Zumbro Lutheran Church is celebrating its 10th anniversary in partnership with Iambi Lutheran Hospital in Tanzania. In honor of this special occasion, the Zumbro Lutheran Church Council has approved the Tanzania Team’s fundraising objective of $20,000, and has pledged matching funds up to $10,000 through Zumbro’s capital campaign mission tithe. The necessity of the $20,000 campaign for Iambi is twofold:
- Universal Anesthesia Machine, which will enable Iambi doctors and anesthesia staff to perform lifesaving operations. Estimated cost: $15,000.
- Electronic Medical Record System to replace antiquated paper and pen record system. Estimated cost: $5,000.
We are grateful to the SE MN Synod of the ELCA Global Ministry, which has already pledged $1,000 to the campaign, and has taken on 100 percent of the funding of the salary of Iambi’s lead physician, Dr. Lightness Gudu. Kathy Chatelaine, Assistant to the Bishop of Global Ministry and member of the Tanzania Team, says it well, “We are a church together! Thanks be to God!” Her dedication to this cause continues to be of utmost value.
Iambi’s mission boldly states: “We treat, but God heals.” Zumbro’s alliance with Iambi is a component of the SE MN Synod’s partnership with the Central Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. We celebrate this collaboration as a congregation through fundraising and advocacy to secure an anesthesia machine and electronic medical record system.
Organizations endorsed by Zumbro’s mission efforts are supported in three specific ways:
- Financial donations.
- Hands on serving opportunities.
- Awareness raising about the organization.
Our goal is to deepen the knowledge base and strengthen relationships with the organizations to facilitate a greater impact in the world together. The mission with Iambi holds strong to these intentions.
This critical fundraising effort for Iambi Lutheran Hospital will run from now until September 11, 2022, which is the community service project day, God’s Work Our Hands, taking place along with Zumbro’s Block Party fall kick-off event. This day is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. This culmination of our efforts will include a dedicated room to prepare hospice kits to send to Iambi, among other activities.
The Tanzania team is filled with gratitude for donors that have generously contributed to our goal. We are hopeful that others will also be inspired to pledge to our goal of $10,000 (to be matched). You can give to this fundraising campaign online through our new Church Center giving link below (choose Iambi/Tanzania on the drop-down list) or via check to Zumbro Lutheran Church with Iambi in the memo.
https://zumbrolutheran.orgcenter.com/giving
Peace,
The Tanzania Team at Zumbro
