Holy Week, Drought, and School Lunches

Tanzania is in the midst of a severe drought alongside excessive heat. At the same time, they are also dealing with waives of locusts. Cattle are dying and food costs are increasing every day. We have had requests for prayers. Pastor Makenge has also asked for prayers for the disabilities classroom project, the evangelist education program, and the widows project.

Worship is carrying on as usual in the midst of the hardships. Families at Galiliya preaching point celebrated baptisms on Palm Sunday. During Holy Week, Pastor Makenge gathered the Evangelists from all of the preaching points of Samaria Parish for a seminar. Communion was shared on Maundy Thursday. Easter is referred to as Passover in Tanzania, and on this day, it is customary for families to bring a goat or a sheep with them to church for their offering. They believe it will help save their families. Following church, the goats and the sheep are auctioned off in the yard in front of the church to raise funds for the church. 

Samaria and Savana primary schools, the schools that are part of our sister parish partnership, recently received the results of their standard seven exams and for the first time there was a drop in test scores. When asked why this happened, the head teacher told the church committee that there has been a change in the required curriculum and there is now work that must be completed via print outs. Without access to a printer, a laptop, and a scanner, the students were unable to complete all of the work necessary to be prepared for their exams. They have asked for our support with this, and the cost is just under $2000.

At Ascension, May is the month where we typically raise funds to cover the cost of lunches for the children at our two sister parish schools. There are 400 students at Savana primary school and 552 students at Samaria Primary School and the school year is 197 days long. The cost of a lunch is just over 6¢ per meal, but with 952 students to feed for nearly 200 days, plus the technology needs, we are hoping to collect $14,000 in May. Donations may be made via check to Ascension or online. Please mark “Tanzania” in the note/memo line.