June 28, 2018
WRITTEN BY PASTOR BRANDON NEWTON
How do you put into words the most Spirit-filled four days you’ve ever experienced? One at a time, I suppose.
As we traveled the dusty and painfully bumpy road to Nyanzwa we were greeted with singing and dancing. The sign said “WELCOME NYANZWA PARISH” and I knew they had blocked the road for us. I welled up. My eyes, my heart, my entire body. I had the same feeling the first time I saw my daughter sing in her preschool program (at least five years ago). I have an overwhelming sense of pride for our church and for all God has done through our partnership with Nyanzwa.
After several days, several preaching points, much food, and plenty of dusty feet from long walks with our partners, we gathered in the church to hear what God is doing in Nyanzwa. It was a hot meeting. Not just because the stuffy building was at least 88 degrees Fahrenheit. It was hot because the Holy Spirit is burning—burning in the lives of the 1,147 members, seven evangelists, and two pastors, and the Holy Spirit is moving them to continue sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Our translator through the Bega Kwa Bega program was Pastor Lusungu Msigwa and he was a fantastic companion for this journey. Through him we learned more about Pastor Yeremiah Mponzi who started at Nyanzwa parish just three months ago. Also joining Nyanzwa parish recently was Pastor Godwin Maketa as Associate Pastor. When you are nearing retirement, the Diocese asks where you would like to retire. Maketa would like to return to Nyanzwa where he has family. So he is here preparing for retirement (Saint Paul Synod Bishop Patricia Lull—if you’re reading this, I would like to retire to Florida). They are all very grateful for Easter Lutheran Church.
The seven evangelists were introduced again and, as was a common theme everywhere we went, they were all grateful for Easter Lutheran Church and the 20 pieces of tin sheets we gave each of them. In addition to their seven evangelists, the Nyanzwa parish has seven more theology students training to be evangelists. Most were women and they will serve God’s church very well. Guess what? They are grateful to Easter Lutheran Church.
The parish treasurer continued with his report that the congregation is grateful not just for our visit, but for Easter’s contributions to their construction projects, secondary school scholarships, theology scholarships, famine support, water sources, and much more.
Of their six preaching points (Nyanzwa is the main station, Katya, Mgowelo, Pele Pele, Igunda, and Majengo) they identified seven priorities and asked for Easter’s help. Pastor Msigwa helped me politely point out that they currently have several unfinished projects. Rather than doing a little bit on each one, in our culture we would rather see one project get completed and then work can begin on the next. Also, seven priorities was a lot to support at one time.
Pastor Msigwa met with them for another three hours while we left the meeting to play with children and walk through town. After dinner I was informed they have narrowed their projects into phases. Phase one has two projects, phase two has three projects, and phase three has three projects. They will not start work on the next project until the prior project has been completed. Their first priority? Putting a roof on the church at the Katya preaching point.
Katya is a Maasai settlement quite far from Nyanzwa. It is rare for these nomadic people to convert to Christianity or to settle in one location. But they assured us that Chief Yeremiah has told them they can build a village on that land and they would like to stay. I had the honor of meeting Chief Yeremiah and, you guessed it, he is grateful to Easter Lutheran Church. The people have already built the walls for a church building in only two months to show they are serious about staying and growing. They would also like to have a building so they can petition the government to send them a teacher so they can have a school. Currently their children have to walk so far to school that they miss school a lot. They have a big dream, but they work hard and they work together and it’s an honor to be invited as partners.
Everywhere we went we ran into secondary school scholarship recipients. These students were sponsored by Easter Lutheran Church and guess what? They are very thankful! One student stood up during worship to announce he completed his secondary education and he has returned to serve as the chairperson of the area’s water committee. Many of the scholarship students go on to continue with education or return to the village and contribute to the community. Several become teachers!
As we toured the Image Secondary School (one of the Diocese’s schools where Easter has sponsored students) we ran into Stephen Maketa. He was sponsored by Easter Lutheran Church (he’s grateful, just so you know!) and is currently teaching Divinity at Image. He would like to be a pastor one day.
Easter is making an impact. YOU are making an impact!
Lastly, we toured many different water projects, including a new water project right by the Nyanzwa Primary School. The school and local government . . . they say “thank you!”
In closing, I’d like to say that I’m very impressed by what God is doing through our brothers and sisters in Tanzania. I’m impressed by Easter’s involvement and support of the church and community’s growth. And mostly, I’m proud of our Easter ambassadors. Randy, Karla, and I decided we each represent 1,000 members. It has been a complete joy to see how Karla and Randy have been open to this experience, have been great representatives of Easter Lutheran Church, and have provided insight to our partnership. We are missing all of you but know you are prayed for by hundreds of Tanzanians each week.
I am proud to serve as a pastor at Easter Lutheran Church and, I too, am grateful for you!
PBN
