Up and down the road

5th of October

[there is another post: Tansania my love- which I can't publish at the moment]

After a adventurous day yesterday and a peaceful night in Ifakara the first highlight of our day was the meeting with Bishop Mtenji and the staff of the diocese office. Eva was more than happy to meet her old friend Genrose again. So far we all know her as the treasurer of Tumaini Lutheran Seminary, so it was a big surprise to us, she was appointed the head- treasurer of the Diocese just 3 days ago. Next week we will be invited at her home so we get the chance to see her little baby daughter. 

The assembly with Bishop Mtenji and his staff was very enlightening. Ulanga Kilombero Diocese is the youngest Diocese of Tansania, yet growing the fastest. It is an compound of 25 parishes including 116 preaching points. While our church in Germany is financed by church taxes which will be passed on to the congregations in Tanzania the parishes as well as the diocese is run by the donations given at the services. With this money the diocese as well runs to school - Tumaini is one of those. Each parish is lead not only by the. Pastor as well by several 

Next to the Bishop we met his assistant(Moses), the treasures, the general secretary (Philorian) and the appointed pastor (Wilson) for youth and higher education. Wilson told us of the importance of modern education in Tanzania as for many years education first of all meant to equip children of rural areas with everything they need to become a farmer. That is why the general synode of KKKT advices each diocese to have at least 2 schools they support. Besides that youth work is to meet youngsters in youth groups, on festivals, special youth services and other events. 

From Ifakara we went straight to Tumaini. Well not exactly straight as the road is more like a very bumpy rollercoaster. The further we got from Ifakara the worst and our driver Makari was rushing through the little villages with 80kmh. We crossed the Kilombero on the local ferry and head on to Malinyi first and later on to Tumaini. As David (the headmaster of Tumaini) has been traveling with us all the way from Ifakara we already have had lots of time to get to know him. So arriving in Tumaini we felt home right away. Three students- Ester, Lilian and Faraiah - looked after us the evening and it was great fun they taught me a very important word in Swahili which I just ever after since then: MAMBO HAYO- which means Great, super, epic. David and Pastor Fadhili spent the evening with us and it was great fun learning him German, while we tried to cope with Swahili. All together a splendid day.