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.