Christiania is partnered with the Ihemi congregation in Iringa, Tanzania, East Africa. Twice the congregation has visited, and members have traveled to help with student sponsorship, clean water drilling, to teach at the local university, and the establishment of the Agriculture Institute. Thirty-six secondary students and two divinity students are being sponsored by the congregation and individuals.
Tanzanian Student Sponsorship
Iringa Partnership Timeline
1988
Formation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Companion Congregation Program. The Saint Paul Area Synod is partnered with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania - Iringa Diocese.
1993
Tumaini College founded by missionaries Arnie and Mary Blomquist
1997
In honor of Christiania's 140th Anniversary, Christiania purchases 140 acres of farmland near Tumaini University (approximately $5600)
1998
Pastor Bonito Mdembo visits the Saint Paul Area Synod and at Christiania in April and May. He has several home visits and teaches the congregation "Asante Sana Jesu" in worship.
In October, Bishop Mdgella visits with members over dinner
1999
The companion congregation program, Bega Kwa Bega (Shoulder to Shoulder) is established by the SPAS. Christiania is paired with Ihemi, where Pastor Mdembo serves.
2000
Annual gifts for student scholorships, buildings and Common Basket is begun. A banner made by Ihemi is brought to Christiania.
2001
Christiania donates gifts to bring to Ihemi. Tote bags are made and sold. December
2000 - January 2001 Christiania members travel to Iringa: Bo and Juli Skillman, Ashley and Jordan, Tom and Sandy Hendrickson, Youth Director Jane Martin (Fenton), and Pastor Nancy Brown. Eleven bicycles are given to the pastor and evangelists on behalf of the congregation.
2002
More gifts are sent to Ihemi: logging equipment for the diocese, a motorcycle for the district pastor, coffee plants and pesticides, a laptop, flour mill, etc. Individual sponsors send students to secondary school. Lenten worship theme is Iringa partnership, at Maundy Thursday we wash hands over dish pans as at Ihemi, at Easter we sing the Lord's Prayer in Swahili, and decorate the sanctuary and Fellowship Hall with kangas. In March, Rev. Richard Lubawa, Associate to the Bishop, visits SPAS and Christiania. In May, Dennis Ngede, Bega Kwa Bega coordinator, visits SPAS and Christiania. Iringa Task Force begins.
2003
Mark Jensen travels to Iringa to work with the Saint Paul Partners, a lay-led well and clean water project. He becomes the first director of the Agriculture Institute at Tumaini University. Christiania sends gifts to build a classroom at Tumaini ($25,000). A garden tour supports all projects. Annual gifts for Ihemi church buildings, student sponsorships, and common basket continue, as well as individual gifts.
2004
The Skillman family works in Iringa to support the growing student scholorship program through Bega Kwa Bega, well project, and hygiene. Two accounting professors from Tumaini visit SPAS and Christiania. The Jensens are commissioned as lay missionaries of the ELCA. A second garden tour to benefit Iringa projects is held.
2005
An appreciation brunch for all Iringa supporters is held in January. The Hendricksons teach for a semester at Tumaini, Tom in math and Sandy in English. A second group of Christiania members visit Ihemi and Iringa: Kirsten and Gordie Storlie, Karen and Don Fehr, Bertie and Dave Mohling and Pastor Nancy Brown. Individual student sponsorship jumps to 30. Bo Skillman travels with the Saint Paul Partners to work on well projects, and specifically for Ihemi. Richard Lubawa preaches at Christiania. Mark Jensen travels to work with the Agriculture Institute, developing demonstration plots. In the fall, a Basics of Life campaign to raise money for these projects is launched, as well as regular annual giving, individual gifts and student sponsorship.
2006
Two Diploma of Theology students are added to benevolence, in addition to ongoing Ihemi building support, student scholorships, Common Basket, and other individual gifts. Skillmans travel and the well at Ihemi finally is operational. Jensen's hire first full time employee, Ibraham Wikedzi, who visits Christiania several times, and Jensen's travel for Agriculture Institute.
2007
A local Tanzanian choir sings in worship. Easter continues to highlight our partnership. Jensens travel, 3 demonstration plots are complete and congregation demonstration plots begin. Storlies travel for the Ag Institute. Skillmans become Bega Kwa Bega coordinators, hosting SPAS visitors. SPAS Crossing Bridges Campaign addresses the Agriculture Institute. Christiania 150th anniversary gifts are made to the Agriculture Institute. This year annual gifts to Ihemi are used for floor and altar of a preaching point. In general annual gifts are used for maintenance of church buldings (11 total).
2008
Hendricksons travel to develop SACCO at Ihemi and the diocese. Christiania begins campaign for SACCO, microloan program at Ihemi for $20,000, and for Ag Institute ($2,000 x 3 years). Youth travel to Iringa in August. Skillmans serve as Bega Kwa Bega coordinators.
