Boma Langom'be and Pommern Secondary Schools

Boma Langom'be Secondary School

View from  back of Multipurpose Building Tree Projects in the Distance

Scholarship Students ready to sing for us

On Tuesday we visited two more Diocese Secondary Schools taking over 300 student pictures.  We were anticipating a very rough road and I wore shoes that would not slip easily on wet ground and clothes warm enough for cooler temperatures.  This area is about 2,000 feet higher than Iringa. The roads were much better than anticipated and the sun shown in this area where there is a great deal of forestry.  These two schools are south and slightly east of Iringa Town. We were greeted with singing by the students who were sponsored by Bega Kwa Bega; there were over 110 of them.  We met with the second head master in the head master's office.

Trinity Lutheran in Stillwater has contributed to building new structures at Boma Langom'be.  There are 305 students enrolled.  68% of the Form IV Students passed the Form IV test; the national passing rate was 40%.  There were 84 students taking the Form II test and just one failed the Form II test.  Boma Langom'be teaches Form 1 to 4.  CEFA, an Italian NGO, contributed money for electrical wiring.  There were 12 computers in their laboratory.

Boma Langom'be students working on computers

Tea and chapatis ready just outside headmaster's office

Dennis Ngede, Eunice Fultz, Mollie MacLean, Don Fultz
 Registering Our Names in Headmaster's Office

Before taking student pictures we were served tea and chapatis in the head master's office.

Students ready to hear about their scholarships

The students gathered in the multipurpose building.  Eunice noted that since their last visit this building had been improved with concrete floor and glass windows.  We took the group picture in this building with Lyn standing on a table.  

Finding the best angle for group picture

Pastor Lusungu Msigwa checking the student information

Students writing thank you notes to sponsors

Sink outside multipurpose building

Getting water from tank

Students carrying water into Multipurpose Building

There was some kind of cooking facility in the front of the multipurpose building and students gathered to collect water and take it to the front of the multipurpose building.  Or they may be supplying water to the sink pictured on the left.

Pommern Secondary School

Pommern was the first Lutheran secondary school in Iringa teaching Form I - VI.  We visited Pommern in 2002 and we met many of our students there including John Mhekwa.   There are many new buildings and the students seemed happy.  They especially enjoyed encouraging the other student to smile when we took their pictures.  Some of the girls mimicked me with "smile."

We were first greeted with singing and something new to Image and Pommern - Acrobatics.  The boys enjoyed it and so did the students who had not seen them before.  The acrobats first performed at graduation this year.   

Four high

Through a hoop

Through a hoop even higher and smaller

Pyramid

Maasai Girls with special procession and singing

T

Pommern Headmaster  Shadrack Nyanlingo giving student's thank you letters
to Lusungu Msigwa and Don Fultz for delivery to sponsors

Headmaster Shadrack and Don Fultz

Pommern Students gathered for scholarship information

Rarely clean car outside Pommern

At these visits, our primary purpose was checking students and making sure our records are correct and taking their pictures.  There was not much time to spend visiting the school, but at least you can see that we are supporting many students and they are happy and working hard to do well.

Thank you for your support.

Over the Mountains to Mtera Secondary School

Close to the pass over the mountains

On Friday, February 15th we drove to Mtera Secondary School.  The road, which is on the way to Dodoma, is under construction and is much improved from the original road that was narrow and had many blind curves.   The Chinese are  building this road with Tanzanian workers.  In some places you could see huge areas that have been blasted to widen the road.  Along the way we saw five camps where the Chinese live and there are five more camps along the way to Dodoma.  The road is being built all at once and there are many diversions and few signs indicating whether the diversion or the main road is the correct path.  A message such a line of rocks across the road sends a message that the diversion (detour) is the desired path.

Women walking along the road 

Mtera School Campus

Second Head Master at desk

 As we drove we saw people walking along the road.  The temperature in Iringa was in the 70s, and Mtera, in a valley across the range, had temperatures in the 90s, warm and humid.

Students answering questions before pictures

Each Desk is labeled Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania
District of Iringa, Mtera High School

Mtera School Secondary School is on the campsite originally used by workers who built Mtera Lake.  The lake and another lake provide 50% of the electric power in Tanzania.  












This was Friday afternoon and many of the student who live near by had left for home.  There are four hundred students.  All our students were on campus for us to see.

The Headmaster's desk has an "In" basket with fewer paper than the "out" basket.  The assistant head master was in charge during our visit.














Before we took pictures the students answered questions and checked with Don and Eunice and Lusungu Msigwa to make sure that their names, home congregation, and school grade level was correct.  












We took pictures of 23 scholarship students, and at the end we took a group picture.  There are 400 students attending Mtera.

St Paul Area Synod Scholarship Students

While we were waiting to take pictures I talked with a student who was sitting at the window of another classroom eating her lunch.  She wanted me to share her lunch.  We had eaten in the headmaster's office earlier.  She had ugali, beans, and fish.

Part of lunch.  Talapia from nearby lake.

My friend's lunch.  She offered to share with me.

School Grounds

Classroom Area

Before we left for the 2+ hour ride home, Lyn persuaded us to take the short path (less than a 1/4 mile ride) to see Lake Mtera. 

Lake Mtera

Once again thank you all for your generous contribution to student scholarships.

Hitting the Road to Idodi Secondary School

We are making visits to Secondary Schools to meet the students sponsored by St Paul Area Lutheran Churches.  On Thursday, February 14th we went to Idodi, a government Secondary School not far from our companion congregation, Tungamalenga. Don and Eunice Fultz were coming from their visit at Ruaha with Joan Zabel and her husband Dan DeVaney.  Lyn and I road out with Dennis Ngede, Pastor Lusungu Msigwa and a man from Gideon who had boxes of Psalms and New Testaments to give to the students.  In the coming week we will visit four more schools.  Some of the schools are quite a distance from Iringa and the roads in this rainy season make our visits an even greater challenge with many deep ruts in the road.

Generally we are first invited to meet the head master in his office.  We talk for a while about the school, the  last visit to the school, how many students are attending, and other statistics pertinent for our visit.  Then we are taken to an area where the students wait to see us.

Don, Eunice, and Msigwa work on student lists 

Students at Idodi Secondary School

The students know we are  coming and many have letters that they have written to thank their sponsors.  Don and Eunice and Rev Msigwa work on student lists, getting the students ready for their pictures.  Making sure names are correctly spelled and school class is correctly identified., and collecting their letters to sponsors. 

Mkaning'afu Kioniani, student at Idodi

Mkaning'afu Kioniani, after I asked him if he was George's son

After all the pictures are taken, we take a group picture of all the students.

One of our biggest challenges is to get a smile from our students.  I try to make them laugh and make funny motions on top of Lyn's head to make them smile and look at the camera, but sometimes it doesn't work.  I really got a great smile out of Mkaning'afu after I asked him if his dad was George Kioniani.  Please note the first school picture on the right and the second picture after my question about his dad.

New Testament and Psalms given to students by Gideon Society

Mimeograph machine outside headmaster's office.

Students waiting for lunch

Lyn showing pictures

Joan and Dan wanted their pictures taken, too.

Before we arrived the headmaster had spoken with Don, Eunice, Joan and Dan about the saddest time in Idodi's history when twelve girl students died in a fire in the girls dorm.  Eunice took me to the cemetery which is a short walk up path from the classroom where we took student pictures.  

Path to student graves

List of twelve girls who died and are buried here

Graves

More graves

Shortly after the pictures are taken, about 2 pm, the students stand in line with their dish and cups for their second meal of the day which is usually ugali and beans. Of the 58 students  whose pictures we took, 45 of them were from Tungamalenga. It's quite clear that these tuition payments are a huge gift to the students and their congregations.  Thank you to everyone who contributes to this need.  With the opportunity of a secondary school education, these students can look to a brighter future.

Church in the Countryside

Masimike Church  with Sunday School Students

On Sunday February 10, Pastor Don and Eunice invited us to go to Don's preaching assignment at Masimike (Christ Lutheran Church on the Hill Companion Congregation).  It is in the country and the scenery made us feel as if were in the Appalachians or the Alps; it is very hilly with tree-covered mountains in the distance.  Don's interpreter was  Pastor Aikam Chavalla who is interim district pastor for this parish.  The green of the hills and fields against red of the soil are in bright contrast.

Pastor Don and Eunice Signing Register in Pastor's office attached to his home

Pastor Amidu, Loveness, Rachel, and Rayness Msunga

Pastor Amidu Msunga's education was sponsored by Christ the King in New Brighton.  He has been at Masimiki since September 2011.  Pastor Amidu  married Rachel during his second year at Tumaini University studying Theology.  Before the service we were invited to tea served by the women of the church in the pastor's home.  

Lyn noted that Rayness has her Daddy's eyes

Tea, Potatoes, and Rolls for us before church service at Pastor's home

Ushers lead Pastors and Eunice to Church Service

There are 10  Preaching Points for this parish and before the formation of a new congregation there were 17 preaching points. The church service was filled with music and the message given by Pastor Don and interpreted by Pastor Aikam reminded us that we need to be open to God's message for us and for us to be ready to answer calls outside our comfort zone.  Communion followed with individual communion cups, some filled just before distribution.

Church Treasurer and Church Elder filing Communion glasses just before  distribution

 Church Parish announcements:  they are collecting money for a new motor bike; there is a cow coming for the church next week.  There will be an Ash Wednesday service this week.  (All these announcements are subject to my misunderstanding the message.)   That being said, Eunice and I shared a wonderful interpreter Lucas Shija who is from East of Lake Victoria in the Mwanza Diocese.  Lucas is a 4th year Diploma Theology Student at Tumaini University and plans to return to his home Diocese - ELVD - Evangelical Lutheran Victoria Diocese.  I am sad that I don't have his picture.

Sunday School

Sunday School was held before church and Eunice, Lyn and I went to hear them sing while Don and Aikam were polishing up the fine points of the sermon and it's translation.  

Leader of Sunday School Choir in white shirt

Sunday School Teacher Counted Students and Collected Offering

Lyn is playing video of their singing and they like it

Parents of Students

We were asked to say a few words to the congregation during the church service.  I mentioned the wonderful singing and their beautiful children and I think I heard a murmur of appreciation when what I said was interpreted.  Christ Lutheran sponsors seven students and they are in school or away from home, so we thought it would be nice to take pictures of their proud parents.  Four parents came to see us. They all were grateful and happy to have their pictures taken.  They are so happy that Christ Church has given them this generous gift. 

Mother of Dominica Mlelewa .  She is at Ukumbi in Form IV

Father of Dora Mwinuka. She is in Form I at Pommern

Mother of Eliud Tweve.  He is in Form IV

Mother of Ephremu Mdota.  He is in Form IV

After church the Evangelists and the partnership committee shared a meal with us in the pastor's home-more tasks for the Women of the Church.  

Three  Women of the Church who served our meals and accepted our thanks

Church Evangelists

Church Evangelists with Pastor Amidu and Pastor Aikam

Partnership Committee

Partnership Committee

In the closing remarks and before we left for our return trip to Iringa.  Their message to us and to Christ Church was that we came to see them and they loved us.  

There couldn't have been a more gracious reception given us on this beautiful Sunday.