Bega kwa Bega

Jambo rafikis!  (Hello friends in Swahili)

When I was little I remember my cousin Emily and my Nana telling me they were going to Tanzania, Africa with their church for a mission trip. Immediately in my mind I thought, "Wow, Africa! How cool!" For my 11 year old self Africa to me was the Lion King. Africa to me was adventure. Africa to me was so much unknown, and something I fantasized about what it was actually like.  I had never been anywhere that would have given me a better picture of what Africa was like other than what I had seen in movies or the skewed things I had learned in school. My reality was that I didn't know too much about it, but I knew Emily and Nana were about to take an adventure there.

It was fun for me to hear about their planning and preparation, but even more exciting to see the pictures and hear their stories when they came back. Little did I know God would be calling me to accompany their church on the same trip some 10 years later. When approached by Pastor Jim asking me if I would consider going on the trip in the future I kind of just smiled and told him it sounded like a really cool trip. I'll admit I didn't seriously think or pray much about it at first. Then for one reason or another I am not too sure about, this mission trip to Tanzania never left me. Eventually I gave it some prayer and started talking to my parents about it. I still didn't think too much of it though considering the trip was so far off. I told Pastor Jim that I would consider going the summer after I graduated from college if I was to go at all. In my mind I thought how practical would it be for me to go with a team so far away from me and not where I currently lived? Even though I have known some of the people my whole life through growing up attending St. Stephen in the summers and winters, it didn't make perfect sense. 

News flash Maija, nothing makes perfect sense. Once again I am reminded that I have the worst timing and God's timing for my life is the sweetest and richest it could ever be. Why do I like to meddle in it, planning and organizing things so everything gets worked out? Well because I am human and that is my tendency. I try to control things so it goes over well, or everything gets worked out like it needs to. And what always happens? I get left disappointed and frustrated because it never does. Sooner or later I will learn this... 

So with Tanzania I began to give it some serious thought and prayer. Is this what God is calling me to? Is this something I need to starting preparing my heart for? The answer always came back yes. I talked to Pastor Jim, talked to my Nana, talked to my parents and forward I went, starting to plan on going to Tanzania. 

Fast forward some time and I will be leaving in July for the mission trip with my team. My teammates are Pastor Jim, Karen, Allie, Ryan, Betsy, and Melanie. We will be doing lots of relational ministry and cultivating a long standing partnership with the village and people there. (I will fill you in on more of the details in a later post).

Part of my preparation for my time in Tanzania I have been reading a book my Nana gave me about the partnership between St. Stephen and other churches in the Twin Cities and the Iringa Diocese (St. Stephen and the churches in Minnesota are all ELCA- Lutheran Churches). In the beginning of the book it lays out the building of the relationship/ partnership/companionship very nicely. I have found myself re-reading the beginning many times and carry something different away every time. 

My initial question to myself was why is the book called Bega kwa Bega, the Swahili phrase for "shoulder to shoulder"? I came across the answer I had been looking for in one of those introductory pages...

"In Tanzania, when people have a heavy burden to carry, such as a long building pole, each one will carry one side on  their shoulders. It may involve several people, so that the weight of the burden is distributed evenly. Bega kwa Bega describes the relationship between two synods: the Saint Paul Area Synod (ELCA) in Minnesota and the Irniga Diocese (ELCT) in Tanzania. The two churches stand shoulder to shoulder to proclaim the gospel and to support each other in their mission work. Christians were encouraged to consider being part of an exchange because the strength of the program was its very personal nature. As people learn about each other new ways to minister to each other would be found."                                                        Lubawa, R. (2007). Shoulder to shoulder. Minneapolis, MN: Lutheran University Press.

The very image of being shoulder to shoulder with others with the hope, desire, and intent to share the
gospel of Jesus Christ with others is beautiful. This beautiful partnership has evolved over the last 29
years creating an incredible story. A story that would not be without recognizing what God has done in
the hearts of people and cities across the globe. As stated in the book " this relationship of prayer,
friendship, and partnership continues to grow stronger as God's grace spans the distance and cultural
differences from Minnesota to Tanzania" (Lubawa, 5).

My prayer is that God opens my eyes, prepares my heart and readies my response to be yes for
whatever He has for me in Tanzania.

I will continue to blog here about my upcoming trip and try to blog while away if the internet is
accessible.
Asante sana,
Thanks for reading- happy thoughts.