We left our lodge in Mang’ula yesterday morning and traveled to one of the newest parishes in the UKD: Katarukila, led by Pastor Susana. Her parish met us with wonderful singing and dancing. We heard the history of the parish and saw the pastor’s house, still being built. We had a conversation with members.

Then we drove on to the Ruaha Parish home church. They are hosting us (read feeding us) and hosted our farewell event this evening. We are staying in another lodge last night and tonight. Yesterday afternoon we drove to Kitete to see the new dispensary (like a clinic at home, but one where children can be born and other care given). This has been a huge undertaking by the parish and now diocese. It is so needed in its area and they are only waiting for their government registration to come through. We stopped briefly at the church in Ketete.

This morning we met with the Kilombero District staff, some council members, and more pastors from the parish. We visited a kindergarten connected with the Ruaha Church. We saw a district pastor’s house, almost completed. This house was near the Mkamba Church. Ruaha Parish is the largest parish in the UKD.

Tonight was a wonderful time first with the Ruaha Parish leadership-hearing the history, projects they are working on, reviewing the history of our partnership, asking and answering questions. I’ll try to write more about repeated themes of these conversations later. Then Ruaha hosted a lovely Goodbye celebration for us with music, dancing, gifts, and a delicious meal.

Mkamba Parish church building-Group Photo with Kilombero District