I’ve covered a lot of kilometers with Kulwa, an excellent driver. As we traveled the rough roads of rural Iringa, we would have a friendly competition. Passing a village with a sign for a diocese parish, who could be first to name the U.S. companion congregation?
Mlandege… Luther Memorial!
Kidamali…. Shepherd of the Hills!
Mlowa…… Christus Victor!
On more recent trips, something different is happening. The conversation goes like this:
Zizini…. hmm, used to be a preaching point of Mlandege, but has no partner now.
Ndiwili…. used to be a preaching point of Magulilwa…
Idodi… used to be part of Tungamalenga…
Those of you who gathered last Saturday for the Bega Kwa Bega Fall Festival heard me round out that story with a call for contributions to a new Parish Equity Fund. Like our Scholarship Equity Fund, which shares the gift of education with students from unpartnered parishes, the Parish Equity Fund will share the gift of projects widely throughout the entire diocese. The first project we’re undertaking is to give a pikipiki [motorcycle] to pastors in unpartnered parishes.
And your response was generous, raising enough money to purchase 14 pikipikis! Bwana Yesu Asifiwe! Thank you! Fall Festival gifts toward this project are still being accepted. You may send a check made out to the synod and mail to Saint Paul Area Synod, P.O. Box 64689, St. Paul MN 55164-0689. Click here to give online.
We give thanks for the growth of the church in Tanzania. God is doing an amazing thing through the evangelism efforts of the Lutheran Church. We can give thanks for the opportunity to support their work by providing these gifts which enable pastors to do their work more efficiently as they travel from one preaching point to another.
Asante sana,
Kirsten Levorson
