Osupuko Dictionary

William Kivuyo, pictured above outside of his office in Arusha, has five children. He is an elder of the Oloigero congregation of Osupuko Lutheran Parish, and is the education director for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, based in Arusha.

Unyenyekevu

Unyenyekevu (OOHN-yen-yeh-KAY-voo) is the Swahili word for humility. To be humble means to really listen, and be able to act on what God wants. Whenever I have a problem, I feel like God is on my side because he gives me answers.

Traveling abroad is a gift. in 2001 when I was a teacher. I interviewed to go to the U.S. through Mwangaza teacher exchange. The interview went well, but I soon received a letter telling me I was not, in fact, chosen to participate. I didn’t complain or curse my luck, or ask God, “Why wasn’t I chosen!” Later, as it turns out, I was given the opportunity to participate.
When things don’t go my way, I humble myself before the Lord and amazing things happen.

The other day in Dar es Salaam, I accidentally left my phone on a bus. I called it a few minutes later and the conductor picked it up. He told me he’d save it for me and that I should just find him on the bus marked with the route Kivukoni-Mwananyamala. Of course there are dozens of buses marked that way, so I thought I had lost it. But later after a string of events, someone brought the phone to me at the guest house where I was staying! I tried to give him some money as a reward, but he refused it.

Now why shouldn’t I humble myself before Him? He’s the solution to my problems. Why should I curse? He is the giver. There are so many examples of this.

A humble person sees himself as equal to others, even if he’s above them socially or economically. To be humble means to be a servant to others, to value their ideas.

Adults need to humble themselves and speak well to the youth. We need to see ourselves as not above speaking well to young people so that they listen and understand us, and they don’t perish from ignorance.

In this world there are so many inequalities. And often it’s because of pride. Someone who is proud will hoard his resources because he thinks he is more worthy of them. But if I am humble and educated, for example, I’ll look for ways to share my education and its fruits with those who are less educated.

If you know that we’re all human beings under one Creator, then you have to humble yourself. I am remided of this in 1 Peter 5:5: “And all of you, serve each other in humility, for God opposes the proud but favors the Humble. So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God for he cares about you.”

Neema John, pictured above, is a widow with eight children. She is a member of the Ilkiding’a congregation of Osupuko Lutheran Parish.

Mchungaji

Mchungaji (MM-choon-GAH-gee) is the Swahili word for shepherd. (It is also the word for pastor). In Swahili we say, “Bwana ndiye mchungaji wangu.” The Lord is my shepherd (Psalm 23:1). In whatever trials I have, I know that I am saved by Him, my shepherd.

That psalm really helped me a lot when my husband died in 1990. He left me with 8 children and no work. We encountered seriously hard times without any money. But this psalm gave me peace. Through service in the church and through prayer, we have survived up to this point. After my husband left us, the Lord protected our lives and led us forward. To thank him, I give offering to the church and I give myself to my Lord to do His work here.

Even if all the wealth of the world disappears and all the things of the good life vanish, our faith will remain. God and God alone is the giver and the protector of things worth having.

The sheep knows the sound of the shepherd. I depend on Him and when I call out, I know He will be there.

Goodluck Sanare, pictured above, is 25-years-old. He has two years remaining of secondary school, and he’s looking for a way to study further. He is a member of the Ilkiding’a congregation of Osupuko Lutheran Parish.

Kumcha Mungu

Kumcha mungu (koo-MM-cha MOON-goo) is the Swahili term for fearing the Lord.

Proverbs 1:9 tells us that fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. So to gain knowledge – especially the useful kind – we start by learning to fear the Lord. King Solomon wanted respect and knowledge, and God blessed him with those things.

If you have many cows and cars and money, you’ll just leave those things behind when you die. But knowledge and fear of the Lord are things that will carry us to the next life in heaven.

As much as you seek God, that’s how much you’ll find him. I started looking for him when I was a teenager. I joined a prayer group and a fellowship group and started reading the Bible. That’s where I learned to fear the Lord. When I say fear Him, I don’t mean be afraid of Him. I mean respect him like a father. Just like we are afraid to disappoint our fathers, we should be afraid to disappoint our Father in heaven.

Magdalena Zakayo, pictured above, has nine children (six still at home), eight grandkids, a husband, and a cow. She is a member of the Ilkiding’a congregation of Osupuko Lutheran Parish.

Tegemea

Tegemea (TEH-geh-MAY-uh) is the Swahili word for depend. God is good, and He is the only one you can depend on for everything you need. He is the source of love, healing, and all our physical needs. There was a time when I was sick with heart problems, but I was healed because I depended on Him through prayer.

When I pray to God, He answers. Sometimes when I go to fellowship or prayer group, I return home to find my husband very angry or violent. I just pray and his anger subsides.

Even when my husband beats me or I’m called names or spat upon, I know that I’m in God’s embrace. All help comes from God. Any time I want to do something, I start with a prayer.

God is able and he is enough. I depend on him. We can’t rely totally on humans, nor can we rely totally on ourselves. But we can rely on God.