A Maasea elder at his boma

The Maasae women's choir at Enquiki. These ladies rock like Darleen.

A maasae boma and cattle pens. In some bomas, the cow and goats sleep inside with the people. The Salian Hospice team discourages this practice to limit the spread of TB.

A Maasae boma, and cattle pens. At some bomas, cattle stay in the house where the people sleep. Salian hospice workers try to educate the maasae about the increased risk of TB when keeping cows in the boma.

A Hike through Maasae country

Part of the mission team hiking through the hills with a team from Salian to check on HIV and TB patients in their Bomas. We walked because some of the Maasae don't want the Salian vehicles to be seen at their Bomas, as it would indicate illness to their neighbors.

I thank God for the great wonder of coming to Africa . I thank God for our dear brothers and sisters in Africa. I thank God for our family members who are taking over our responsibilities at home and our church family who sent us off with love and gifts to share.
At Maasai Girls Lutheran Secondary School we wake up at 5:10 AM to the girls at school singing as they run laps around the school! (We go back to sleep however). We have experienced such warmth being with the girls at the school. They are sweet and shy. They go to school most of the day and study from 7PM to 10PM every night. To me the really important thing is that these girls have the chance to be giggly classmates here. If some of these girls were still in their boma (village), at 13 or 14 years old they might be given in marriage in exchange for a goat or a cow, because their family needs to survive. By coming to this school, they have the chance for a different future. Their parents have made the decision to put the girls first and have them educated. I am proud that we as a church also put the girls first by supporting the school. The first morning in Africa I stood looking at Mt. Kilimanjaro in the distance. I was a little scared, uncertain what the trip would bring. As the wind blew off the plain, I could feel myself being grounded by the Holy Spirit and I knew it would all be good. It’s all good.

The team and MLGSS girls at Enguiki

27-Feb-2008

Jambo (Hello).

Just a quick update this morning:
Yesterday the teams split. The hospital team viewed rehab facilities in the Arusha area, and met a lot of people doing great work. Stephanie is gaining a firm grip on the Tanzanian approach, which focuses on local people doing things for themselves as much as possible. She was particularly impressed with with a shop that builds wheel chairs. We also visited the site of the new hospital. It will be very modern.

The school team spent their first day with the girls, and had some great experiences. Hopefully I can convince someone to write more about that tonight.

We had dinner with Dr. Mark Jacoboson, director of Selian Hospital last night, and had some great coversation about how we might advance the relationship between Bethel and Selian.

Hopefully more details on all this. We are off to Hospice soon today, so I must go.

Peace to you all.

-Bruce

25-February-2008
Karie Wratchford
Are you 45 or older? Live life fully and count your blessings! You have lived longer than the life expectancy of a Tanzanian. Are you raising children? Then you haven’t orphaned them and died of HIV. Enjoy every single glass of spilt milk. Are you an 8-year-old girl like my daughter Mazie? Play and be a kid until you are THIRTY! I could have given Mazie away as a bride yesterday. No, REALLY! Are you a young teenage boy? In Tanzania, teenage boys start working to buy a cow because after 10 years and 16 cows you may be prestigious enough to speak and wealthy enough to take a bride. Aside, my son Dalton might like to know that here in Africa I would be "Mama Dalton."
Family traditions not left behind in the states, we share over dinner where we have seen God today (or previously at our table, what was your favorite part of the day). It goes without saying that the Lord blessed Africa during Creation because the fauna and landscape here… are indescribable. The joy of the Maasae at our visit - that’s God. The conviction of the missionaries and medical staff to serve Tanzania – that’s God. The social priority of family here is God. The spirit of these people in a broken world is God. The sight of our Land Rover is NOT God but a beautiful thing!
And I know what that "thing" is at Bethel that we all love so much. It is here too! So cry your eyes out at Bethel or Tanzania. Fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ in Virginia or Africa. Be moved by the Spirit thru Jan’s singing at home or the 4 part vocal acoustics of the Christian Maasae. Just be moved!
I have to put a plug in for the team here with me – Jack, Rhodes, Gary, Rex, Helen, Bruce, Stephanie, and Irene. I am having so much fun here (I’m not supposed to tell you that!) In a way, I’ve been in my own little Africa in Winchester after a very transitional move for me and my children and Bethel has been a beacon. This trip is a celebration for me! Nobody here knows that (American or Maasae), yet they are all at the party!
I joyously share the message with you of "jambo!" from your Maasae family. "Asaunte sauna" (thank you very much) to those of you at Bethel for the opportunity to be here. Now…"run along home and jump into bed. Say your prayers and cover your head. The very same thing I say unto you – you dream of me and I’ll dream of you." –xo, Karie

24-Febuary-2008
Bruce Lothrop

(The Internet connection at Selian is very slow. If we can find a faster one, I'll add photos).

The nine of us woke up early this morning, for a three-hour drive to the village on Enguiki, where we would worship at the Lutheran Church. Enguiki is a Maasai village in the mountains above Monduli. After our long day of travel none of us were excited about rising at six am for a three-hour drive. The morning was beautiful, however, with stunning views of Mt. Killmanjaro. We quickly regained our enthusiasm. The drive up through the valley and up into mountains was beautiful, and we saw our first glimpses of Maasai people in their bomas. We arrived at Enguiki in plenty of time for the service, and met Jean and Marv Walstrom, with seven girls from the girl’s school. The girls had all grown up in and around Enguiki. As soon as the girls stepped out of Jean and Marv’s Land Cruiser friends and relatives met them. The girls bowed their heads to the older relatives, who laid a hand on top of the girls’ heads to bestow a blessing.
The service was conducted in a combination of the Kiswahili and Maasai languages. The girls made a point of sitting with members of the mission so they could help us follow the service, and translate the sermon.
The church was a small concrete and stucco building with an exposed corrugated tin roof set in an incredibly scenic spot in the mountains. The area around the pulpit was painted robin-egg blue (or Carolina Blue if you prefer), and the rest was pale yellow. The pews were plain wood, and filled with (we estimated) at least one hundred and fifty people. The vestments were simple and home made, in Lenten purple. The pillow on which the pastor kneeled at the altar was wrapped in a pillowcase emblazoned with racecars. There were two choirs at the front: On the left was a group of women, in traditional Maasai robes and jewelry, who sang in the Maasai language (Maa). On the right was a group of men and women in less traditional dress who sang in Kiswahili. During the offering, (or as the girls described it, the taking of Christ’s portion) the Maasai choir sang and danced. The service followed the same liturgy and format as we follow at Bethel. We even recognized the traditional hymn “Faith of our Father’s”. The combination of familiar form, exotic execution, and pure energy and enthusiasm made for a beautiful celebration that I doubt any of us will ever forget.

After the sermon, the pastor called Jean Walstrom to the front. Jean explained in English that she would introduce the mission team. Jean introduced us in Kiswahili. I went to the service expecting that we would be viewed as a curiosity, and not have a real impact on the events of the day. I was quite mistaken. Jean announced that the village had prepared gifts for the team. We were called forward. Rex, Helen, Irene, Karie, Stephanie, Gary and I were each presented with a beaded cross, which had been made by one of the women in the village. Jack McAllister was given a necklace. The woman who made it tried to put on Jack, only to find that it was a bit too small to fit comfortably over his head. Undeterred, the small woman continued to pull, without regard to damage to Jack’s ears, until she succeeded. The pastor presented Rhodes with an “elder stick” with is a traditional sign of wisdom and authority among the Maasai. The significance of the gift was extreme, as the Pastor presented Rhodes his own leader stick emblazoned with his own name, his father’s name and his grandfather’s name. A local teacher named Thomas from read scripture and thanked us from our journey in Maasai, while his son translated into English. Rhodes then read a passage from scripture, and expressed our gratitude in English, while the young man translated in Maa. We later learned that the teacher was extremely proficient in English, but wanted his son to have the experience of translating extemporaneously before the congregation. In his remarks, Thomas exhorted us to remember his village when returned home.

After the service we were treated as celebrities by the entire village. The women who had made our gifts introduced themselves as best they could (often with the girl’s school children acting as translators) and asked us to take photos of the giver and the recipient together. They were quite eager to look at the photos on the digital cameras and asked that we send copies of the photos back to them. Students from the local schools approached us to practice their English. The outpouring of gratitude, just for our presence at the place, in that time, was overwhelming. We must take the request to remember people of Enguiki very seriously.

After a brief meal of fried potatoes, grilled goat and Chai tea we accepted an invitation visit the family boma of one of the schoolgirls. The is a round mud hut, with a radius of no more than thirty feet, divided into an entrance chamber, a central kitchen and living room, and two or three sleeping chambers. Low mud walls separate the areas. In traditional Maasai life, a herder has a compound with one boma for each of his wives, and here children. There is a large pen made or branches for cows, a smaller one for goats, and a coop for chickens. The boma we visited housed the mother of our guide, and her eight youngest children. Our guide, at 15, was the oldest child.

After our visit to the boma, we explore the Maasai market in Monduli. This is a weekly market for the village. The girls from the school acted as our very enthusiastic guides at the market. A girl named Nicedey showed Steph and I around. While leading us by the hand, she introduced us to several friends and relatives, and was keenly interested to help us pick out something we would like to buy. Merchants laid their wares on blankets on the ground. Those wares were most commonly shoes (probably used) clothing, and local produce. Nicedey mostly shopped for snacks of fruit and nuts and ballpoint pens. Nicedey eagerly picked out a shuka for Steph that Nicedey felt would coordinate well with the necklace received at the worship service. She then decided that she would like to buy a Shuka, the brightly colored cotton robes worn (in different styles) by both Maasai men and women. Nicedey was also eager to pick out a shuka for me. She recommended a bright orange stripe, which she felt would add needed color against my “whiteness”. I favored a more conservative navy blue and maroon plaid. Steph and Nicedey settled on a bright blue stripe. The merchant quoted us a price of 15,000 shilling for both (about $15). We offered 10,000 shillings, and he accepted. I thought it was a good deal, until three more shuka salesmen began thrusting their wares at us. One merchant offered an orange checked shuka for 3000 shilling ($3). We bought it for Nicedey after agreeing on a price of 2000 shillings. Perhaps we are not so crafty. Nicedey was excited to learn that we had two children at home, and was expressed a desire for us to return as a family so she could meet them. We replied that we might not be able to return to Tanzania for some time.
“Why not?” asked Nicedey.
“For one thing”, I replied, “it’s very expensive”
“God brought you here once”; she told me “if you want to come back, he will bring you again”.

We arrived at the guesthouses at the Maasai Lutheran Secondary Girls School late in the afternoon. Jean and Marv help us settle in, and then invited us to their residence for coffee. Rhodes, Irene, Stephanie, Karie and I accepted. Next time Jean and Marv are in Winchester, or you are in Monduli, Tanzania, I recommend taking some time to get to know Jean and Marv. They are warm, wonderful, and very interesting people.

The nine of us ate dinner together, and discussed our day. Each of us talked about moments in which we felt God’s presence. Among many, many other things we discussed Nicedey’s request that Stephanie and I come back. Some day we hope to. But we feel that the best way to remember the people in the village of Enguiki is not to visit them often, but to encourage others to visit them, and experience some of what we experienced today.

So come, if you can. If not here, then somewhere else. Next time there is a mission opportunity, ask yourself if you can make it work. And if the honest answer is yes, then come. Whether it is in Tanzania, India, the Philippines or elsewhere, come into the world, and meet people who need you to remember that they are there. Remembering them might just be a tremendous gift that you carry for the rest of your life.

Jambo from Tanzania!

It is 11 pm in Tanzania, and 3pm in Winchester. We have been on the go for 26 hours, sleeping as best we could on airplanes, but we are here and very excited. We must get up early for worship tomorrow, so we'll add more later. Just wanted to let everyone know that we are here and safe.

From left to right: Pastor Rhodes Woolly, Dr. Jack McAllister, Rex Ritchie, Helen Ritchie, Irene Cockerham, Bruce Lothrop, Stephanie Mahan, Gary Nichols. Not pictured: Karie Wratchford

Members of the mission team were commisioned Sunday February 17, 2008.

The Mission Team

Pastor Rhodes Woolly


Asneth Kilevo, Krista & Rhodes Woolly, Mesiaki Kilevo
(Mesiaki is an Anglican pastor in Arusha)

Team leader
Pastor, Bethel Lutheran Church

"It seems that God has been quite persistent in opening up doors for our involvement in global missions work. My own graduate work in international studies and the chance for Krista and me to take several shoe-string trips overseas while in school established a wonderful sense of wanderlust. But members of Bethel provided the most inspiring witness – from those who will never venture overseas but keep our global partners in their daily prayers … to those who have committed tremendous resources (time, money, etc) to God’s mission in Tanzania, The Philippines, and India. Seeing their passion inspires our own love for God’s global church.

When Krista and I joined the McAllisters in Tanzania seven years ago we both knew that our interest would become a life-long endeavor. To share that experience with this missions team is an honor. Knowing that their own interests will soon morph into life-long endeavors is exciting.

And there’s more! Worshiping with Maasae in the bush will be thrilling; trying to keep up with girls who sing in 15 part harmony will be entertaining; visiting with Timi’s family, sharing Prayer Shawls with each of our mission partners, setting up Skype cameras at the new hospital, tutoring Maasae girls who just a few years ago didn’t even have access to secondary education, driving through the Serengeti during the Wildebeest migration …… it’s all somewhat surreal at this stage. But what an honor.

God will continue to open up doors for our global missions work. I look forward to seeing what lies inside the threshold!"

________________________________________________
Irene Cockerham



School Team
________________________________________________
Karie Wratchford



School Team
"I am a Christian single mother of three, a Fitness Trainer, an outdoorsy recreationalist, a handywoman, and a lover of dogs, chickens, and goats. I grew up in Maryland, moved to Virginia while in high school, and graduated from the College of William and Mary with a Kinesiology degree. I spent 10 years as a full-time mom. My kids and I now share a small farm with my parents. I am gifted athletically, enjoy physical work, am comfortable with tools and a paintbrush, and am a patient troubleshooter. I am also organized, creative, okay on a computer, goal oriented, and can modestly play a few instruments. I have some teaching and instructional experience: I was a facilitator for adventure games, taught group exercise, led a women’s bible study, taught K-2 Sunday school, and VBS music class. I was a third grader when my mom started taking my brother and me to church. I can remember my first day in Sunday school being so confused that Martin Luther was white. (Up until then, I attended public school and had only heard of Martin Luther King, Jr.) I was baptized when I was seven, attended a Lutheran parochial school thru the 8th grade, and loved youth group and church. It felt like family. It wasn’t until I was a freshman in college that I felt like my faith had matured into my own and became personal. I’ve prayed for opportunities to share my joy of Jesus or just bring a smile to someone who may need it". This is my second mission trip. I am looking forward to seeing a different way of life in Africa. I often think life (here in the United States) should be simpler.

________________________________________________
Gary Nichols



School Team

"My purpose for going to Tanzania is to meet, get to know, and worship with people from Africa. I am looking forward to spending time with people whose culture, language, and society is so much different than our own. Being able to share that experience with other members of our congregation will be an unbelievable experience".
________________________________________________
Helen Ritchie

School Team

"With my educational, career and volunteering ties to the medical profession, I welcomed the opportunity to see our Bethel mission projects in Tanzania. Availability of basic medical care and the opportunity for education, for women as well as men, are essential to a reasonable quality of life. I hope to learn a lot from the people we meet and I expect to get insight into the various ways we can be of help".
________________________________________________
Rex Ritchie



Hospital Team

"Two mission trips to Ethiopia exposed me to poverty and health conditions significantly worse than anything I’d ever seen in America. God, through his scriptures, has clearly called us to help those who are least able to help themselves. I’m eager to learn how we at Bethel can best serve the Tanzanians, partners and/or any others, who need our help".
________________________________________________
Dr. Jack McAllister


Hospital Team
Retired Neurosurgeon

"I am a retired Neurosurgeon who went to Tanzania in 1986 to climb Mount Kilimanjaro as a walk-a-thon to raise money for a children's hospital I has heard about. That was my introduction to Rev J. David Simonson, his wife Eunice and on the same trip I became friends with Dr. Mark Jacobson. Mark is the physician in charge of the Selian Lutheran Hospital. Since then I have been to Tanzania (TZ) 13 times trying to help improve health care for the people of Northern Tanzania, From a humble beginning of 12 beds in an old clinic, the project has grown to a full service 120 bed hospital that last year had over 50,000 patient visits, did 1700 surgeries, and a place for preventive medicine, free immunizations, free maternal pre and post natal care, a hospice program, and is now building a second facility in downtown Arusha. This is a major step to deliver compassionate health care to those in desperate need.

An orthopedic Institute is being built, and the future will include neurosurgical care. I believe God has called me to this mission".

________________________________________________
Stephanie Mahan



Hosptial Team
Physical Therapist

"I never pictured myself as a missionary.
I never thought of myself as someone with a mission in life.
I never recognized being 'called' by God.
However, when I was told about the opportunity to join a mission group from Bethel, to travel to a Tanzanian hospital, to help equip a new physical therapy ward and to share my physical therapy experience and skills it never occurred to me to say no. As it turns out, I do 'have the heart of a missionary' ".

________________________________________________
Bruce Lothrop



Hospital Team

"One day, about a year and a half ago, I heard a program on National Public Radio about the growth of Christianity in the Southern Hemisphere. The guest on the show discussed the similarities between life in 1st century Palestine, and modern life in Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and parts of South America. He discussed the meaning of Christ’s message of hope and healing to people in parts of the world facing crises of disease, poverty, violence, and lack of clean water. This perspective made my own doubts, and the challenges to my faith seem foolish and empty. I was reminded that Christ lives not in the cold logic and rigid arguments of academics but in the suffering and relief of real people, across the globe, every day. Last spring I was presented with the opportunity to participate in the Tanzania mission. I could not refuse the opportunity to witness the impact of Christian Faith on people in need of hope and healing. I don’t expect to find resolution to my challenges in Africa nor do I expect to offer resolution to the challenges our hosts face. I look forward to fellowship with our brothers and sisters who have a different experience of The Living God’s presence in the world".

Introduction

From February 22 to March 8, 2008, several members of Bethel Lutheran Church in Winchester, Virginia will participate in a mission to Tanzania. Part of the group will focus on working with Selian Lutheran Hosptial in their efforts to equip and open a physical and occupational therapy clinic. Others will work with students at the Maasae Girls Lutheran Secondary School. As evidenced by the pictures below, Bethel Lutheran has had a long standing relationship with both institutions. Check this blog during the trip to follow the group's experiences and adventures.

Maasae Girls Lutheran Secondary School
Chaplin's resident built by Bethel Lutheran in 1997



The logo for Selian Lutheran Hospital
designed by a Bethel Member