WORD: At the invitation of former bishop Peter Kitula in 2003, a team of four people visited Tanzania for the first time. That visit led to the birth of Transforming Tanzania. For the last 18 years, we have sought to serve the Diocese of Mara-Ukerewe, Africa Inland Church-Tanzania. Each year we have been able to conduct a teaching conference for pastors and wives of the diocese. These conferences have focused on the content and theology of the Bible, with particular emphasis on the practical application of biblical truth. Our first conference was conducted with 40 men and women in attendance. Over the years, through the gracious financial support of partners in America, this conference has grown. For the last several years we have gathered 375-400 women and men for a week of spiritual refreshment, instruction, fellowship, and prayer. The conference is led by theologically trained, qualified men and women who have a passion to see the truths of the Bible bring encouragement and lasting change to these faithful servants of God and the churches they serve. Our desire is to continue this conference and expand our conferencing ministry to include conferencing for women and young people.

WATER: From the very beginning of this partnership, those who have traveled to Tanzania have been deeply moved as they have watched the people of this region struggle to meet basic human needs. The challenge to secure adequate water is the most pressing of these. Those most impacted are women and children. In the dry seasons they must make a round trip of ten miles and more on foot to find a water source. Rivers, streams, ponds and surface retention basins shared by livestock and wild animals are their sources. Numerous water-borne diseases, physical exhaustion, dehydration, domestic strife, lost educational opportunities, and physical safety are some of the daily realities faced. In 2008 a group of concerned friends contributed the funds needed to drill a first water well in the village of Masinono. Since that time more than $1,500,000 has been raised to complete an additional ninety-nine projects. Easily 300,000 people now have access to safe, clean drinking water for the first time in their lives.

Projects are initiated in villages where the diocese has an existing church or in conjunction with a new church plant.  Once completed these projects become the responsibility of the church and village where they have been completed.  Through the diocese a program of training in the management of the water well is conducted to ensure the sustainability of the well.  A local committee composed of church members and village residents determines the fee schedule, hours of operation, security and, most important, maintenance and repair.  As a ministry of the diocese, these projects fall under the oversight of the church’s Department of Community Development.  Each of the more than 100 completed projects continues to provide for these communities.  Conservative estimates are that more that 300,000 people now have easy and regular access to safe, clean drinking water for the first time in their lives.

Our dream is to continue to raise the funds needed to complete at least one well in each village where the diocese has a church or plans a church plant.

WELLNESS: Over the last twenty-five years, the Diocese of Mara-Ukerewe has sought to build a program that would provide medical care to the ‘poorest of the poor.’ Under the leadership of the former Bishop, Peter Kitula, and the Director of Health Services, Ms. Maike Ettling, four clinics have been established. In addition, mobile clinics seek to serve the most remote areas of the diocese. Friends of Transforming Tanzania who have expertise in fields of general medicine, surgery, dentistry, ophthalmology and gynecology are exploring ways to assist the diocese as it seeks to provide the health services needed in the communities of the Mara region. Our hope is to support a medical mission trip annually to assist the diocese.