What We're Doing!

Last year a Trinity Western mission’s team was serving a Tanzanian grassroots organization building a community library, and dirt roads to an Eco Village project that was underway. At the close of the missions trip, we rejoiced with most of the roads done and the library almost finished. God has continued to put the Tanzanian people on my heart. Two of the team members, Jamie and I were approached by the mission’s coordinator at TWU and we were encouraged to organize and lead a community development team of students to return again this year. With our team of six we will be involved in serving the community in Tanga through teaching ESL, Aids work, orphanages, health care, children’s programs, leading Bible studies etc. We have a strong connection with a Christian youth worker and local church in Tanga, which is seeking to partner with us on an ongoing basis. While we are serving this summer we would also like to meet with grassroots organizations already serving in this area and collaborate with them to serve the people each summer. This will involve doing a community assessment to discern pressing needs and issues which are not being adequately addressed

In Luke 18: 35-43 a blind man cried out to Jesus and caught his attention. The first thing Jesus did was ask the blind man, "How can I help you?" The blind man replied, "Lord, I want to see." Jesus then proceeded to meet the need of the suffering man, he healed him. After the man's felt need was met he and all those around him praised God. Essentially this is our vision of serving and development. We want to go into the Tanga community serving, collaborating with other agencies and listening. We believe this is the most effective way to address the needs and sufferings which the people are experiencing. Once the needs are understood, together we will target the specified area and implement a development project. Ultimately our aim is to soften hearts towards hearing the saving gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord. Similar to the miracle story, praise and worship to God will be the fruit of our labour.

These six Trinity Western students have united together to go and serve. They are passionate about the long-term vision of this missions trip. Each team member is fund raising for a Tanzanian student ("counterpart") to join our team once we get there. Canadians and Tanzanians will pair up together. Each partner pair will stay in a separate host family for an entire month of the six week program. Essentially this counterpart bond will form the foundation of our partnership and will produce experienced Tanzanian agents of change in the community when we depart. Each pair will have a volunteer placement within the different sectors of the community: health care system (hospice), education system (teaching English), social services (home for victims of HIV/Aids; Street kid shelter) etc. Every week the counterparts will give a formal presentation to our team and local church and community officials regarding potential longer term projects. We will encourage them to begin preparations for a project that meets the identified issue, and Trinity will plan to lead a team back to support them the following year. As a representative of Trinity Western, our goal is to initiate a sustainable transformation of the community, not to own it and carry it out ourselves. Our team is centered in Christ, committing our service for His kingdom building purposes!