Makungu

             Today, Ken and I made the journey to the village of Makungu, about an hour and a half drive from Ilula.  The Makungu parish is the companion congregation to my home church of Abiding Savior Lutheran, in Mounds View, MN.  Our congregations have been linked for several years, but I was the first person to visit. 

            We left at about 9:00 am with Pastor Yusto from the Iringa Diocese and headed out on the dirt road toward Ilula.  The drive was beautiful as we wove our way into the mountains.  The road was narrow and steep, and covered with potholes and craters from the rain.

            We arrived safely in Makungu, and were welcomed by the pastors.  They welcomed us into the parsonage, where Rev. Samsom Mkemwa (the head pastor) lives.  His wife prepared us tea with snacks.  We had chapattis and a savory banana dish.  I drank a cup of tea that was brewed in warm goat’s milk.  While we ate, members of the congregation began to gather outside singing, dancing and playing instruments.  They sang songs in both Swahili and Hehe, and did the traditional Hehe dance that we’ve come to know well.

            The congregation escorted us into the church, where Ken and I were ushered to our seats at the altar.  Rev. Mkemwa expressed his thanks and appreciation on behalf of the congregation.  They had waited many years for a visitor from ASLC.  Although we had been planning this trip for two weeks, the congregation did not find out about our visit until yesterday.  They prepared a beautiful celebration for us on very short notice.  After Rev. Mkwemwa finished speaking, it was my turn to speak and do introductions.  I introduced myself in Kihehe then switched to Swahili for a sentence or two before turning to rely on Rev. Yusto to translate for me. 

            I sent warm greetings from Abiding Savior, and thanked the congregation for the very warm welcome.  I assured the congregation that the people of Makungu have always been in our prayers, despite our lack of communication over the last few years.  I told them how we looked forward to renewing our partnership and moving forward together.  There were no hard feelings, as people clapped and cheered.

            Next came the exchange of gifts.  Rev. Mkemwa presented us first with African clothing that had been made the night before for us.  I received a dress, Ken received a shirt, and Rev. Mkemwa also put on a shirt of the same fabric.  They then presented us with several more gifts:  woven baskets filled with passion fruit and eggs, pineapples, and home-grown coffee beans.  The fresh food is for us to bring back and share at Ilula, the rest is to bring home to remember Makungu.  I then presented the gifts sent from Abiding Savior:  a photo album, several prayer shawls, a quilt, calendars, and the many toothbrushes and toothpaste we had collected. 

            Pastor Lisa had written a letter to Makungu, which I read on her behalf, and also sang to them our weekly benediction “As you go on your way, may Christ go with you.  May Christ go before you to show you the way.  May Christ go behind you to encourage you.  Beside you to befriend you, above you to watch over, within you to give you peace.”           

            The choir then sang for us, and people started doing the Hehe dance in the aisles, which I joined in on.  Finally, after the dancing was done, we went back to Rev. Mkemwa’s house for lunch.  His wife had prepared rice, beans, chicken, and a tomato sauce.  After lunch, we took a few pictures with the congregation before heading back to Ilula.  

Beth