Arusha Diocese & Northern Illinois Synod

Almost 20 years ago, the Northern Illinois Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Diocese in Arusha Region of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania came into a partnership. It's mission is to bring together Christian brothers and sisters and to increase cross-cultural understanding through exchange of ideas, love, and prayers. This movie from July 2008 shows the journey of 19 Lutherans from USA to visit their companions in Arusha. 

Honor Roll

These are some of the other cross-continent partnerships that we have come across in Tanzania that impress us the most. Email us to add to the list.

Western Iowa Synod ELCA has a companionship with the Southern Diocese ELCT in Iringa, Tanzania.

Milwaukee Area Synod ELCA has a companionship with the Meru Diocese, centered on Usa River in Tanzania’s Arusha Region. They partnered with a coffee project, Nkoaranga Hospital, and have a healthy partner congregation program.

The St. Paul Area Synod ELCA has companion congregations in Tanzania and supports the Mwangaza Partnership for Education, based in Arusha.

Operation Bootstrap Africa’s website may be lite (not that we have room to talk), but they do great work in helping educate children in Africa, especially girls.

Nebraska Synod ELCA has a companionship with the Northern Diocese, Tanzania’s largest Lutheran diocese, centered on Mt Kilimanjaro in Chagga land. They take vision trips to Kilimanjaro twice annually. They put together a nice travel manual, too.

NW Ohio Synod ELCA has a companionship with Dodoma Diocese in Tanzania. We haven’t crossed paths with their work in Tanzania, but it seems they have a heart for helping the church in Dodoma to grow and bring more people to Christ.

Likamba

Likamba is a village just northwest of Arusha, Tanzania. This slideshow has a few images of its Lutheran church,

Osupuko

High up on Tanzania’s Mt. Meru, the Waarusha people live and worship. A movie about their verdant home.

Kijenge

Kijenge is an urban neighborhood on the eastern edge of Arusha, Tanzania. A short movie on its Lutheran church.

Engaruka

Life and faith deep in the bush of Maasai land, where traditional religion still holds strong.

Rafiki Mwema scholarship

Nine students from three remote villages were given a chance to go to secondary school together.

Mdori

A pictoral visit to Minjingu and Mdori, in the dry land of Tanzania’s Mbugwe tribe.

Babati

Tegemeo Choir brings hiv/aids sensitization in emotional songs and skits to different towns and villages.

Moiparo

The Lutheran church has a strong foothold here in the evergreen rain shadow of Mt. Meru. Photos.

Lenana.net’s companion pages

Mwagisa’s Family

Not exactly a companionship, this is the story of a pastor and his blind wife who has taken in many orphans.

Selian Hospital/ALMC

Slideshows of Arusha’s old Lutheran hospital and the brand new Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre.