Tanzania Update
 
  
   North Western Diocese News for MNYS
 
Spring 2015    
In This Issue
 
The MNYS Tanzania Companionship Committee  
 

Pr. Perucy Butiku, staff

Pr. Dan Ward, chair

Dcn. Rich Ferolito

Pr. Carol Fryer
Gayle Kliever

Judy Lorkowski
Pr. John Krahn
Lois Rimbo
Margaret Wenger

Pr. Margay Whitlock 

 
Teacher Michelle is welcomed to KEMPS
Our newest teacher and her family settle into life in Bukoba

 

Have you met these friendly people yet? Michelle Mercado, along with her family (husband Trevor, sons Patricio, 7 and Nino, 2) are our teachers currently living in Bukoba, Tanzania. Kibeta English Medium School (KEMPS) is on the shores of Lake Victoria. For the past 20 years, our synod's educational endowment fund has allowed American teachers to teach here for a few years at a time.

 

By modeling English and encouraging the staff to try new ideas, Michelle is both a teacher and a learner in the community. As you can imagine, even arranging for clean water and locating enough teaching supplies can be challenging. Recently, Michelle shared pictures of the school girls who gathered millet before they washed, rinsed, dried and ground it into flour. It's a different life!

 

Michelle's responsibilities include teaching classes in English for Standard 3, 5 and 6. Please remember Michelle and her family in your prayers as they continue to adjust to a new culture. Read more about their experiences via Michelle's blog: www.habarikibeta.blogspot.com. Here's an excerpt: 

 

They cut down a tree recently on campus. I'm not sure if they did it because it had to be cut down or if it was because the wood was needed. All the cooking for the students in is done using wood-burning stoves. Which is, let's be honest, pretty amazing. When they finished chopping the wood, they rang a bell. When the bell rings, the students know it is either time to work or time to eat. In this case, it was time to carry the wood behind the kitchen so it was ready for cooking.  

 
NWD 100th procession
2015 Safari to Tanzania


Are you interested in traveling to Tanzania? The North Western Diocese will be installing a new bishop in October and Bishop Rimbo, along with some members of the Tanzanian Companionship Committee, plan to be there. We are making tentative arrangements to leave New York on Sunday, October 11, for two weeks.Visits to Kibeta English Medium Primary School, secondary schools, local congregations, medical and health facilities, and two or three safaris will be included. We will also spend a few days in Arusha where the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) churchwide office is located.

 

The cost for air travel, local accommodations and transportation, safaris, and some meals will be approximately $5,500. Individuals also pay for their own visas, pre-trip inoculations, occasional meals, souvenirs and incidental expenses.

 

To put your name on a list for more information, please email Lois Rimbo. Karibu sana! (You are most welcome!)

 

Tanzanian youth to attend National Gathering 

 

ELCA youth gathering When the National Youth Gathering in Detroit starts on July 14, a teenage youth from the North Western Diocese, Julline Namala Justine, will be one of a selected group of international companions. Following an orientation week at the churchwide offices from June 29-July 3, Julline will travel to the Metropolitan New York Synod, and be welcomed by Pastor Perucy Butiku. Pr. Butiku will bring Julline to St. John's Lutheran Church in Poughkeepsie, where she will be hosted for the week of July 4-13 by St. John's youth director, Abby Triebel, Pastor Dan Ward, youth and adult members alike. All are very excited about the special activities and interactions during this special week-long opportunity to welcome Julline into our faith community. Julline will then travel with her international companions for the opening of the youth gathering in Detroit.

 

Joining in friendship: Udugu Sunday  

 

"Udugu" is a Swahili word that implies friendship. Every year, congregations in our synod look for ways to join in friendship with the churches of the Northwest Diocese of Tanzania. Since the technology doesn't yet allow virtual visits, singing hymns in Swahili, praying for one another, trying Tanzanian food, and hearing about their life as Christians is a great way to connect. Many churches celebrate Udugu Sunday at the end of September, yet any date that works for your congregation is fine.

 

Each year we also collect a special offering for some of their needs. Because education, even in primary school, can be too expensive for many families, there's a scholarship fund for students who cannot pay all of the fees. The annual cost for a boarding student is about $750--can we collect $15,000 to support 20 children? Find resources and more information here

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