Pare (PAHray) Diocese is named after the Pare people. The people of Kirangare are Pare. They speak the Pare language. It's the first they learn at home from their families. At school they learn Swahili and English. Pastor Fue and Good Father, our driver, speak Pare with each other. That makes Pastor Fue trilingual.
Pare Diocese has 37 parishes and 3 mission congregations. Of course, like Kirangare Lutheran Parish, Pare parishes include multiple “preaching points.” Kirangare has four—Kirangare, Mpare, Idaru, and Marindi. Makasa, Kirangare’s nearest neighbor parish has three.
One pastor serves each parish, with the help of evangelists. Pastors study for 4 or 5 years. Evangelists, for 2. Evangelists preach, visit, teach, and are administrators. They do not baptize or preside over communion.
The Pare Diocese includes several offices. The Bishop, the Assistant Bishop, General Secretary, and Treasurer each have offices. There are also offices for Planning, Women, and Youth.
In the Planning office, we learned of an economic empowerment project that is still in the planning stages. It will also be response to climate change. Raising awareness with peasants in the mountains about growing avocados. A single avocado will go for 500 Tsh (roughly one U.S. quarter). With several avocado plants, this will make for a good income.
In the Women's office, we learned about the Binti Mama project. It's goal is to support young, unmarried women with children who live with their parents. This includes education, parenting classes, and financial support for the mother's parents.
Before we left the Diocese offices, we bought hymnals, the same that Kirangare people use in worship.
Here is the Lord's Prayer in Swahili.
“Jina lako litukuzwe”…hallowed be Your name. Amen.