Year: 2012

Last Thursday, Ben and I worked with Professor Bob Hughes of Sewanee to celebrate a Eucharist for the Feast of All Saints. All Saints Day is on the liturgical calendar in the Anglican Church of Tanzania, but the seminary had not had a service scheduled. We decided to organize a Eucharist and invite any members of the community who were interested in joining us in commemorating the saints of the Church and singing “For all the saints” – Ben’s favorite hymn.… continue reading

When Father Peter Fumbi graduated from Msalato Theological College last year, he immediately set out to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.  He did such a good job that he came back (just four months later) to ask for help baptizing the multitudes that had flocked to his church.  He said there were a few dozen waiting to be baptized.… continue reading

This last Sunday we saw 14 new deacons ordained for the Diocese of Central Tanganyika. It was a very exciting day, and it was particularly exciting that I knew one of the ordinands, Revocatus, who had come to visit VTS last January with other Msalato students.

Each of these new deacons will be sent out to serve villages in the diocese.… continue reading

I must start this post with a confession. Despite the 20 years I have spent in school, I truly never realized just how much work it is to be a teacher. But to all my former teachers and all my friends who teach: it’s finally sinking in. Thank you for all the amazing work that you do.

It has now been two weeks since I taught my first class at the seminary here.… continue reading

Going shopping is a little different here at Msalato. The biggest change to adjust to has been that there is nothing like the one-stop shopping you can do in the US. Stores here are generally specialized – you can’t buy minor office supplies at the place you buy food, and if you want a printer, your best bet is to hunt down a printer store – not an easy feat!… continue reading

In Tanzania, no one is eager to return home from church for NFL kickoff or a coveted brunch reservation.  Church is the main event, and it is an all-day affair.  Last Sunday, Elizabeth and I accompanied three other American missionaries to Mvumi Makulu, a large, relatively prosperous village about an hour’s drive from campus over bumpy dirt roads.  This was our first real immersion into African Christianity, and it was certainly an exciting experience. … continue reading

The most common question that our friends and families have asked us since we arrived is where we live. We’ve been extremely generously welcomed into many of the homes of fellow missionaries, some who arrived on campus just a week before us and some who arrived as many as seven years ago. Now we want to welcome you into ours – virtually for now but we hope in person for many of you.… continue reading

It was Wednesday evening after dark when we flew into Tanzania and saw the country for the first time. And the first thing we noticed was that it was very dark! Unlike flying into US cities where dense grids of orange lights sprawl around the airport at night, lights in Tanzania were more spread out, fewer innumber, and generally whiter.

It meant we didn’t get a good view of downtown Dar es Salaam when we arrived, but we did have an incredible view of stars – a view that is even more spectacular out at Msalato Theological College’s campus.… continue reading

Photo: The road to Msalato Theological College from Dodoma

We have reached our fundraising goal, and are ready to fly to Tanzania this Tuesday, August 21!! We want to thank all of our exceptionally generous donors whose gifts will allow us to teach and serve in Tanzania!  We have been struck by just how much support we received not only financially but also in offers of counsel, prayers, and encouragement. … continue reading

Elizabeth and I recently enjoyed our first taste of traditional Tanzanian food.  And we loved it!

Deacon Leslie Steffensen, her husband Kirk, and their children, Greg, Henry, and Charlotte invited us to dinner in their Virginia home to tell us about their experiences at Msalato Theological College.  They lived there during the 2006-07 school year, doing similar work to what Elizabeth and I expect to do there this year.… continue reading