Today, on the feast day of Saint Francis, when churches around the country and around the world celebrate God’s love for the entire cosmos, and especially the animal kingdom, it seems like a good day to commemorate Jane Goodall, who died at the age of 91 on Wednesday. I encourage you to read more about…… Continue reading Thank you, Jane Goodall
Category: Africa
Our Last Day in Tanzania
Meeting with our Tanzanian Wartburg alums We are sitting at the airport in Arusha, waiting for our flight to Amsterdam—both looking forward to being home and sad about saying goodbye. It has been an amazing trip and we are still processing all we learned and all the ways we have been changed. Beth’s final question…… Continue reading Our Last Day in Tanzania
A Day of Celebration & Friendship
With the members of Irbiling Church, Ketumbeini parish Sunday was a fantastic, full day, and it will be hard to do it justice. We started our day worshiping at Irbiling Lutheran Church, which is one of the congregations of Ketumbeini parish. It is a small, rural Maasai congregation that worships in a traditional Maasai style,…… Continue reading A Day of Celebration & Friendship
Building Relationships over Time
Our group with Bethany & Steve Friberg This morning, we went out to the Ketumbeini Medical Clinic that is owned by the ELCT, and is run by missionary Steve Friberg. He has been here doing this work for over 20 years, and it was very interesting to hear about the changes he has seen in…… Continue reading Building Relationships over Time
Hopes & Challenges
Ketumbeini After a long drive yesterday afternoon, we made it to Ketumbeini. No one minded the time in the land cruiser because of the beautiful scenery—including ostrich, giraffes, dik dik, and gazelle. Our guest house is very nice: the food is good, the chai is wonderful, and the showers have (mostly) hot water. What more…… Continue reading Hopes & Challenges
Ecumenical Work in Tanzania
An image of Mary from the Catholic Parish I just want to share a couple quick reflections and a few pictures from yesterday’s activities. Yesterday we were fortunate to have some ecumenical conversations. In the morning, we spoke with Bishop David Joseph Mollel, from the Assemblies of God Church in Monduli. The denomination is the…… Continue reading Ecumenical Work in Tanzania
The Maasai Girls Lutheran Secondary School
At the entrance to the school Today we spent the day at the Maasai Girls Lutheran Secondary School (MGLSS) and it was an absolutely amazing experience to hear the story of the school, the story of the graduates, and to meet some of the girls. This is where Beth first taught 25 years ago, and…… Continue reading The Maasai Girls Lutheran Secondary School
Worship & the Monduli Market
Inside Monduli Lutheran Church We had another great day today! We started our day with a worship at 8:30. There was lots of singing beforehand, as people drifted in, and the service lasted a little over 2 1/2 hours. But I can honestly say that it went by very quickly. Everyone wears their Sunday best…… Continue reading Worship & the Monduli Market
Making New Maasai Friends
We had another great day in Tanzania! We woke up today to a beautiful morning, and after breakfast, we got on the road to head to Monduli. Monduli is a traditional Maasai area, and it is the location of the Maasai Girls School, where Wartburg Professor (and our trip co-leader) Beth Elness-Hanson taught for several…… Continue reading Making New Maasai Friends
Tanzania: Connections, Drumming & Dancing
We all made it safely to Tanzania last night: here we are leaving the airport, getting ready to take the bus to Tumaini University, Makumira: Then, a little jet-lagged but eager to see what the day had in store, we were up early for breakfast, and then chapel. After chapel, we were blessed to have…… Continue reading Tanzania: Connections, Drumming & Dancing
Happy Lutheran 