Preface

Grace Episcopal Church is actively engaged in mission works in Tanzania, particularly in the Diocese of Tanga. Our good works of education and health care in Tanzania have been coordinated with the Friends of Tanzania (a group of Episcopal parishes) through the Diocese of Massachusetts. I came to Grace Church from St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Natick, MA, with the same desire and heart to help the people of Tanzania. My ministry with St. Paul's was to steer up possibilities & opportunities between ECUSA (Episcopal Church of the United Sates of America) and the ACT (Anglican Church of Tanzania) Diocese of Mpwapwa in social-economic initiatives. While on the surface these initiatives look similar to the current patterns of mission works, the vision which I called upon was to rethink and re-approach our works of missions in Africa, particularly in Tanzania. The Diocese of Mpwapwa became a pilot diocese. In 2013 I and Fr. Jon Strand represented the parish of St. Paul and the Diocese of MA to visit, feel the needs and possibilities, and initiate diologue and opportunities for mutual partnerships. Therefore as a Priest at Grace, I see our mission involvements in Tanzania (Tanga and Mpwapwa) as one of distinction to keep the good works of enhancing education and health care in Tanga in the frame work of FOT (Friends of Tanzania). Mpwapwa in a way that Mpwapwa calls for a new outlook of how and why we engage into mission works and calls for the lasting and measurable outcomes in social and economic impacts to all the parties which are involved. My 2015 mission trip to Tanzania is aimed to accomplish both: Joining the FOT, which Grace is part of it, in witnessing the opening of a new church which is named after St. Frank Weston. The Church has been built by the financial help of the FOT. I will also participate in other mission activities which FOT supports. Then I will go to Mpwapwa for three reasons. I will participate in the clergy's conference which the Bishop of Mpwapwa who is also the Arch Bishop of Tanzania has invited me to speak about my new vision in mission partnership works. Also I will supervise the new education initiatives of the parish of St. Andrea. St Andrea has received $8,000 in grants which I applied in the Diocese for the building of an English Medium elementary and middle school. This school will serve as a pilot education center in the region. Then I will work on coordinating efforts to reach and sign a memorandum of understanding for our new social-economic initiatives and investments between the ECUSA, ACT, and their respective people and governments for the establishing of a new pilot city with its suburban in Mpwapwa. All these works will take me a period of three weeks.


The Diocese of Mpwapwa

The Diocese of Mpwapwa of the Anglican Church of Tanzania (ACT) exists at the heart of historical witness of the Anglican Church in Tanzania under the works of Henry Molton Stanley and Church Mission Society (CMS) from England in 1870s. The presence of the Anglican Missionaries in Mpwapwa introduced the noble resistance and then abolition of slavery business which the Anglican Missionaries fought against the Arabs' slave masters to Africans. The region later became an administrative center of the colonial government. The Cathedral of All Saints in Mpwapwa is built right on the slave route and camp along the mainland coast of slave market in Dar-es-salaam.

While all these historical developments paved the path for social, economical and spiritual growth for the native people of Mpwapwa, unfortunately the politics after the independence of Tanzania led to major setbacks to those initiatives. The presence of the Anglican Church in Mpwapwa has kept the hope and aspiration of the people alive.

And I believe this history is important as we introduce to you the vision and needs for the people of Mpwapwa. This history is a catalyst into its spirit of partnerships and friendship in all social-economic initiatives. The vision for Mpwapwa will be led by CRESEST, (Coordinating Resources to Enhance Social and Economic Services in Tanzania). CRESEST takes these initiatives seriously and seek to work with all stake holders in a pathway which will ensure a breakthrough from economic stagnation to on-going vitality in all areas of social life. Our initiatives are proactive and people oriented. We aim to invest in the restructuring of the vital infrastructures for economic vitality. In these efforts, the contacts for more information are myself, the Rev. Phillip Kutta, priest at Grace Episcopal church; The Rev. Fr. Jon Strand, Priest at St. Paul Episcopal Church; Mr. Lyle Pirnie; Warden at Grace Episcopal Church; and The Rt. Rev. Dr. Jacob E Chimeledya, Bishop of the Diocese of Mpwapwa and Arch Bishop of Tanzania.