Memories From Our 2008 Visit - Jan

Pastor Mbembe walks along the road that greets our arrival to the Iringa Village.

What is the time difference between Minnesota and Tanzania?

Why are we going and what will we do?

Our home for three weeks will be near the city of Iringa, Tanzania in Africa.  Our sister congregation is located in the village of Mgama.  St. Paul Lutheran has partnered with them since 2003. This partnership is called the “Bega Kwa Bega,” which means shoulder to shoulder, part of the ministry of the St. Paul Area Synod of the ELCA. We pray for one another work on projects together like water, agriculture, education and health care. But the work we do together isn’t what you think.

Jeff and Patty Thomsen

This isn’t your typical mission trip. This will only be our second trip to visit our sister congregation. We don’t have hammers, nails or saws packed in our suitcases so that we might build things for them.

This mission trip is about our relationships with each other, about being present with one another in prayer, worship, singing, dancing, conversations, dreams and goals.

Carol Schuster

Our suitcases are full of gifts made by members of our congregation in Stillwater:  wooden crosses, quilts, blankets, knitted/crocheted merino wool hats, a liturgical banner and mosquito netting.

We are going because we are changed by being with our brothers and sisters in Iringa. Their faithfulness to God makes us look at our own relationship with God and open our hearts. We begin to see the world as God sees it and to value it the way that God does. That we may be a people who find ourselves among the weak and the vulnerable … praising God by helping the poor, tending to the sick, feeding the hungry and advocating for the voiceless.

Pastor Peter Harrits

Words from Pastor Peter Harrits, the Director of Bega Kwa Bega, “The Son of God came to earth not as a mighty king with strong armies or as a wealthy trader with prestige and influence. Rather, He came as the son of a carpenter and spent his life and his ministry among those who had very little or were left behind by those who were deemed a ‘success.’ He came so that all might have an abundant life.”

What is the Bega Kwa Bega Partnership all about?

Bega Kwa Bega (in Swahili this means "shoulder to shoulder") is a partnership of the Saint Paul Area Synod
in Minnesota (ELCA) and the Iringa Diocese (ELCT) in Mgama, Tanzania.

St. Paul Area Synod Website:  http://www.spas-elca.org/mission/global-relationships/tanzania

Twin Cities' Metro churches participating in this partnership include:

Abiding Savior, Moundsview Farmington Lutheran Our Savior's, Hastings All Saints, Cottage Grove First, Rush City Our Savior's, Stillwater Amazing Grace, Inver Grove Heights Fish Lake, Harris Pilgrim, St. Paul Arlington Hills, St. Paul Galilee, St. Paul Prince of Peace, Burnsville Augustana, West St. Paul Gethsmane, Maplewood Prince of Peace, Roseville Beaver Lake, Maplewood Grace of God, Woodbury Richfield Lutheran Bethel, Hudson, WI Gustavus Adolphus, St. Paul Roseville Lutheran, Roseville Bethlehem, Bayport Holy Cross, Oakdale Salem, West St. Paul Chisago Lake, Center City Holy Trinity, New Prague Shepherd of the Hills, Shoreview Christ (Hill), St. Paul Holy Trinity, Newington, NH Shepherd of the Valley, Apple Valley Christ the King, White Bear Lake House of Prayer, Oakdale St. James, Burnsville Christ the King, New Brighton Immanuel, Almelund St. John's, Lakeville Christ the Lord, Carefree, AZ Immanuel, St. Paul St. Mark, North St. Paul Christ, Lake Elmo Incarnation, Shoreview St. Mark's, Circle Pines Christ, Marine on St. Croix King of Kings, Woodbury St. Paul, Stillwater Christiania, Lakeville Lake Park Lutheran, Lake Park St. Paul's, Wyoming Christus Victor, Apple Valley Lord of Life, Maple Grove St. Stephen's, West St. Paul Como Park, St. Paul Luther Memorial, South St. Paul St. Stephen's, White Bear Lake Easter, Eagan Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids, SD St. Timothy, St. Paul Elim, Scandia Lutheran Church of Peace, Maplewood Trinity, North Branch Faith, Forest Lake Mt. Calvary, Eagan Trinity, Stillwater Family of Christ, Lakeville Newport Lutheran Zion, Cottage Grove

Who are the Stillwater Seven?

Seven members of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Stillwater, Minnesota will visit Bega Kwa Bega, their sister congregation in Mgama, Tanzania in January 2016.

The Iringa Lutheran Centre - (where we will be staying)

http://iringalutherancentre.com/

The Lutheran Centre was originally opened back in 1977 to serve as a guest house for pastors and other church guests arriving in Iringa for church meetings. In 2008 a major renovation was completed to provide an updated, comfortable and affordable place for both Tanzanians and travellers from around the world.

The Lutheran Centre is owned by the Iringa Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. The Centre is managed by Bega Kwa Bega (Shoulder to Shoulder) which represents a companion relationship between the Iringa Diocese and the Saint Paul Area Synod in Minnesota, USA. A portion of the revenue from the Centre provides support for the salaries of pastors in the Iringa Diocese.

Hats for Africa

Update:  Our suitcases are now packed with 550 hats!

Many do not realize how cold the evenings can be in Tanzania. Deaths from hypothermia-related illnesses in this region are very common.   Hats made from Merino Wool offer dual protection from the sun and act as an insulator to keep you both cool and warm all year round!

There is still some yarn left in the office for knitting and crocheting hats for Mgama. Thank you to all who have been busy making hats. If you or someone you know would like to help with this project, you can pick up free yarn in the church office and leave your completed hats there as well.