Tanzania Mission Trip Updates

The NEws From Tanzania

Nine Zumbro travelers spent time in Tanzania this January with hopes of establishing a long-term partnership between Zumbro Lutheran Church and Iambi Hospital. Below are the occasional updates we received via text message. The travelers shared their stories and photos at Adult Forum Sunday, February 19. Please keep our missionaries in your prayers: Bob Jenkins, Sue Jenkins, George Jensen, Karen Jensen, Craig Johnson, Gaspar Kitange, Shelley Sperling, Steve Sperling, and Pastor Vern Christopherson.

 

1/15/12 -- We left Iambi this morning after participating in worship with the local congregation at St. Wanzaleya Lutheran Church. We’ve had a truly successful week. Together with the leadership of Iambi Hospital we have developed a partnership covenant. The covenant outlines how we will interact in the future. Truly the Spirit was working through Iambi and Zumbro this week. We are now at Tarangire National Park. This is one of the many elephants we saw this evening.

1/13/12 -- Today, a visit to Singida, Tanzania conference with Rev. Sima, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church Central Diocese to learn about the relationship between Iambi Hospital and the Central Diocese. With Pastor Vern are Rev. Manasseh Nehemiah (pastor and administrator of Iambi Hospital) and Bishop Sima.

1/12/12 -- Our second 'adventure:' a flat tire on the road. We had just visited Haydom Hospital, a large referral center run by the Norwegian Lutheran Church and were on our way back to Iambi.

1/11/12 -- We have experienced very busy days in Tanzania. Tuesday was a day of discovery, learning the work and practices of various departments. Asking many questions to hearof future hopes and plans as well as materials and equipment needs. Today we traveled to the village of Iambi, about 10 miles from Nkungi, where the hospital is located. Visited Iambi School, a secondary boarding school. Then toured Iambi Dispensary, which partners with Iambi Hospital to provide medical care. This facility was previously a hospital and gave birth to Iambi Hospital. Tomorrow will be a time to share our thoughts about work at the hospital and try to learn what the partnership of Zumbro and hospital might work in the future. We ask for prayers.

1/11/12 -- Today we met with Pastor Manasseh Nehemiah, a pastor of a local church and administrator of Iambi Hospital, who is also our very gracious host.

1/10/12 -- Greetings from Iambi Hospital. We have completed the 2^nd day of working with staff to learn their visions, goals, and needs – which are many. It has been a great learning experience. We are discovering that hospital staff is doing so very much with so very little, and people are so very warm and friendly.

1/9/12 -- We made it safely to Iambi Hospital on Sunday night after a long 6 hour drive through the country. We've already developed strong friendships with the hospital staff. And we are confident that we can build a lasting relationship between Iambi Hospital and Zumbro. Iambi has chapel every morning at 7:45.

1/8/12 -- We made it to Tanzania! We stayed in the Mwangaza Guest House Saturday night. Today we are going to visit Dr. Mark Jacobson and the New Selian Hospital. After that we will be worshiping at the Arusha Community Church. And then we travel to Iambi.