Words from Tanzania

Many matters- that’s what Americans are accustomed to doing, many at the same time. Here in Same, Tanzania, we are finding out that the Diocese leaders have schedules and activities that may pale some of ours in the States. Part of the reason may be that persons in these cultures find it hard to say no to any request, support program, suggestion, or offer of appointment to a committee or organization. More is better in the eyes of most in this culture. Another reason could be because of just a few persons at the top try to run this enterprise without delegating (sound familiar?). Whatever the case, there are a myriad of programs and activities in the Diocese of Pare. Here are a few— 50 parishes, 5 secondary schools, 1 school for the deaf, 1 bible school, 9 dispensaries, 1 health center, 1 hospital, a bookstore, a 12-room hostel (Amani Hostel), beekeeping, dairy cow and goat projects, the amaranth program, women’s projects, water projects, a new 5-year agriculture program and more! There are directors of projects, education, finance, medical, agriculture, women, computer & audio-visual and other support staff as well the Bishop, an assistant Bishop, a General Secretary, auditor, accountant and probably some others that we are not aware of. An obvious thing to us is that this is a large enterprise with an extremely small budget.

We now have an office in the Diocese headquarters! We walk to work, toting our computers and attaches, and sit at our own desk with the wind blowing in from the southeast. The windows are missing some panes, but the door works and has a lock, and we are fortunate to be able to be a part of the group at the ELCT Diocese of Pare. The work of the Lord goes on!