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News from our Missionary, Nancy Stevenson |
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MESSAGE FROM NANCY STEVENSON
Tumaini University 4 September 2007 Dear family and friends, Warm greetings from MUCo. I’m in my office preparing for the new semester that begins on 17th September. It’s about 6:00 p.m., which I think is the most beautiful time of day at MUCo. The air is cooler as the sun slips closer to the horizon. For a few magic minutes the sun’s rays spread a golden sheen over the whole campus. The bark of the big mringaringa tree outside my office window—and all the other trees—are bathed in gold for about 10 minutes. It’s like looking through a gold filter for a few minutes. Then the sheen is gone and the scene gradually grows dark. The big news from MUCo and the ELCT (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania) is the election of a new presiding bishop, Bishop Alex Malasusa of the Eastern and Coastal Diocese. (He is my former student and I’m very PROUD of him! He is an excellent choice: humble, articulate, and well liked.) Bishop Malasusa, 47, originally from Rungwe in Mbeya Region, is the son of Pastor Gehaz Malasusa. He earned a BD (Bachelor of Divinity) degree at MUCo in 1995 and was consecrated bishop of the Eastern and Coastal Diocese, headquartered in Dar es Salaam, on 17 April 2004. A year ago the General Assembly of the ELCT met at MUCo to elect a new presiding bishop, but neither of the two candidates, Bishop Stephen Munga and Bishop O.M. Mdegella, was able to get the necessary two-thirds majority to win. Finally, the presiding bishop, Dr. Samson Mushemba, was asked to continue as presiding bishop for one more year. During that year many Tanzanian Lutherans prayed fervently for the elections. At the General Assembly this July it was decided that the presiding bishop could be elected by a simple majority, not, as before, by a two-thirds majority to win. Three candidates were chosen by the Executive Council and then the voting began. On the first ballot Bishop Malasusa received over two-thirds of the votes. When this was announced, there were great shouts of approval, and ululations from us women. His many supporters were jumping up and down and waving their arms and dancing in the aisles. Many people (including me) were trying to jump up and down, shout, ululate and finish text messages on their mobile phones to tell friends the good news. As I type this, I’m smiling because I remember the joy I felt when he was elected. The next day I had a few minutes to talk to him. He told me that when he heard about my broken ankle (in Feb. 2000), he prayed for healing for me in the cathedral in Dar es Salaam. I was very touched by his concern and kindness. Another former student whom I’m very proud of is Rev. Dr. Elieshi Ayo Mungure. This summer she joined the Department of Pastoral Theology in the Faculty of Theology. She received her BD at MUCo, her MTh at Wartburg, and from 2002 to 2006 she earned her PhD at Luther Seminary. Dr. Elieshi Mungure is a role model for the younger women in our Faculty of Theology. She, her husband, and their children: Irene, Sam, and Namoi, make my heart sing! Another piece of exciting news from MUCo is that over 1,000 students will be studying here at MUCo this semester. Of the 1,073 estimated in July to be studying at MUCo this semester, 638 students are in the BEd programme; 13 in the music programme; 266 in the law programme; 119 in the BD programme; 15 in the Diploma in Theology programme; 19 in the MTh programme; and 3 in the PhD in Theology programme. The government, which would like to have more BA holders teaching English and Swahili in secondary schools, has pushed us to take a great number of Bachelor of Education (Languages) students. They have also offered loans to BEd students, which have greatly increased the number of students asking for places here. We expect 300 new BEd 1 students. Whew! I plan to divide the BEd 1 communications skills class (which I am in charge of teaching) into 8 sections, A-H, and have four new part-time teachers teaching two sections each. We’ll meet from 2:30 until 4:30 Monday to Friday. I’ve got the course outline ready and have been meeting with the new teachers and orienting them to teaching at MUCo. We have four beautiful, brand new classrooms in building 3 on the third and fourth floors—and furniture that is “coming soon.” I would be glad if you could pray for it to come in a very few days—and white boards also. I’m so thankful to God for His help and to many of you for praying for “5 and 5” (5 periods a week and a 5-week intensive English programme (IEP) before the academic year begins). The 5 periods a week is officially written in the prospectus, but I still have to finish the IEP. Now here are a few smaller pieces of news. We’ve been having earthquakes here, small, but noticeable. I’ve heard from a geology expert that what is moving—and causing the quakes—is deep in the earth. By the time the quake reaches the surface of the earth, it is mild. Even so, I can definitely feel the floor moving. Luckily the earthquakes that I have experienced last for only a few seconds. Usually by the time I realize that the trembling is an earthquake, it’s over. The National Geographic for July 2007 has a very interesting, informative, and comprehensive article on malaria. It’s well worth reading to find out what is happening in the fight against malaria. Thank you for your prayers, your e-mails, cards, and letters, and your financial gifts. Please never stop praying for my fellow missionaries and me; we need your prayers! See you in July and August of 2008. With love in our Lord, Nancy
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