The Mission of the Global Missions Team (GMT) of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Wyoming, is to support and strengthen the congregation’s relationship with our partner congregations in the Iringa Diocese in Tanzania by maintaining correspondence with them and being aware and involved in the Bega Kwa Bega program of the St. Paul Area Synod. The team also attempts to keep the congregation informed about other missions of the ELCA.
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The Global Mission Team (GMT) at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Pictured from left to right: Dave Nordhausen, Fran Nordhausen, Diane Mahonen, Claudia Nelson, Jenn Cockburn, Ruth Koehly, Carole England, Kathie Marabella.
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ELCA/ELCT COVID-19 Update
On June 26, nearly 40 leaders from companion synod relationships across the United States and Tanzania gathered via Zoom to continue the discussion around the impacts of the coronavirus in Tanzania. What follows is an excerpt that contains observations from the ELCA’s regional representative in East Africa, Mr. Daudi Msseemmaa. A full summary of the meeting is available here and includes commentary from ELCA medical missionaries as well as representatives from other ELCA synods.
Daudi is the regional representative for the ELCA and lives in Arusha with his family. He shared a presentation focusing on COVID-19 in the context of the ELCT, the ELCA, and the other natural disasters facing Tanzania:
Daudi closed by reminding companions, "There is a natural resource that is in abundance in Tanzania. It's hope." He continues to remain hopeful in the ways this virus will strengthen our companionship.
On June 26, nearly 40 leaders from companion synod relationships across the United States and Tanzania gathered via Zoom to continue the discussion around the impacts of the coronavirus in Tanzania. What follows is an excerpt that contains observations from the ELCA’s regional representative in East Africa, Mr. Daudi Msseemmaa. A full summary of the meeting is available here and includes commentary from ELCA medical missionaries as well as representatives from other ELCA synods.
Daudi is the regional representative for the ELCA and lives in Arusha with his family. He shared a presentation focusing on COVID-19 in the context of the ELCT, the ELCA, and the other natural disasters facing Tanzania:
- When the virus was first discovered, some churches took extreme precautions, including training of school and hospital staff, and posting lists of precautions that should be taken.
- Some dioceses stopped church services altogether, but most did not.
- Many followed the advice of the president and the need for faith over precaution.
- All dioceses adopted the use of hand washing stations, and some implemented outdoor seating, shorter worship services, and physical distancing.
- Overall, Sunday attendance, as well as giving, are down.
- ELCT radio ministry continues to be widely used as a way to worship and receive COVID-19 information.
- Many ELCT churches, hospitals, and schools are in financial crisis.
- COVID-19 struck at a time when many were facing flooding and hunger, which many churches worked locally to combat.
- A Twitter poll by a prominent East African journalist suggests most East Africans consider COVID-19 the least concerning threat when compared to floods and locusts.
- The health threats of COVID-19 are seen as secondary compared to the economic and environmental aspects of the virus.
- The economic effects of COVID-19 could last years, sending hundreds of thousands into poverty, including those who have worked their way into the middle class.
- ELCT members are also losing income due to lack of tourism, as well as the decrease in funds coming from dioceses.
- The dioceses across Tanzania have varying capacities to address the issues they are facing, so when looking at a path forward, the ELCT is focusing on equity.
Daudi closed by reminding companions, "There is a natural resource that is in abundance in Tanzania. It's hope." He continues to remain hopeful in the ways this virus will strengthen our companionship.
The following letters were received from our friends in Tanzania:
A letter from:
Haran Ngede
c/o Pommern Secondary School
Box 1681
lringa, Tanzania
Greetings from our family. Wema, Gerry, Happy, Judith and her son are doing well.
Thank you for the card and Easter greetings. Greetings and blessings to all the members of your church. I am still teaching at Pommern Secondary School. My son Gerry is in Form 1 at Pommern School, Happy in Standard 2 and Judith is doing some selling of clothing for kids to take care of her baby.
Thank you for the kindness you rendered to me when I used to come during my time with Global Volunteers.
May God bless you. Let us keep in touch.
Haran and family
***Haran is the teacher who partnered with Gerry Lidstrom through the Mwangaza program to begin our
Tanzanian partnership.
Haran Ngede
c/o Pommern Secondary School
Box 1681
lringa, Tanzania
Greetings from our family. Wema, Gerry, Happy, Judith and her son are doing well.
Thank you for the card and Easter greetings. Greetings and blessings to all the members of your church. I am still teaching at Pommern Secondary School. My son Gerry is in Form 1 at Pommern School, Happy in Standard 2 and Judith is doing some selling of clothing for kids to take care of her baby.
Thank you for the kindness you rendered to me when I used to come during my time with Global Volunteers.
May God bless you. Let us keep in touch.
Haran and family
***Haran is the teacher who partnered with Gerry Lidstrom through the Mwangaza program to begin our
Tanzanian partnership.
An email from: neleanyanguye@yahoo.com
Bwana YESU KRISTO Asifiwe!
It's a long time since I hear from you. For my side everything is going well. Always I give thanks to our Living God. How about you?
My sons are now in holiday time and we will travel to lringa. If God wishes we will send off Neema who lived with me for more than 10 years after her parents passed away. If God wishes she will be married on 29 June. I thank God for her. Please pray for her married life.
How is your church and everything in Wyoming?
Rev. Luyfagila is retired and is living at Kihorogota village near where you travel from lringa to Mtera. Please pass my greetings to everyone. Always I pray for you without forgetting your church and nation.
Your friend in Christ,
Nelea
**Nelea was the chair of the Mtera parish partnership committee during each of our visits.
Bwana YESU KRISTO Asifiwe!
It's a long time since I hear from you. For my side everything is going well. Always I give thanks to our Living God. How about you?
My sons are now in holiday time and we will travel to lringa. If God wishes we will send off Neema who lived with me for more than 10 years after her parents passed away. If God wishes she will be married on 29 June. I thank God for her. Please pray for her married life.
How is your church and everything in Wyoming?
Rev. Luyfagila is retired and is living at Kihorogota village near where you travel from lringa to Mtera. Please pass my greetings to everyone. Always I pray for you without forgetting your church and nation.
Your friend in Christ,
Nelea
**Nelea was the chair of the Mtera parish partnership committee during each of our visits.
Bega Kwa Bega Fall FestivalOn Saturday, November 10, Dave and Fran Nordhausen, Kathie Marabella, and Pastor Grant attended the annual Bega Kwa Bega Fall Festival at Roseville Lutheran Church. The Fall Festival is a chance to meet and greet friends and partners of other St. Paul Area Synod churches who have partner congregations. It is a morning of learning and sharing together. This year's topic was exploring the instinct to build - kujenga. We learned from one another about best practices when engaging in congregation-to-congregation activities. With the understanding that “projects” is one of the pillars of the Bega Kwa Bega companionship, speakers and sessions were offered to better equip us to build a firm foundation in our relationships.
(The photo includes the Rev. Peter Harrits, Director for Bega Kwa Bega, Assistant to the Bishop (second from the left)). |
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GIVING UPDATE 2018: $2400.00 was sent to Mtera and Migoli ($1200 to each site) for a total of six student scholarships, $1000.00 was sent to the Equity Fund for student scholarships, which are students who do not have a sponsoring congregation.
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A letter from Mtera Secondary School, Tanzania
Dear Fran. Bwana Yesu Asifiwe.
With happiness from the Entire community as we received $1,000 from Global mission team. The construction will processed as you support us. The money has already deposited to our school account through BKB. May our Almighty God bless you for the support you made for the school.
We intend this week to buy some materials for construction of this multipurpose hall and will let you know the updates through pictures. Our whether is cold some how. Hope one day will meet each other.
Please receive greetings from Upendo and Couban with their kids.
Thank you again for the support.
Yours in Christ
Kelvin
The headmaster - Mtera sec school
With happiness from the Entire community as we received $1,000 from Global mission team. The construction will processed as you support us. The money has already deposited to our school account through BKB. May our Almighty God bless you for the support you made for the school.
We intend this week to buy some materials for construction of this multipurpose hall and will let you know the updates through pictures. Our whether is cold some how. Hope one day will meet each other.
Please receive greetings from Upendo and Couban with their kids.
Thank you again for the support.
Yours in Christ
Kelvin
The headmaster - Mtera sec school
Mtera Secondary School, Tanzania
TANZANIAN TASK FORCE HISTORY
2000 Pastor Beebe received information about MWANGAZA, an educational partnership program between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Evangelical church in Tanzania. He passed this information to Gerry Lidstrom, a member of St. Paul Lutheran and a junior high English teacher.
2001 Gerry Lidstrom becomes involved with the MWANGAZA program and is paired with Haran Ngede, headmaster at the Mtera Secondary School in Tanzania.
Spring 2001 Haran Ngede comes to Minnesota to work with Gerry Lidstrom for two months.
Summer 2001 Gerry Lidstrom goes to Tanzania to participate in seminars and training with Haran Ngede and MWANGAZA.
2001 St. Paul Lutheran joins the BEGA KWA BEGA program, a partnership between the St. Paul Area Synod and the Iringa Diocese in Tanzania. We are partnered with the Mtera congregation. The Tanzanian Task Force is formed to support and strengthen this relationship.
April 2004 Couban Letema comes as an exchange teacher through the MWANGAZA program.
February 2005 Pastor Beebe, Carole and Bill England and Fran Nordhausen travel to Tanzania and visit our companion congregation in Mtera, Mtera Secondary School and various ministries partnered with BEGA KWA BEGA.
Summer 2005 Vacation Bible School students raise $600 for bicycles for Mtera Evangelists.
September 2005 The Tanzanian Choir visits.
February 2007 Pastor Jeff and Melissa Beebe, Marcia and Kirby Smith and Dave and Fran Nordhausen travel to Tanzania. They assist in a food distribution at Izazi preaching point where there is famine due to drought and purchase and deliver bicycles for the evangelists using the funds our congregation sent in 2005 for this purpose.
September 2007 Bishop Mdegela and Provost Bangu visit our congregation.
October 2007 $5000 is sent to St. Paul Partners for drilling a well at the Chamsisili preaching point.
January 2008 Carole, Bill and Stephanie England, Michael and Allision Beebe, Stephanie and John Kennedy and Jenny Coozennoy traveled to Tanzania. In addition to visiting various ministries and preaching points, they worked at the Mtera Secondary School. Jenny stayed for three months.
May 2009 Pastor Jeff, Melissa and Allison Beebe and Dave and Fran Nordhausen visited Mtera and discussed plans for Pastor Lufyagila and two members to visit St. Paul Lutheran.
September 2009 Pastor Lufyagila visits St. Paul Lutheran
July 2010 Fran and Dave Nordhausen visited Mtera Parish and Secondary School while on a “Discovery Safari” with a group from an organization called Godparents for Tanzania.
2011 The name of the working group was changed from “The Tanzanian Task Force” to the “Global Ministry Team”.
May 2011 A sending service was held for our cluster leader, Rev. Tom Nielsen, before he left for Tanzania.
May 2012 Dr. Faires Ilomo, professor at Tumaini University and a visiting professor at Luther Seminary, was a guest preacher.
2013 Team members attended events and meetings sponsored by SPAS and BKB affiliates to reorganize the Bega Kwa Bega partnership under the new coordinator, Rev. Pater Harrits. A $500 annual commitment for three years was made to Radio Furaha for agricultural programing.
February 2014 Jennifer Cockburn led a trip consisting of her husband, Tom, Pr. Patterson, Kathie Marabella, Fran Nordhausen and Pr. Jan Mehlhoff to Tanzania to visit our partner’s congregation in Mtera and the students we support at Mtera Secondary School. With the help of Haran Ngede and his daughter, Judith, we purchased science textbooks and visited many of the BKB affiliates in and around Iringa.
2014 Working with H2O for Life and Wyoming Elementary School, we contributed approximately $3000 to St. Paul Partners Water Development Project for the upgrade of the water system at Mtera Secondary School.
2015 The congregation committed to a separate partnership with Migoli parish, formerly a preaching point of Mtera parish and now an independent parish. Jim and Betty Wolf presented a video of the celebration marking the completion of the water project at Mtera Secondary School at our annual Tanzanian Sunday service.
2016-2017-2018 It may appear that our small but mighty team has not accomplished much in the past three years. But contrary to what you may be thinking we have touched many souls, not only in the two partnership congregations we have in Tanzania, but even here right at home in St Paul Lutheran. The two congregations that we partner with are Migoli partnered in 2001 and Mtera which we added in 2015. St Paul Lutheran helps them both monetarily and our team helps them out with funds for some of their specialty needs. For instance, in 2018 we bought each congregation a "biki-biki", (more commonly known to us in Minnesota as motorbikes). Prior to having the biki-biki's the pastors would have to walk to their "outpost" preaching points. It would take a day to walk to the preaching point and an additional day to walk back to the home church. Now they can make the trip in one day! If you are wondering what Preaching Points are, they are small groups of Christians that live out and away from any villages or towns. African ministers from the larger congregations go out as missionaries to these small churches. Mtera was once a "Preaching point" of our partner congregation Migoli.
Our Global Missions Team also helped monetarily when a storm went through the Mtera region and damaged the roof of the school. The funds were used for supplies to repair the damages. We are also in the process of accumulating funds to help build a new church building in Mtera.
How do we get money to fund these endeavors?
Tanzanian Sunday. This special service is put together by the Global Missions Team in the Fall of each year to celebrate our union with "our churches" in Tanzania. We collect a special offering on that Sunday that goes directly to the Tanzanian Fund.
Creation Vacations. What is that, you ask? It is a time when local crafters" get together on a weekend to work on their crafts and enjoy each other's company. A lot of laughing, chatting and camaraderie goes on in the two days that our guests are together. Did we mention EATING? Our group provides all the meals, desserts, drinks and snacks for the Creation Vacation. Our crafters are treated royally and enjoy the time they have together. We've had as many as 40 guests and many of them are repeat customers. Check St. Paul Lutheran's calendar, another Creation Vacation will be coming up early in 2020.