Mbulu Letters
ELCT MBULU DIOCESE
MBULU CONGREGATION
P.O. BOX 51 MBULU
JANUARY 15, 2001
PRINCE OF GLORY LUTHERAN
1357 W. 14 MILE ROAD
MADISON HTS MI 48071-1056
U.S.A.
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
Thank you for our partnership. Many thanks for your financial support of US
$1500. The amount of $750 which you sent at first we converted into Tanzanian
Currency and we got a total of TShs. 593,250/= and then from the amount of US
$750 we got TShs. 599,250/= Really we have much to do with money. Yet we would
like to know from you if there is any special target with this money (US $1500)
because besides our need of money for running costs, we also sent you our
proposal of building a kindergarten school.
Dear friends, on behalf of Mbulu Congregation I take this opportunity to tell
you that the Executive Committee of our Diocese has made a changes of pastors in
some areas. Pastor Zakayo Malekwa who was a pastor here was transferred to
Kansay. Pastor Ernest Nasari who was a leading Pastor of Kansay was appointed to
be a teacher in Waama Lutheran Bible College. I am Pastor Samwel B. Sulle, a
district Pastor of the Northern District in Mbulu Diocese and according to our
Constitution I am also supposed to be a pastor incharge in the headquarters of
our district, which is Mbulu. This changes took place since January 2000. Before
this changes I was a pastor incharge of Endabash Congregation.
In August 2000 the Diocese had appointed a new pastor who had completed his
BD in July 2000 at Makumira University College. His name is ELIFURAHA
S.T.MASSAWE. We are now on preparation for his ordination which will be on 18
Feb. 2001. Apart from his duty as another pastor in our congregation he is also
responsible for teaching Bible Knowledge in two Secondary Schools within Mbulu
township.
This is seems to be a good year. It is now heavily raining and people are
busy on their farming activities. However, many people are starving for hunger
because they did not get enough harvest last year and even the year before. The
church (ELCT MBULU DIOCESE) in cooperation with the donors helps the mostly
affected people. This is really what the Church should do in the society due to
this circumstances. On the other hand this situation has affected to a great
extent the income of our Congregation as well as the church and the Society as
whole. e.g. in 1999 our Congregation had a deficity of TShs. 1,005,775/= in our
budget. Last year (2000) we have a deficity of TShs. 747,760/= Nowadays a
monthly income of our congregation has dropped from the average of TShs.
500,000/= to TShs. 396,987/= while the salaries itself costs TShs. 319,820/=
monthly. Inspite of the mentioned above situation, Our Congregation is
responsible for the expenses concerning the ordination party of our new pastor
as I have already said. This will cost approximately TShs. 450,000/=. On behalf
of Mbulu Congregation I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to
share this joy with us.
In our Congregation we have also the projects of church buildings. Eight
stations which are under Mbulu Congregation are in progress. These are Titiwi,
Waama (new station), Baghantsu, Guneneda, Tsa/ayo (new station), Harbanghet,
Su/um and Amowa. Thanks be to God because the work has expanded. The church
building in Mbulu (Station) which is the center of our congregation and also of
the Diocese is now in danger condition. First of all it is small, secondly it is
too old and has a lot of cracks. Although there is an idea of building a
Cathedral here, still we are the one who are more responsible to incur most of
the expenses than other Congregations in our diocese.
I hope you have already heard that we had lost our bishop, the late Bishop
Yoram Girgis, on September 7, 2000. He was buried infront of our church building
at Mbulu. It is also in this area whereby the Cathedral will be built. Please,
continue praying for his family.
Our dear Friends, without hiding anything, we are really in need of financial
support. Would you please collect money from whoever want to help us in
accordance to any of the factors mentioned above. We are not able to afford to
encounter our financial problems on our own, therefore, we are grateful to
receive any amount from you as God has blessed you.
Before closing my letter, I would like to say a little bit about our Northern
District (Jimbo) as a district pastor. In our district we have five
Congregations, thus, Mbulu, Daudi, Kansay, Endabash and Mamaisara. Two of our
Congregations are seeking for sister parishes. They need friends to share
different experiences with them. These are Endabash (its leading pastor is Rev.
Yona Panga) and Kansay (its leading pastor is Rev. Zakayo Malekwa). Please if
there are any Congregations from your country which are interested in having
partnership with them they are warmly welcomed. And also in your country you
have this system of having districts and there is a one which could like to have
sistership with our district we happily appreciate their cooperation.
We are looking forward reading from you.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Samwel B. Sulle
Pastor Incharge
Mbulu Congregation.
PS. Would you please give us your e-mail.
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