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Dear Central Family,
On Tuesday Martha and I returned from Tanzania. It was a fantastic trip and we thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to travel with Stephen and Andrew this past month. One of the highlights of our trip was our visit with our partner congregations, Kibena and Matiganjola. The congregations of Kibena and Matiganjola are our sister congregations in Njombe in the Southern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. These two congregations are vibrant and growing and their worship is joyful and Christ centered. It was a blessing to be welcomed and prayed for by the people of Kibena and Matiganjola and I was blessed to be able to assure them that we pray for them on a weekly basis.
Words cannot express the love, generosity, kindness and hospitality that we experienced. These two congregations are a shining example of the body of Christ. From the moment we were greeted by our guests from last fall, Pastors Seth, Boaz, Josia and Jenesia and Janeth, we were treated as if we were the prodigal son returning to home to the loving Father. Gifts were showered upon us, food was shared and appreciation was expressed for Central's partnership. Last Sunday Martha, Andrew and I were privileged to worship with the Pastors and people of the Kibena congregation in Njombe, Tanzania.
Worship in Tanzania is a little different than what we are accustomed to at Central. The first service started at 7:00AM and finished at approximately 9:30. As the first service worshippers were singing outside and having an auction for some of the gifts that were offered we had a quick cup of tea, more prayer and then started the second service at 10:00. Once again worship lasted well over two hours and ended at approximately 12:30PM. Each service was packed with men, women and children. Five choirs led worship (no organ or piano) and three offerings were taken at each service (one of the offerings was for building improvements - sound familiar? Have you given your gift yet to the Capital Improvements Fund?). In addition to the offering of money the people who did not have cash came forward with chickens, a goat, vegetables, bananas, crafts, material, potatoes, art work and eggs. At the end of each worship these gifts were auctioned off outside the church building and the monies received were credited to the one who offered the goods.
In addition to worshipping with the Pastors and people of Kibena and Matiganjola on Sunday we had meetings with the partnership committee, the Bishop's Office and congregational leaders from the two parishes during our visit. At each meeting official greetings were extended to the people of Central. Words of gratitude were expressed for the partnership and I expressed our appreciation to them for their witness to us. I can assure you that the people of Kibena and Matiganjola value the partnership that continues to grow. When Martha, Andrew and I met with the Partnership Committee from the two congregations we received a report about some of the specific ways that our partnership is growing:
- The COW PROJECT - about nine years ago one cow was given to the people of Kibena. Today 33 homes are blessed with a cow and have milk on a daily basis. Nourishment is provided for families and neighbors through the gift of daily milk. When a calf is born it is given to a neighbor in need. The initial gift of one cow has multiplied and now blesses 16 families form Kibena and 17 families from Matiganjola.
- The TREE PLANTATION PROJECT - Your gifts have provided Kibena with 25 acres and Matiganjola with 72 acres of tree farms. The seedlings are healthy and growing. Much of the lumber industry in Tanzania is located in Southern Tanzania and this reforestation is an important means of taking care of the environment and also providing some economic means for the next generation of the church.
- The TRANSPORTATION PROJECT - Your gifts have provided motorcycles for the two Pastors and numerous bicycles for the many evangelists who ride to villages to preach and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Evangelism is part and parcel of the the Lutheran Church in Tanzania. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania and the Mekane Yesu Lutheran Church in Ethiopia are the two fastest growing Lutheran Churches in the world. Our partnership is an example of the rapid growth in Tanzania. In 1998 or 1999 when the partnership began we were in a relationship with Kibena. Within a matter of a few years Kibena gave birth to the new congregation of Matiganjola about ten miles away. So we incorporated Matiganjola into the partnership.
- The KINDERGARTEN SCHOOL at Kidugala. Gifts from Central provided for the construction of a kindergarten three years ago. When the team from Central visited two and one-half years ago we were privileged to be part of the ribbon cutting dedication ceremony. The kindergarten is thriving and staffed by committed disciples of Jesus.
- The MUSIC MINISTRY - When we visited two and one-half years ago the youth of Matiganjola did not have a sound system. Due to your generosity a sound system was purchased and last Friday night the youth choir along with an electric keyboard and amp welcomed us with song and dance as we drove into the driveway of where we would be staying. Pastor Josia was quick to point out the keyboard to me and wanted to make sure that I conveyed his appreciation to each member of Central.
- THE CHILDREN'S EDUCATION PROJECT - Last fall we asked our guests what we could do that would provide some very tangible help and assistance. One of the places of greatest need was providing education for some of the vulnerable children of the two congregations. As some of you know Martha and I left our son Andrew in Njombe. He will be interviewing well over one hundred children who are in need of scholarships to continue their education. Andrew will create an introductory brochure for each child and it is our prayer that hundreds of Central's members will adopt these children and make a promise to pray for and financially support the children so they can receive an education. Many of the children have lost one or both parents to AIDS or Malaria. For instance Pastor Seth's two oldest children are not his biological children. His oldest daughter and son are the children of his brother and sister in law who have died from disease. But Seth and his wife are raising them as their own children. When I visited in Seth's home I asked the three older children what they wanted to be? One wants to be an Ambassador to the Congo, the other a Doctor and the third a Pastor. Do we dare dream that our gifts might be used by God to provide education for these children. I told the son who wants to be a Pastor that I will pray that God will send him to United States as a missionary. I ask that you join Martha and me in praying for Andrew as he oversees this project this summer. Pray that the Holy Spirit will give him wisdom and discernment as he interviews the children.
- The ELDERLY PROJECT - One of the new places of need in Tanzania is care for the elderly. The AIDS epidemic has dramatically changed the status of elderly. In the past it was assumed that the elderly would be taken care of by sons, daughters, nephews or nieces. However more and more elderly have lost their children to AIDS or malaria and are increasingly vulnerable. Last fall our guests were impressed by the ministry off Guardian Angels and have been praying about starting such a ministry in the Southern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. It is our hope that when Pastor Sonja Dixon leads a team from Central in the fall of 2011 there can be some significant praying and planning about an elderly ministry. I strongly encourage you to plan on being part of the team of twelve that will go to Tanzania in the fall of 2011. Get your reservation into Sonja early as we can only take a team of twelve so we are not a burden to our hosts.
On Monday I was privileged to have lunch with Pastor Isaac Chungula prior to our leaving. Pastor Isaac helped begin this partnership along with members of Central when he was studying at Luther seminary in the late nineties. He and I both marveled at how God has grown this partnership and we are excited about what God will do in the years to come. Just to give you an idea as to what this partnership means; when Pastor Isaac heard that Martha and I were visiting he took a seven hour bus ride to meet us for lunch before we left on Monday at 2:00pm. Can you imagine traveling 14 hours just to spend about 70 minutes saying "hello," "thanks," and "goodbye!" We have so much to learn from our brothers and sisters in Tanzania!
I hope to see many of you at worship this Sunday at 8:15, 9:30 or 11:00 (remember the 11:00 moves outdoors). I promise the worship will not be 2 and 1/2 hours like last Sunday but I can promise the same Lord is worshipped at Central and at Kibena or Matiganjola. Once again, THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS this past month!
In Christ,
Paul Johansson |
