Giving Gifts and Surprising Blessings
On October 4, our trip continued with two of the themes which we've certainly begun to recognize: Giving Gifts, and Surprising Blessings.
In the morning, Pastor Glenn was able to teach preaching again, and when he was finished, he gave gifts to the soon-to-be-graduates in the pastoral program. You may not know (I didn't, until this trip) but Glenn wrote a book on how to write a sermon. So, for the people he had been teaching, who will be going out into the world soon to preach, he gave them a copy of his book. He signed each book to the recipient. We're sure that some of Tanzanias future Lutheran leaders were among the class.
As part of our final meal in Kiomboi, Sherry gave a gift of a quilt from Mount Olive to the wonderful cook at the Minnesota house, Margaret (Mama Getu).
Margaret then gave us a tour of her house, which was built and furnished using funds which many, many grateful Minnesota Lutherans have given her over the years to acknowledge their appreciation for her hospitality and delicious meals. This was quite a nice surprise. The house was perhaps the nicest home we've seen here in Tanzania, and we were honored to be invited in.
Once on the road again, we ended up visiting Kinampanda church. There are many interesting things about this place, but the surprising blessing associated with it is that its "companion congregation" is Our Savior's Lutheran in Austin -- Pastor Glenn's former congregation!
We had a nice visit there, but we could not stay too long, because we had a "date" to go shopping with two young ladies back in Singida. How did this happen?
When we attended our first church service in Singida, Sherry befriended two young women seated next to us at the service. She and they discussed dressmaking, and Sherry found out they were interested in sewing. What a Surprising Blessing!
Well, on Friday, Sherry has asked for a Sewing day with the women in Kijota. She learned from the District Office that the Day is going to happen, but the women expect Sherry to provide the project. So, Sherry and Karen needed to get some fabric and other sewing materials.
Sherry contacted her new friends -- Flora and Leticia -- who offered to go shopping with them. And so, after checking into the hotel, we all drove to central Singida, where we picked up the ladies and they directed our women Travelers to several stores. More blessings!
So, once again, a great day in Tanzania, full of Surprising Blessings. It's a recurring theme!
In the morning, Pastor Glenn was able to teach preaching again, and when he was finished, he gave gifts to the soon-to-be-graduates in the pastoral program. You may not know (I didn't, until this trip) but Glenn wrote a book on how to write a sermon. So, for the people he had been teaching, who will be going out into the world soon to preach, he gave them a copy of his book. He signed each book to the recipient. We're sure that some of Tanzanias future Lutheran leaders were among the class.
As part of our final meal in Kiomboi, Sherry gave a gift of a quilt from Mount Olive to the wonderful cook at the Minnesota house, Margaret (Mama Getu).
Margaret then gave us a tour of her house, which was built and furnished using funds which many, many grateful Minnesota Lutherans have given her over the years to acknowledge their appreciation for her hospitality and delicious meals. This was quite a nice surprise. The house was perhaps the nicest home we've seen here in Tanzania, and we were honored to be invited in.
Once on the road again, we ended up visiting Kinampanda church. There are many interesting things about this place, but the surprising blessing associated with it is that its "companion congregation" is Our Savior's Lutheran in Austin -- Pastor Glenn's former congregation!
We had a nice visit there, but we could not stay too long, because we had a "date" to go shopping with two young ladies back in Singida. How did this happen?
When we attended our first church service in Singida, Sherry befriended two young women seated next to us at the service. She and they discussed dressmaking, and Sherry found out they were interested in sewing. What a Surprising Blessing!
Well, on Friday, Sherry has asked for a Sewing day with the women in Kijota. She learned from the District Office that the Day is going to happen, but the women expect Sherry to provide the project. So, Sherry and Karen needed to get some fabric and other sewing materials.
Sherry contacted her new friends -- Flora and Leticia -- who offered to go shopping with them. And so, after checking into the hotel, we all drove to central Singida, where we picked up the ladies and they directed our women Travelers to several stores. More blessings!
So, once again, a great day in Tanzania, full of Surprising Blessings. It's a recurring theme!
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