Sept/Oct 2012

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Greetings from Tanzania,

As much as we are enjoying our time here, we do miss all our family and friends back home and think of you often.

School Life

Life has resumed again here at the college for another school year. We are halfway through our 1^st semester here at Msalato and routines are now well established. Jeannie is again teaching bookkeeping to the secretarial students along with English until another missionary arrives from Gr. Britain. Rob is busier than ever teaching foundation English along with Research Methodology to Diploma 3 students and Communication Skills to first year degree students. Along with his teaching assignment he is again involved in the Kazi (manual work around the college) program, work for a book initiative, and of-course the sports program. This year we were able to open the school with a sports day that is such a great social event and gets the students and staff mixing and getting to know one another. The program started with a soccer game on the 2^nd Friday between many new 1^st year students, returning 2^nd year students versus this year’s graduating students. We hope to keep something going regularly as the students need these recreational outlets. They practice often, but need the motivation of an upcoming game. With the caliber of new soccer players we should have a very competitive traveling team this year along with a new staff coach, Joshua, originally from Kenya but who has been living in GB, and knows a lot about the game. One of the problems here with sports and with biking is the amount of thorns we deal with on the fields, riding trails and roads. The balls and bike tires are constantly getting punctures. Without the support of our mission here, the sports program might well come to a halt, as we are constantly repairing or buying new equipment. However, the resulting camaraderie and cohesion of the students makes supporting sports all worthwhile.

At the beginning of school, the principal, Moses, asked Rob to present a teaching seminar for the staff. So he put together a team and designed a seminar that was delivered during the 2^nd two weeks of school. Moses even gave up staff meetings because he felt the seminars would be that valuable. With the help of four very capable staff; Bob Hughes, Marion McChesney, Mary Reside and Sora Lee, the seminars were very hands-on and well received. They made sure that they modeled what they preached. One of the key points during the seminars was that we have to take our students from where they are and not from where the syllabus says they should be, thus the emphasis was on diagnostic testing before beginning any teaching. This concept was new, but well received. What we wanted to avoid is what can happen as aptly put by this quote from a book about students at a teacher’s college that says, “A lecture is the means whereby the notes of the lecturer are transferred to the notebooks of the students without the subject matter passing through the minds of either.” We liked this description.

Communication is very ‘hands on’ here at Msalato as was witnessed by Rob when he asked a student named Chalo, who has connections in the village, where to acquire some brooms for cleaning around the campus. Chalo casually walked onto the soccer field and yelled to the duka across the field, “Hey Baraka, we need twelve brooms for cleaning around the campus. Can you get some for us?”

“No problem,” came the reply, “I’ll have them for you tomorrow.”

And so the next day we had twelve new brooms for our manual work program. Hamna shida (No problem)!

Trip to Mwanza

Rob was checking out the website of the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville one day and happened to discover that a small short-term medical missionary group was heading out to Igoma-Mwanza to work out of the Urafiki Health Centre; the one our little town built and continues to support. So he emailed the group leader, a nurse, Marilyn McIlroy, from Ontario and arranged to meet up with them and have an opportunity to see the project that we have supported in the past. When we mentioned it to our American bridge buddies and co-workers, Sandy (radiologist and priest) and Martin (pathologist), they thought it would be a good opportunity to come along so Martin could make contact with the pathology department at the Bugando Hospital there. Sandy is communications director here at the college and Martin has his own pathology lab at the diocesan headquarters in downtown Dodoma.

So we all packed a few things and hopped into our little Rav4 and left right after work on Thursday afternoon. It was a 700 km. trip and we stopped overnight in Singida in order to arrive early on Friday. Our first stop was the Hill Front Hotel where we were staying with the medical team and just happened to bump into the director of the Centre who led us over to his clinic. The medical team of 5 nurses and one pastor was still out in a village around the area, so he gave us a great tour. We were very impressed with this facility, which has 12 beds, a mother and child’s ward and a small histology/pathology lab. It has grown considerably from its inception and is continuing to grow.

We were just about finished our tour when the Canadian team returned from their very long day. They had been putting in up to 12-hour days, 6 days a week and when they got there on Friday night they were exhausted and ready to go on safari on the Sunday to relax from their grueling schedule. Jeannie and I had wanted to visit the clinic that we have supported in the past and to meet the people that were coming to volunteer their vacation time to help out. It was worth the trip to Mwanza and we will be able to talk directly to the people in Stouffville (whom we know) to confirm how well the clinic is doing and how organized and tirelessly the volunteers worked.

These Christian volunteers were not from Stouffville but have connections with the East Ridge Church in Stouffville who began the project. Most were from the Waterloo, Elgin area and one from Calgary. Along with Marilyn, there was Julie, Sarah Jane, Giesl (hope the spelling is right), Ellen and Dallas. They were expecting our late afternoon arrival and thoughtfully pre-arranged a dinner for us to share in the dining room. It was great getting to know these courageous and dedicated women, all of whom raised their own funds for the huge amount of medical supplies they brought with them. Each one brought two 50kg medical kits and only one 50kg bag for themselves along with a carry-on. And this was not the first time for some of them. Marilyn worked in Haiti for 9 years and was there when the earthquake struck. Sadly, she lost one of her team, who had just arrived before the disaster.

On Saturday morning after having a lovely breakfast at the tropical Hill Front in Igoma with the team and not wanting to end our conversations, we headed into Mwanza to the Bugando Hospital. Upon arriving at the large, modern (for TZ) hospital we found our way to the Pathology department. Fortunately, the head of the department was on sight and was happy to give us all a tour. Martin and Sandy were very impressed with their up-to-date equipment, but Jackson was equally impressed with Martin’s lab at McKay House and plans to visit. We also met an Italian pathologist who comes for 7-10 days every two months to help out and who also wants to visit Martin’s lab. As there are few pathologists in Tanzania, these connections could help speed up diagnoses of cancer and other diseases, which is difficult because of the logistics of the rural population.

While in Mwanza, Jeannie wanted to find a bookstore that might have some basic English story books for the secretarial students who have discovered reading but are not allowed to borrow the books used in class. We have not been able to find any such books in Dodoma. Fortunately we found a bookstore and were able to pick up 17 different books that should satisfy their hunger. Rob can also use them for the Foundation class which is a one-year English only course to prepare theology students for doing English essays and assignments in the diploma program.

So this was a very successful trip all around. We played bridge every evening and enjoyed eating out and a change of pace – a well-deserved rest as we have 14 straight weeks of teaching this term (not counting reading and exam weeks) that ends on 22nd of December.

Ordination

On September 23^rd seventeen MTC graduates were ordained at the large Mlimwe church in Dodoma by Bishop Mhogolo. He preached a wonderful sermon of encouragement and challenge to the new deacons. It was a grand event with almost all of our staff and many of our students in attendance. The ordained staff and students were all appropriately robed and sat at the front of the church making the procession even more spectacular. It was really heartwarming to see the proud faces of our graduates and their teachers. It was definitely a very special day in their lives and they looked so good in their gowns and new collars. Jeannie and I were particularly proud, like parents, of those students we have worked so closely with.

242 Baptisms

On Sunday, Oct. 14^th we were invited, along with several other teachers and pastors, to Peter Fumbi’s parish of Chikola to help baptize 242 babies, youth, adolescents, adults and some very elderly. It was an amazing day and maybe some sort of baptism record, especially because Peter just graduated from the diploma course last June, was assigned to this church 31^st August, and ordained in September.

When he first called Msalato to ask for assistance in baptizing his new Christians, we were told that he had converted 164 people to his church. That was early October. As the days went on he kept adding to the fold and on the 14^th when we headed to his church we were expecting to have 204. It was a good thing that we just happened to have 3 missionary priests on campus and one staff member, who came along as well. And Peter, being a deacon, could not consecrate the wine for communion, so he took advantage of his clergy contingent to administer communion as well.

When we first arrived Peter told us that we were going to baptize 13 members of one family at their home as it was just too difficult for them to get to the church. When you see the pictures of the drive we took to get there you will understand their difficulty. This was an extraordinary experience for us at the large homestead of a wealthy man with eight wives and many children. The family had arranged seating for all of us under a large shady tree within the large circle of long low mud homes and beside the corral in the centre. The service went very smoothly even though a few babies were not happy about the event. Afterwards, the baptismal water was placed on the ground which made one of the chickens very happy to quench her thirst. The team was served chapattis, mandazi and cassava along with hot tea. It was a tasty and welcome treat.

From here we traveled back to Peter’s new church that was just overflowing with parishioners. Children and adults were both inside and outside the church. After some organizing by Peter, we began the service of baptism for 189 new Christians. As before, the baptisms were performed by the three Wazungu (white folk), one deacon and two priests, and our own Canon Mkunda from the college who facilitated the ceremonies. Peter had a list of candidates and called them up in order, taking pictures of each one at the font. It was well-organized, like a production line, but so well done. The actual baptizing took 2 ¼ hours, but after all the baptisms, sermons, introductions, and communion service concluded, we had spent 5 hours there. Jeannie and I will never again complain about a long one-and-a-half hour service at home. Not one member of the church left during this time including the children who were amazingly well behaved throughout the whole procedure.

From here we went to the home of our host for lunch/dinner where another celebration was prepared and 40 more baptisms performed. Even our host was baptized and we mention this because until Peter evangelized at this home, the father had refused baptism for him or of any of his family members. The community was amazed at the transformation of this father and his family. The glow on this man’s face told the remarkable story of his transformation. He was the last one and everyone cheered and clapped and hugged him. We were treated to a wonderful dinner of rice, beef pieces, potatoes in a tomato sauce, ugali, mlenda (a mixture of boiled ground nuts and a dried green leafy vegetable), and the usual assortment of water and sodas. At this point we were very tired and hungry. Once all the dinner was eaten and we had all our introductions again to this group, and we said our thanks and goodbyes, it was 7:00 pm and dark. We normally do not like to drive in the dark here in Tanzania, but this day was so special we did not want to miss out on any of the celebrations and hospitality. Our drive home was safe. It was the longest day we’ve had visiting a village (12 hours from the time we left till the time we got home), but also the most rewarding and amazing; thanks be to God.



In this edition of our ‘Blog’ we would like to highlight some projects we’re currently supporting and would like to fund further. However, first we would like to say thank you for all the support we’ve received to date. We have received over $7000 and this money has made a huge difference at the college, in the lives of many of our students and for projects outside the college. Reids African Mission is making a difference here.



Student Sponsorships

As we’ve told you before, the school depends on sponsors to support these students who would not be able to attend without our support. The students do raise 10%!o(MISSING)f their school fees plus some other campus program fees, but the bulk of the tuition is paid for by sponsors. The students repay this sponsorship 10 fold by the work they do in the villages after graduation. There they work without a salary and depend solely on contributions from their parishes. It is a difficult life they have chosen, but one to which they feel a calling. We are already supporting one student, Perisi, but would like to support another deserving student, who has shown a great deal of potential. This student’s name is Mariam Jairos and she is currently in Diploma 2 of the three year diploma program. The cost for this sponsorship is $700 per year and we’re looking for support for one or two years for this young woman. Jeannie and I both feel Mariam has a true calling and passion for ministry. Jeannie and I are personally supporting Perisi in her final two years at the college.

Many thanks

My name is Daniel, I’m a pastor from Kiteto Diocese, I’m working to help pastors’ children from Kiteto at Bishop Stanway Primary school Dodoma at Msalato area. I met teacher Rob at Msalato Theological College when I was studying there theology Diploma course. Rob was teaching us English. He is a good teacher. He heard my story concerning 32 children from Kiteto and teacher Rob came to visit us. After this Rob and I became friends and friends with my children.

Teacher Rob told us that he will try to help with his friends from Canada. He bought books and sports equipment for the children and this was so helpful. Again teacher Rob helped us to make a fence and buy some beds and mattresses and sheets for new students.

On behalf of me and my family as well as the children I would like to express my sincere thanks to Reids African Mission for your support to us. I wish you all the best and I pray that the presence of God will be upon you.

Thank you and God bless you.

Daniel.



Project One

We have written about this project before in our blog. Daniel is a pastor who has taken on the challenge of accepting 32 elementary school-aged children into his home so that they can attend school in Msalato. These children, even though they were being sponsored by a group in England, had no safe place to attend school. Daniel was asked to accept these children and at first declined. However, upon further persuasion and thought, he accepted the challenge.

Daniel was a student of Rob’s, but Rob didn’t hear about his story until much later in the school year and when he did, he couldn't imagine how Daniel could have 32 children living with him along with his wife and his own three children. So Rob went to visit his home where he was warmly greeted by all the children who shared the two rooms, (one for the girls and one for the boys) with several shared bunk beds to accommodate everyone.

These children have very little, but are very respectful and happy in their new home with Daniel. Their sponsors in England provide enough for the rent of this home, school fees and uniforms, food for the children and enough to pay for two matrons to cook and look after the kids when Daniel was at school. Now that Daniel has graduated, he has taken on this project as his full time ministry. Although the sponsors from England are affording these children the opportunity to live and go to school in a safe environment, they can’t provide for all their needs. Jeannie and I were touched by Daniel’s story and decided to use our mission funds to help by buying some school books for the children and some sports equipment for them to play. They were very grateful.

The living arrangement was only temporary as the plan was for the children to live in dormitories (converted classrooms) at the school. This school is an English-only primary Anglican School called Bishop Stanway. Since Daniel graduated, the children have indeed moved to the dormitories where they have much more space. However, now that they have moved, they have some more challenges. These include a fence around the dormitories for security. They do have a night guard, but the fence will provide them with much more security and peace of mind for Daniel and the parents who have sent their children into Daniel’s care. They also need to construct a proper kitchen, and a roof and doors for their toilet facilities and additional beds for the new children. The roof will be particularly important once the rainy season arrives in late November or early December. Even though conditions are still lacking, the number of children living with Daniel has increased to 45. Parents, even those in Dodoma who have heard about Daniel’s program, want their children to be a part of this family as they are being nurtured socially, spiritually, emotionally, physically along with being educated. Jeannie and I have, through the mission, contributed money towards the fence and along with some other support from Britain; the fence project is now complete. But more money is needed to complete all the projects.

The immediate needs include:

1. New kitchen - Tsh. 2.5M – about $1600

2. Roof and doors for the toilets - Tsh 1.5M – about $1,050

3. 5 new bunk-beds, mattresses, sheets & pillows - Tsh 1.5M – about $1050. This part of the project has now been funded through a generous donation from home.

Total about $2650.

Project Two

Peter Fumbi, our evangelistic wonder, who we have already supported, along with his street kids, has a dream. His dream is to buy a tractor to cultivate land that he has access to, in order to support his family and his Dodoma street kids (about 35).

Peter graduated this June and is now a pastor recently assigned to a village called Chikola, close to Dodoma. These new graduate pastors go out to the village without any knowledge of their accommodations and no salary from the diocese. They depend totally on the village for support. It is an amazing lesson in faith, but by the grace of God they somehow survive. Peter has done more than survive and has proved that he can accomplish amazing things as evidenced in his baptism of 242 new Christians on October 14^th, just 6 weeks after his arrival at this new church.

It is obvious that Peter will be a great inspiration and support to the people in his new parish. However, he still wants to pursue his dream of helping the street children of Dodoma. His thought is to generate enough money with the tractor to feed the street kids and eventually get them off the streets and back into school. Peter and his wife Nelly have already taken one street adolescent into their home and are supporting her to go to school. This is amazing as Peter is poor himself. He also houses and cares for Nelly’s sister Eva and his cousin Mary; that makes 6 of them including their 18 month old son, Amani. Nelly is working as a secretary (an Msalato graduate) for the Dean of Academics here at the college and is totally supportive of Peter’s dream. We believe in Peter and his vision. He is also being encouraged in his vision by agricultural experts from whom he has sought advice and support through sharing his plan.

The government of Tanzania through sponsorship from abroad has a number of tractors available for young entrepreneurs. These tractors sell for about Tsh 30M ($19,000). The government has a program whereby young farmers can apply to purchase these tractors over 7 years with a down payment of Tsh 11M (about $7,000). Peter has been successful in his application to purchase a tractor, but has not been able to raise the funds necessary for the down payment. The government program seems to support the rich getting richer; but this project could help one poor pastor whose goal is not just for himself and his family, but for the disadvantaged children in the Dodoma region.

Since last writing about this project, Peter has secured support from his bishop, Bishop Mhogolo, who will supply Peter with all the seeds he will need for planting and a company to purchase his millet harvest. He has also raised Tsh. 4 M of the Tsh. 11M he needs. Only Tsh. 7M ($4500) to go now.

The main focus of our mission is on education, as we believe that education is the most important thing we can give these people to help them become independent from aid. We believe that these projects will help meet the educational needs of many students.

Thank you for your consideration of these projects. Please let us know if you would like to contribute to any of these projects as we can finance them from here once we know the funds have been committed.

We submit all this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Rob and Jeannie Reid

Reids African Mission

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Photos

Our Cow
The cow likes our garden

Volleyball
A popular sport

Basketball
Basketball on sports day

The McCann's
McCanns at Hospital

Head of Pathology
Head of Pathology at Bugando Hospital

Urafiki Health Centre
Stouffville Igoma partnership

Medical Team
The Medical Team with all their supplies

Social Time
Social with the team

Ordination
Graduates from MTC

At Ordination
Peter Fumbi with Jeannie

Ordination Crowd
A big crowd

The Drive
Drive to remote home

Baptism by the Tree
13 baptisms at remote home

The Baptised
The baptised at the church

Host Baptism
Dinner host

Gate
Gate on new fence

Kitchen
The present kitchen

Toilet
Present toilet with no roof

Perisi
R & J's sponsored student

Mariam
Excellent Student

Comments

[Corie Curtin]

Such a busy blog!!!
Wow you have been busy. Loved the stories about baptisms, and your involvement. Great comradry with health volunteers will stay with you forever. They are a special breed! Your pic collection must be enormous by now with another 9 months to go..... I really enjoy sharing your adventure with me, and keeping connected despite the distance. Take care....CC

[Audrey]

Sounds like you are having a wonderful start to this semester. Great going with the sports. I\'m sure Rob is in his glory. The next best thing to golf? I hope you can get a handle on the weeds and thorns. Could the students meet a half hour before and pull some every time? Enjoy the rest of your semester. It looks like you are going to go out with a bang. Looking forward to seeing you next year.

[Heather Hawke]

Your blogs are extremely informative and with all you both are doing, I don't know when you have the time to write. You are accomplishing so much and have seen so much on your travels. Surely there will be a book in the making when you return. Can't believe that you have been gone for over a year now! God Bless you both in the coming months.