Recap of TZ09

A Journey to our Companion Congregation, Mramba Lutheran Parish, Pare Diocese, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania

July 15-29, 2009

On July 15, six members of St. John’s joined me on St. John’s second journey to Mramba Parish, our companion congregation in the Pare Diocese, ELCT.  St. John’s and the Mramba Parish have been partners since 2007, and our first visit was in February, 2008.  

We highly value this companionship, and it has greatly enriched the life of our congregation.   It is, first and foremost, a relationship of mutual love and respect, prayer, and Christ-like hospitality.  When we arrived in the parish, high in the Pare Mountains, on July 17th, we were embraced as family members who have returned home from a long journey.   We have truly found in the Mramba Parish – and hope that they have found in St. John’s – beloved sisters and brothers in Christ.     

As a sign of our commitment to Mramba Parish, we have provided some financial support for the completion of the church building.   The parish hopes to build a new church building at the Mgambo Parish (a sub-parish of the “big” church) next.  However, we are still in conversation about a number of other ways St. John’s and Mramba might be in ministry together.  

Come with me on a brief photo tour of Mramba Parish, Vuje Primary School (just down the hill from the church), as well as other activities our group participated in while in Tanzania.  

I love talking about this relationship, so feel free to contact me with questions/comments.  And please pray for our sisters & brothers in Mramba so that the wonderful circle of prayer that has now begun, might grow stronger.

Rachel Thorson Mithelman
Senior Pastor
St. John’s Lutheran Church