Greetings from Kirangare

The above photo is the parish council of Kirangare Lutheran Parish in Tanzania, after its meeting in Idaru last week. Pastor Fue shared the photo and said, "Among the discussions were the three visitors to visit Zion this Summer, and about Zion people to come to Kirangare in October. Things were awesome!"

Such greetings and messages are a regular part of the back and forth between Zion and and our sisters and brothers in Kirangare. For example, Gaspar John and Simon Simon, who will visit Zion this summer, regularly send greetings to Zion. As does Anthony, a young boy who lives in Kirangare.

Just like you might have texting threads with friends and family, Zion and Kiragare have them too. You can join in! We communicate via WhatsApp, a messaging app you can download on your phone.

As a sign of our relationship and care, Zion makes a monthly gift to Kirangare Lutheran Parish. We send the money through our Southeastern Iowa Synod, which forwards it to the Pare Diocese, which writes a check to Kirangare. Pastor Fue sent the photo above with confirmation that they received our gift of almost 1.5 million Tanzanian shillings, or $600 USD ($200/mo x 3 months).

"Last Thursday I picked the checque from Pare Diocese. It is the funds from Zion to Kirangare. Large potion will be used to develop the Day Care construction and some will used to pay the Neema (the Day Care Teacher) who stayed so long with very small pay. Please extend my thanks to our brothers and Sisters of Zion," Pastor Fue wrote.

Most recently, Pastor Fue sent word that a new evangelist had come to the parish: "Happy Grayson. Before coming to Kirangare she was serving the neighbor Parish (Ivuga). She is now serving in Kirangare Preaching point. Today she was the preacher. Let us keep her in our prayers."

Kirangare is a parish made up of four congregations or "preaching points"--Kirangare, Idaru, Mpare, and Marindi. Pastor Fue cannot be at each every Sunday, so the parish also employs evangelists who preach, visit, and provide administrative support. Here is Happy Grayson preaching.

Zion will host visitors from Kirangare this summer, June 17 through July 2. Three will come: Pastor Fue, Gaspar John and Simon Simon--the parish pastor and the chair and secretary of the Zion Companionship Committee. All three speak English and have been such gracious and attentive hosts to Zion visitors over the last three years. And together we get to host them in return!

Come to the Tuesday, June 17 arrival party, of course. And to Zion worship that following Sunday, June 22. In addition, you can host one of our brothers overnight in your home. Or host them and other Zion people for a meal. Or help provide a meal at someone else's house. Or come along on an outing to show off our home Quad Cities. Contact Wendy Essary or another member of the Companionship Committee for more information.

Thanks be to God!

Pastor Clark Olson-Smith