Fausch's in Tanzania 2015: Day in Ihemi

We got up early in Iringa and planned to pick up a Pastor Msigwa on our way out to Ihemi. We had breakfast at Ihemi, at what would be the district pastor's house, except District Pastor Kiwanga already has a house that's pretty central to his churches, so this house is mainly used for a gathering place. We planned to visit all six preaching points, starting with this main Ihemi station.

Jipanda

After breakfast, we all started out across the Ihemi perish. Our first stop was called Jipanda (Junction). They have fifteen active members here. The church site looks new (in that it's basic – just a bare church with concrete altar and eight benches for pews), but we are told the next time we visit, we will find many people will have built around here. A college is being planned across the main road within five years, so there should be some Lutherans coming to worship here. They expect a factory to be built here also, so that will also bring people to worship. They are looking to add electricity, to plaster the walls, add windows, and add pews in the future. On our way to the next stop, we passed by some large silos and at least a half dozen large chicken barns. It looked very promising that the area was growing like the pastor had said.

Luhuhu

The second stop was at Luhuhu. At this preaching point, there are 75 members plus 50 children. There are ten children in secondary school from here, and an additional ten who have passed primary school and are ready for secondary. Here they are making bricks, planning on building an evangelist's house. The plan is to have walls for that house next year. The inside of the structure of the church is completed, but they still have plans to plaster the outside. This preaching point is growing very fast.

Isapilo

The next preaching point is called Isapilo. This is another fast growing preaching point; it has 45 members and 63 children. They all work together to make sure they have a good place to worship. They too have future plans to build a house for the evangelist. One of the challenges of this community is that they don't have water in this area – they have to walk 2 km to fetch water. The government drilled a well here like 20 years ago, and there is plenty of water, but the pump is broken. We left to look at this well. Unfortunately, it is irreparable. Bo suggests that they contact St Paul Partners to get their name on the que to be considered for a well.

From there we go to Usambusi, another preaching point. There were children here who sang to us. It was very sweet. They have 62 members and between 80-90 children here. They plan to knock down a wall to expand this church, as the congregation is growing.

Masumbo

The last preaching point is Masumbo. This is also another fast growing preaching point with 80 members and 60 children. They are finishing the building and they have a temporary altar. The members are involved in making and selling bricks as a fundraiser. They have already burnt 10,000 bricks. They are planning to build a hall and have been collecting stones and sand, and a foundation has been started. They expect it to be completed in five years.

We drove back to Ihemi and walked around the cemetery. In Swahili, they call a cemetery

“shamba la Mongu” or “God's farm.” This is where they plant people.

The evangelist Jackson's widow and family
with quilt given by Christiania women

We did all of this in the morning!! We went back to the district house for lunch probably around 2pm. Our lunch consisted of white rice, fried rice, potatoes, peas, chicken (kuku), bananas and watermelon. After lunch, we went back to the pastor's house to rest a bit before heading to the seminary school.

A Pastor John Mhekwa escorted us to a seminary school that was being built. It didn't look like it had gotten very far. There was one building and no floor or roof. I don't know when they plan on this one being open, but obviously not for a while, as they need money. They have a lot of bricks burned for it, but no money to start the school. We went on a walk around the grounds for a while, talking of plans, and looking at the pile of bricks they have for it, then we left.

Our next stop was to a house belonging to the widow of evangelist Jackson, for whom our church raised money to put a roof on her house not too long ago. We gave her a quilt from the women of Christiania and sat in her home for a bit. She was very sweet, and she had a nice family. She gave us a chicken.

Our supper's sister

Then it was back to the main station again to sit and wait for supper, which Pastor Msigwa told me would include fresh chicken. As we sat and waited, he and I discussed where we get our food, and that in all reality, I do not know where my chicken comes from. He says that when they eat chicken, it is from that day. So, I deduced that we would be eating the gift from the widow earlier in the afternoon.

After supper we had a meeting between our congregations. It ended up being a late night and I think we got to bed around 10:30pm.