Toddler on Safari
An Amazing Faith Journey

“You’re bringing your two-year-old to live in Tanzania?” she asked incredulously upon hearing that our whole family would be moving to the MaaSae Girls Lutheran Secondary School (MGLSS) campus in East Africa. “Yes,” I replied, quite simply. Then my wife and I went on to explain that we are eager for our daughter to have a cross-cultural experience and become a native bi-lingual speaker,* but moreover, we are compelled by Christ’s example of service to the needy. The call to work toward Christian discipleship is seared on our hearts.

Growing up at Bethel, I matured in my faith, especially through the example of Paul Hovland, Dewey Sandberg and other wonderful men who served as my Sunday school teachers. After college, I followed their example of service and taught English in China two years (1988-1990). Here through probing questions by Communist Chinese on one hand and gracious mentoring by spiritually-mature teammates on the other, I was challenged to clarify my relationship with Jesus Christ. I came to affirm my faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Knowing I needed to biblically ground my faith, I attended Trinity Lutheran College in Issaquah, Washington.

Through a World Mission Prayer League prayer meeting there, I met Beth, who grew up as a missionary kid in Hong Kong. Our desire to share God’s love cross-culturally brought us together in marriage and mission.

Now, we are privileged to be a part of an exciting new school for the very poor girls of the Maasai tribe. Prior to the beginning of MGLSS in 1995, there were only 24 Maasai girls in secondary education in the entire nation. Now at this school alone, there are over 200.

The mission of the school is to provide education in a Christ-centered community for girls who would otherwise have absolutely no other opportunity without the sponsorship of donors who are mostly from the US and Europe. Set up and run by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, (ELCT), the school is solidly Christian with daily devotions, chapel, Sunday worship, and a Christian student fellowship group. Bible courses (taught by Jean Wahlstrom, who was one of my favorite teachers at Trinity Lutheran College) are part of the core curriculum. This July, the school tested number one in Bible for the region’s mock test in preparation for the national exam!

The UN states the number one way to decrease poverty is to educate girls. There is a saying in East Africa, “When you educate a girl, you educate a community.” Its true! Just think of the many MGLSS students who will be taking their Bible knowledge and love for Jesus back to their families and villages. We will be part of the school’s mission, playing a little role in its Christian discipleship and the reduction of poverty.

Already we have been very encouraged at the rallying of the people of Bethel Lutheran for the prayers and support of our missionary service. We eagerly seek your prayers, knowing that prayer is the crux for effective ministry. Our prayer concerns will be listed on our web site (www.mglss.org) as well as sent in email updates. If you would like to receive the updates, please email my wife (beth@mglss.org). Keep in touch regarding this amazing faith journey we are on!

Obviously, we have taken all the precautions for the health and well being of our daughter. Happily, we hear stories from other missionaries in Tanzania who believe their kids have thrived there, actually preferring their child-rearing time in Africa. Our daughter, Anya, will have 250 big sisters! Indeed, kids nurtured by Christ-centered community are blessed. Come and see for yourself!

Eric & Beth Hanson