Our companion synod, the Ulanga Kilombero Diocese (UKD) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, has a Secondary and Bible school as one of their ministries: Tumaini Lutheran Secondary School. This is a boarding school for boys and girls as they get their first 4 years of secondary education. The school is well regarded and the NWIM Synod has shown great support for the school. As you talk to the leaders throughout the UKD, many have their roots at Tumaini. It is a school that is teaching the leaders for the diocese as pastors, doctors, teachers, evangelists, and business owners. Our support over the years has made a huge difference for the UKD and for the entire country.
Pastor Moses Nwaka, the Director for Tumaini, recently wrote about one of the students that visited the school for several weeks in October. Potential students are able to live at the school, take classes and experience life as a Tumaini student. Most hope they might be accepted as a student for their first year of secondary school. Pr. Moses writes: “This boy is 12 and his name is James (photo below). He is one of our pre-form one students (the first year of secondary school is Form One). Yesterday he came to me and asked me to have a private meeting with him for which I agreed. He told me that he really wants to study at Tumaini Lutheran Seminary. He continued that he informed his parents, and they said they cannot afford the school fees. When he was saying this, tears were flowing from his eyes. He said he doesn't want to go to the nearby day school because, quoting his words; “In Tumaini teachers are teaching very well. In the nearby government secondary school they do not teach good morals to students. So I don't want to go there. This troubled me the whole night. He is too young to speak those words I was so surprised but extremely sympathetic to him. This is a similar story for many. You can again see My Dear Rafiki (friend), How valuable and How important the NWIM scholarship support is to help children from poor families. James is uncertain for his future.”
NWIM Scholarships make a difference! Thanks to your generous support we will be sending scholarship funds for the next school year which begins in January. Tuition, Room, and Board is $800 per student. It appears we can sponsor 27 students this next year. We will add more funds later in the year. You can give through the Women of the ELCA or through the synod office. Find the donate tab on the synod website and select the Tumaini Scholarship option or send funds through your local WELCA organization to the synod WELCA leaders. Asante Sana! Thank you!
Deacon Heidi Cryer
Chair, NWIM Companion Synod Team