John and Mfaume

We arrived in Iringa Friday night and on Saturday morning John Mhekwa and Mfaume Kisakanike came to the Bega kwa Bega office.  We were so happy to see them and they were happy to see us.  We sat for a while sharing information about our families.  We were anxious to get the phones that Dornfeld's had given us activated and we also wanted to get a modem for our computer so we could get and receive emails and send messages like this blog.  John and Mfaume worked wonders at getting the phones activated and our modem before the stores closed in early afternoon.  Then we went shopping for food to eat including a delicious hand of bananas and two pineapples.  Later we went to Neema's for lunch, pictured above.  Neema's is known for providing excellent quality of food and gifts made by those with disadvantages.  We first met John at Pommerin Secondary School in 2002.  John was a sponsored by Shepherd of the Valley through college with a degree in Religion.  He is an ordained pastor and is now studying for an advanced degree in something I would equate to an MBA.  Lyn and I have met John's parents and saw his father this past week at Mahuninga.  Mfaume was also a student sponsored by Shepherd of the Valley and is doing Community Development work in Mbeya which is a long bus ride from here.  Mfaume was raised by his grandmother who is now 90 years old, and Mfaume is concerned about her health.  Mfaume went through Form 2 and then ran out of money for tuition.  SOTV was able to support him through college and now he is supporting his brothers and sisters in school.  Both John and Mfaume will be visiting our church in Minnesota in the fall.