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Sunday Worship

7:30, 8:30,
& 11:00 a.m.

Education Hour:
9:45-10:45 a.m.

Office phone:
414-774-0441

 

 

Partnerships: Tanzania

 

Food crisis in Africa hits our friends in Meru!
Our synod has received a troubling email from the Bishop of Meru, Tanzania addressing the critical food shortage that they are experiencing alongside their neighboring countries of Kenya and Somolia. It reads…

From: Meru Diocese of Tanzania
Subject: Appeal for hunger relief
To: Dear Bishop Jeff Barrow of the Greater Milwaukee Synod –

Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Probably you have already heard about the appeals for assistance of food aid in our area of East Africa (Kenya and Somalia).

It is very sad that this year again we are facing a critical food shortage in Meru. People worked very hard and planted crops on time, but as we are depending on rain, rains were not only unpredictable, but also insufficient. Crops germinated and were weeded, unfortunately at the flowering stage, rains stopped and we have no harvest in more than 3/4 of the Meru area.

Where irrigation is possible, we have pockets of food which is not even enough as water levels have gone down due to lack of rain.

Market prices of maize now range between 50-75$/100kg sack, beans are thrice as much. Normally this time of the year, maize is sold at 15-20$/100kg. Very few people can afford to buy food this yearIn Kenya also, and the rest of the Northern Parts of Tanzania situation is worse.

On behalf of the people of Meru we request you our sisters and brothers to help us again this year. We know that you are working very hard to help us, and we thank God always for your tireless support.

May God help us as we grow in partnership, to overcome the setbacks which are beyond our control together.

Peace and Grace to you all!
Bishop Paulo I. Akyoo

If you are able to make a donation to help with food assistance, please mark your checks Tanzania Food Help. As always your gift means life to so many who are struggling to survive. Asante Sana (Thank you very much) for your Love!!!

 

Tanzania Partnership now on Facebook
Visit the Tanzania Partnership Facebook page and keep up to date on our Synod Partnership! Many photos (including those from the St. Matt's Mission Trips) are inclluded.

Click here: www.facebook.com/pages/Partners-with-Meru/156561944414572

 

Tanzania Mission Trip, Aug. 2010

Jambo Rafiki! - We give thanks for the travelers to Tanzania during the August 2010 Mission Trip: Tim & Jill Nelson, Bridget Smith, Gordon Moehling, Pastor Elias Kitoi, Pastor Chris Manke and Pastor Margaret Schoewe.Thank you for your generous donations of cows and other items to benefit our Tanzanian partners in ministry.If you wish to make a gift in support of the trip, it could be directed toward the Anniversary Fund, which will benefit all three of our partner congregations. The Mission trip began Aug. 16 and concluded Aug. 31.

Photo Album: 2010 Tanzania Mission Trip [here]

Read more about the 2010 Tanzania Mission Trip [here].

 

Karibu Sana! to our Guest Pastor from Tanzania, October 2009
In Swahili Karibu Sana means "You are very welcome!" St. Matthew’s had the privilege of welcoming Pastor Anaeli Nasari from our sister congregation, Sing ‘isi Lutheran, to St. Matthew’s. Pastor Nasari was here with a 13-person delegation from Tanzania in our Synod October 7 through 20, 2009.

Pastor Anaeli Nasari is pastor of our partner congregation, Sing’isi Lutheran Church, near Arusha, Tanzania. He is married and has three sons.

During their time here, Pastor Nasari and the Tanzania delegation visited congregations and various ministries, as well as sites in southeastern Wisconsin. Among the activities were visits and participation at the Theological Conference at Green Lake, Meru Coffee Project, and Guest House and Cross Meal serving ministries. Pastor Nasari also spoke to St. Matthew's Confirmation classes and there was a special Fellowship event at Lake Front Brewery.

Photos of Pastor Nasari's visit [here].

A video of the delegation singing "farewell" at the airport is [here].

 

A Special Thank You
A Message from our Partners in Meru Diocese, Tanzania: “Many greetings sealed with Christ’s love from the diocese of Meru. Thank you for sending us relief funds for hunger. Our sincere gratitudes are to St Matthew L/C, Shepherd of the Hills L/C and Ascension L/C Waukesha not forgetting the many blessings we have received from so many friends in the
USA. Yesterday was a public holiday. We could not rest while people have no food, so together with Jerry Schmidt we had an opportunity to distribute maize to two congregations in the Southern District. As many as 200 people benefited from your hospitality. May the Lord bless you. --Sincerely, Rev. Abdiel Ndosi - GENERAL SECRETARY - DME"

 

Tanzania Partnership

• Word has come from the bishop in the Meru Synod in Tanzania that many are facing famine due to the economy and the drought conditions there right now. The Greater Milwaukee Synod is doing all it can to help. St. Matthew’s is using monies from Hunger basket collection to help.

• Twenty-four youth can now attend secondary school thanks to scholarships given by St. Matthew’s. Although primary school is provided by the government, secondary education must be paid for by the families, and often there is no money left for education. Educating the youth will help to raise their economic level.

 

Our Synod and Congregational Partnership in Tanzania

The Diocese of Meru, ELCT and the Greater Milwaukee Synod, ELCA have agreed to have a partnership based on both spiritual and physical development under the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, based initially on the following guidelines:

During the past 10 years, individuals, institutions and congregations in the Greater Milwaukee Synod have:

•Purchased vehicles for pastors on Mt. Meru so they no longer need to walk to their parishes
• Created a loan fund so pastors can send their children to school or meet other financial needs
• Started the Meru Coffee project - “Justice Never Tasted So Good”
• Funded a medical scholarship so that the diocese could train a new doctor for their hospital - Dr. Julius Bartho Mollel
• Completed medical facilities
• Helped build and sent funds for the Ailanga Junior Seminary
• Funded school scholarships so that the youth of Meru can go to school
• Funded the education of three Carthage College graduates and a current student
• Funded well and water harvesting projects and emergency food needs
• Initiated and funded the two year South to North Missionary Program - Pastor Elias Kitoi Nasari
• Established 20 congregation to parish partnerships
• Sent delegations to Tanzania to support the partnership of the Companion Synod Program and funded and hosted delegations from Meru

More information about our Synod and congregational Tanzania Partnership and many details are available [here].