby gifts to a number of newborns.

 We boarded the bus again heading to the Image Secondary School.  Peter, our able driver, navigated us over roads that give new meaning to the term a drive in the country. Upon arriving at the school we were greated by throngs of students. They entertained us with song, dance, and  acrobatics. The headmaster told us the story of the development of the school. It opened in 2004 with 2 buildins. They now have several buildings on 150 acres of land and serve 800 students. They are rated in the top 10% in the district. While at the school we took photos of the students who are sponsored by Bethel members and distributed gifts to the students.

  Somewhat behind schedule (this has become a pattern) we boarded the bus for the drive back to Iringa.  We saw another  truck accident of the highway and were grateful for our safe journey back to the Lutheran Center.


  For pilgrims with less fortitude, this might have been ehough for one day. But at 8:00 p.m. we boarded the bus once again to have dinner with one of the families  from the Cathedral. In the fashion to which we have become accustomed, we were treated to a wonderful dinner. In the event that anyone reading this posting is concerned that we are not getting enough to eat in Africa, I will share the menu: rice with vegetables, fried potatoes, fried bananas, ugali, fried chicken, pork, beef sauce, cabbage, African pears, pumpkin leaves with peanut sauce, peas, cucumbers, mchicha, and sweet bananas.

  After dinner we boarded the bus for the last time for teh day and headed back to the Luther Center with smiles for a day well spent.      E. S.

Pastor Dennis from Iringa

Hi all on the blogosphere! It's a beautiful day in Iringa but then that is nothing unusual I'm told. They do get a lot of rain here but there has been nothing but sunshine, weatherwise.

Even so, the brighter light in this place is the warmth and hospitality of the Tanzanian Christians and the Cathedral Church, Iringa.

We are experiencing Africa close up and personal!  We've been in village churches and the homes of the small village pastors and their families.  The schedule has us being welcomed in their homes for 'tea' and for lunch each day.  Often this comes after a long bus ride over pretty rough roads through very small villages and thoroughly rural areas.  The graciousness with which we are received is beyond description.  Often gathering with the pastors we find members of the local congregation.

We have been in homes at quite the other end of the socioeconomic structure as well, but in every case, the people are more welcoming than I can say.  We've been sung to, danced for, hugged, greeted with thanks again and again.

We are shortly traveling to an orphanage for a visit. We've been at a splendid hospital that the Lutheran Church here has built with the help of ELCA congregations. Tamaini University is also a Lutheran effort here, now serving more than 3000 students.  The idea for the univerisity was not developed until 1994 and it has grown to be larger than many of the  local church colleges in the midwest.

We're having a good look at the good things that God is doing here and feel honored to be a part of helping them to continue happening.  More later  DRN