Tanzania
Here are some photos that Pastor Paul shared during the Global Missions Emphasis programs for 2011. Additional photos from Nyanzwa.
2012 Tanzania Mission
Plans are already underway for an Iringa Mission Trip from June 16 to July 5, 2012. Begin praying and thinking now about going on a mission trip that will amaze, delight and transform you as you share life with our brothers and sisters in Tanzania and experience African life (and wildlife). To learn more about this opportunity, contact Pastor Paul at paulharris@aol.com or 651-452-3680.
Nyanzwa Church in Nyanzwa, Tanzania
This partnership is one of mutual prayer and encouragement. Periodically members of Easter Lutheran Church is it Nyanzwa as ambassadors creating personal relationships giving encouragement and hope to the ministry. The limited financial commitment from Easter Church is $1,000 per year for projects that the local parish and the diocese of the Tanzania Lutheran Church recommend. They may be capital projects such as roofs for churches, water projects, or other non-capital programs.
Ag demonstration plot: in cooperation with the Tumaini University and the University of Minnesota, Easter has provided money for the fourth year for a demonstration plot to enhance agricultural techniques and production for the community farmers. Production has increased! Low tech corn shellers have also been purchased and distributed in the region.
2009 CVP Companion Village Report
2010 CVP Companion Village Report
In addition to those partnerships, scholarships for many secondary students have been provided at a level of $360 per person per year. This provides life-changing education. Easter has provided as many as 40 of these scholarships. Without them, these students would be limited to what amounts to an elementary education and a subsistence life working the land.
Easter has also provided animals, wells, water projects, housing for teachers, housing for the pastor, motorbikes for pastors and bicycles for evangelists.
Nyanzwa Lutheran Church has regularly prayed for Easter Lutheran Church. It has sent its pastor to visit Easter Church. We are hoping that the new pastor may be able to come for a visit in 2012.
Tumaini University
Easter first invested over $5,000 in the library of the developing Tumaini University when it was first being organized. In the year 2000 Easter Church provided $50,000 to build a dormitory at Tumaini.
For the past nine years, Easter has sent Pastor Paul Harris to Tumaini University to teach Church History to seminary students at Tumaini. While in Tanzania, Pastor Paul writes letters filled with information, humor and photos. Here are the most recent letters:
Letter 1, April 17, 2011
Letter 2, May 11, 2011
Letter 3, July 15,2011
Letter 4, August 2011
In addition to teaching in the seminary, Pastor Harris has led teams of ambassadors from Easter Lutheran Church on mission trips throughout Tanzania. Upwards of 40 members of Easter have made this life-changing trip.
Easter Lutheran has also provided scholarships for seminary students, for evangelists and wandering shepherds. In this way Easter has made it possible to fill the pulpits of many churches. See the most recent scholarship winners.
There are countless other financial and personal blessings have been made over the years because of the Easter partnerships.
Ilula Hospital
Easter Lutheran first made commitments to Ilula when it was a dispensary for medical supplies. Then it became a regional medical center with support from Easter for medical equipment and supplies. In 2008 a team of persons led by Dr. David Johnson provided eye care for over 80 persons.
Easter continues this partnership but has bowed to leadership in development of this hospital to a variety of medical missions led by local hospitals.
In addition to these three main partnerships Easter has provided significant leadership and capital for the development of microfinance operations (SACCOS) and Radio Furaha in Iringa.
