In August of 2005, five members of Como Park Lutheran Church traveled to Tanzania to meet, for the first time, our brothers and sisters in Christ from our companion parish in the small agricultural village of Itungi. They welcomed us robustly with song, dance, hugs, and smiles, and our hearts melted into one with them.
The primary purpose of our visit to the Itungi Parish was relationship building. We stayed overnight in the village; worshipped in their church; visited with the people from all nine of the remote worship centers of the parish; visited and talked at length about hopes, dreams, and goals. At one point they asked, “Can you help us educate our children?” We inquired about what that would involve, and we learned:
- The Tanzanian government provides education up to grade 6.
- If a child attends secondary school (high school - grades 7-12) the parents must pay 100% of the school fees.
- In 2005, school fees were $300.00/year. Today the fees are $350.00.
- Virtually all of the people of the village are subsistence farmers – they consume all they produce. They are very poor and annual income is approximately $300.00 per year.
- Thus, families are unable to send their children to secondary school, and....
- Without a secondary education their children are doomed to extreme poverty – a dire situation for parents to contemplate.
- With a secondary education their children have HOPE for a better life.
Our response to their question was, “WE CAN DO THAT!” “We will return to our church and tell our people of your need.” Upon our return to Como Park Lutheran Church, we shared their request with the members, and our members responded with heartfelt gusto.
Today (2010), individual members of Como Park Lutheran Church sponsor the following array of scholarships in Tanzania:
- 62 Secondary School Scholarships at $350.00/year for up to 6 years.
- 6 Vocational School Scholarships at $250.00/year for up to 3 years.
- 4 Nursing School Scholarships at $700.00/year for up to 3 years.
- 1 University Scholarship at $600.00/year for up to 3 years.
- 2 Divinity School Scholarships at $2200.00/year for up to 3 or 4 years.
PRAISE THE LORD!!!
Each year in the fall, members of Como Park Lutheran Church are invited to renew their scholarship commitment for the coming school year, and the invitation is extended to non-members as well. We enter the invitation phase each year in September for the school year beginning the following January.
In January, 2010, 62 youngsters from our Companion Parish in Itungi, Tanzania, have either begun or returned to high school because of your extraordinary generosity. A HUGE thank you on behalf of their Moms and Dads! In the past we've usually received names (and sometimes letters and photos) from our sponsored students in March/April - we'll look forward to that timeframe again. In total, over 70 scholarships are sponsored by Como Park Lutheran Church in 2010.
If you have questions and/or an interest in renewing a current scholarship commitment, or you wish to initiate a new scholarship commitment contact Dick Young at 651-645-6228 or Pastor Martin Ericson at 651-646-7127, ext. 202.
In August of 2005, five members of Como Park Lutheran Church traveled to Tanzania to meet, for the first time, our brothers and sisters in Christ from our companion parish in the small agricultural village of Itungi. They welcomed us robustly with song, dance, hugs, and smiles, and our hearts melted into one with them.
The primary purpose of our visit to the Itungi Parish was relationship building. We stayed overnight in the village; worshipped in their church; visited with the people from all nine of the remote worship centers of the parish; visited and talked at length about hopes, dreams, and goals. At one point they asked, “Can you help us educate our children?” We inquired about what that would involve, and we learned:
- The Tanzanian government provides education up to grade 6.
- If a child attends secondary school (high school - grades 7-12) the parents must pay 100% of the school fees.
- In 2005, school fees were $300.00/year. Today the fees are $350.00.
- Virtually all of the people of the village are subsistence farmers – they consume all they produce. They are very poor and annual income is approximately $300.00 per year.
- Thus, families are unable to send their children to secondary school, and....
- Without a secondary education their children are doomed to extreme poverty – a dire situation for parents to contemplate.
- With a secondary education their children have HOPE for a better life.
Our response to their question was, “WE CAN DO THAT!” “We will return to our church and tell our people of your need.” Upon our return to Como Park Lutheran Church, we shared their request with the members, and our members responded with heartfelt gusto.
Today (2010), individual members of Como Park Lutheran Church sponsor the following array of scholarships in Tanzania:
- 62 Secondary School Scholarships at $350.00/year for up to 6 years.
- 6 Vocational School Scholarships at $250.00/year for up to 3 years.
- 4 Nursing School Scholarships at $700.00/year for up to 3 years.
- 1 University Scholarship at $600.00/year for up to 3 years.
- 2 Divinity School Scholarships at $2200.00/year for up to 3 or 4 years.
PRAISE THE LORD!!!
Each year in the fall, members of Como Park Lutheran Church are invited to renew their scholarship commitment for the coming school year, and the invitation is extended to non-members as well. We enter the invitation phase each year in September for the school year beginning the following January.
In January, 2010, 62 youngsters from our Companion Parish in Itungi, Tanzania, have either begun or returned to high school because of your extraordinary generosity. A HUGE thank you on behalf of their Moms and Dads! In the past we've usually received names (and sometimes letters and photos) from our sponsored students in March/April - we'll look forward to that timeframe again. In total, over 70 scholarships are sponsored by Como Park Lutheran Church in 2010.
If you have questions and/or an interest in renewing a current scholarship commitment, or you wish to initiate a new scholarship commitment contact Dick Young at 651-645-6228 or Pastor Martin Ericson at 651-646-7127, ext. 202.