By Rev. Harold Usgaard
Synod Bishop

It takes 21 hours to travel from Minneapolis to Kilimanjaro Airport in Arusha, Tanzania. We had received our shots, taken our malaria pills, packed for warm and wet weather, and exchanged our money. And all 27 of us from the Southeastern Minnesota Synod made it, with only one suitcase lagging behind.

We boarded our five land rovers, and spent the first two days on safari while overcoming jet lag. We saw more animals than one can count, even experiencing a close encounter with a herd of elephants visiting our tents.

Many new friendships were formed on this trip.

Then it was on to Singida Town, the headquarters of our companion synod, the Central Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. With a greeting and blessing from Bishop Sima, the group divided and traveled to spend a number of days in partner congregations. Thirteen partner congregations were represented in our group. The visits were warm and heartfelt, even in the midst of some challenging living conditions. Other days included worship services filled with baptisms and confirmations, and visits to schools and hospitals that we as a synod have supported.

The reason for our trip was the invitation to join in the celebration of 100 years of missionary activity in the Central Diocese. There were two days of worship, each service four to six hours long. Picture two to three thousand people gathered outside with maybe 12 vehicles in sight; most of the people had walked for miles. The river near the worship site was swollen with the rains. There was no bridge, so most crossed by foot through the water. Each day was interrupted by torrential rains. And what did the people do? They stood there, with their plastic chairs over their heads, singing, waiting for the rain to stop and the worship to continue.

A choir competition determined which groups would sing during the celebration service.

Part of the worship included recognition of those who have meant so much to Christian ministry in the Central Diocese. Among the missionaries, pastors and bishops who were honored, and our own Kathy Bolin was presented a plaque in honor of the work she has done to enable our companion synod relationship to blossom. Kathy works only one day a week in our office, yet is well known to all who have been involved in travel or communication with the Central Diocese.

Bishop Usgaard & Kathy Bolin display a partnership Bible. Each congregation in the Central Diocese received a Swahili/ English Bible from their partner congregation or from the synod if they were not partnered.

The celebration theme came from Psalm 106, “God is good all the time; all the time God is good.” The Tanzanians believe that message, and they live it as well. And we had the privilege of being witness to such a faith.