Mission to Tanzania 9th Letter
Karibu Americans-
It is our final evening in Africa, and we are each wondering the same thing — when will we return? The past two days have brought new friends and more Tanzanian hospitality. Right now I am once again sitting in the home of Rev. Anne Schneider, a German pastor who has acted as our host here at Makumira. She is a jack-of-all-trades here, and currently she is rehearsing her recorder choir for tomorrow’s campus worship service. At the very same time, our group is sitting in her living room playing Scrabble and drinking wine. Needless to say, there is an interesting collection of sounds emanating throughout the house. Rev. Anne has been our rock here.
Yesterday (Friday) our now-familiar bus picked us up in the morning and delivered us to the Massae Girl’s Lutheran Secondary School in Monduli. Three things immediately grab your attention at this particular location on God’s Earth: 1) awesome setting in and amongst coffee plants, 2) recently constructed buildings reflecting a wide donor-base in the good old US of A (for instance, there are dedication signs on all the buildings, such as, "this building given by so-and-so church in New Brighton, MN" and "this water closet given by the youth group of so-and-so church in Iowa") and 3) Jean Walstrom.
Jean is an American missionary from Seattle and to describe her as a force of nature makes hurricanes look wimpy. She is the chaplain at the school, but also much, much more. She is also an "American Mother" to the girls, a guidance counselor, a international advocate for the school and an all-around breath of fresh air. She is equally conversant on the plight of Massai girls in the Tanzanian educational system and the plight of the Seattle Mariners in the American League West. We have a connection.
Her husband Marv is also a missionary and teaches English at a nearby secondary school. He reminds me of a hippy professor from Santa Cruz. I asked him what he missed about living in the USA and he said, "Starbucks." Basically, when I grow up I want to be him.
The Massae Girl’s Lutheran Secondary School is a delivery vehicle for hope — hope for a better future for individual girls as well as a culture that easily marginalizes them. A few members of our little merry band of travelers finally met the girls they have been sponsoring for the past few years. There is much more to be said about the amazing work being done there. For now, let me simply say that stemming the tide of despair that often overwhelms us in the daily news of the world is very easy when you see the smiles of these girls.
During our visit with Jean Walstrom, some members of our group let it slip that we (or more accurately, I) craved a really good steak — and bam, she whipped out her cell phone and called a friend in town and within minutes we had reservations at the "best steakhouse in Northern Tanzania," a place called the Flame Tree. It did not disappoint. I had a wonderful Kenyan ribeye. And so this little proverb (from the Old Testament, I believe) once again comes into play — when you want to know where to find good food in Africa, ask a Mariner’s fan!
Today we once again boarded our bus and went to town to shop. That’s right. Sometimes it’s necessary on a journey like this one just to be an out-and-out capitalist. After we tried our best to spend any remaining Tanzanian Shillings, we met up with James from the New Life Band, saw their recording studios, ate lunch and then went out to see the secondary school they are building outside of Arusha. The New Life Band is a cool group of guys who often tour in California and Minnesota with their unique blend of African funk-rock-hip-hop-a-cappella-jazz. We’ve had them at Bethel and will again this coming November. They tour the USA to raise money to do ministry in Tanzania. I mentioned they are building a school for disadvantaged students but they also do huge concerts to spread the Gospel.
Imagine this scene — one day we see a fully functioning secondary school largely funded by American donors. The next day we see 20 acres of dusty bush-land with a partially built classroom building and a pile of unused bricks, and a dream. As James talked about his dream of a building a school on that land, it was easy to be inspired to help him build it. One day, hopefully soon, the New Life School will be every bit as functional and beautiful as the Massae Girl’s Lutheran Secondary School.
Tonight we were honored with a dinner at Makumira. They thanked us for our work in their chapel, and they expressed a desire for an ongoing partnership. Then they presented us with a drum, their symbol of God calling out to his people with the Gospel. Yet another wonderful item to bring home as a reminder of brothers and sisters in Africa who despite different economic strata and skin colors, love Jesus deeply.
Tomorrow we pack up and begin the long journey home. I look forward to hugging my daughter and once again hearing her laugh. Like Marv, I look forward to Starbucks (probably a non-fat latte with toffee nut and light whip, but that may change). But most of all, I look forward to sharing more of this story with many of you. God is doing amazing things in Tanzania, no doubt. But there’s more — I know God a little better because I’ve experienced His people here, and for that my heart sings.
The next time I write I will be sitting in my recliner in beautiful, suburban San Jose, watching ESPN HD, drinking a Sierra Nevada with one hand and typing with the other. Until then,
Kwa Heri-
Pastor Rick Sherrill, on behalf of the whole group, those who will never again get Africa out of their systems.