Friends,
I am always grateful to be in Tanzania in one of the weeks leading up to Easter. The visit encourages me to reflect on the two competing themes of the tragic, beautiful holiday. Through our work I confront vivid illustrations of the brokenness of this world: poverty that shackles opportunity and erodes human dignity; drought-stricken dirt that refuses to yield crops; sickness and disease that cripple bodies and minds, turning children into orphans and grandparents into guardians; Dads who flee families, overwhelmed by the responsibility of feeding and clothing a home when employment is scarce. Indeed, our friends in Tanzania face many challenges. But Tumaini’s work also reassures me of the truth of restoration. I see that very real hope in the teachers who dedicate countless hours to teaching and mentoring; in the parents and grandparents who advocate incessantly for their children, sacrificing their scant resources so their children can grow into the young women and men they’re meant to become; in the students who walk hours to school, work tirelessly, and support each other, insistent on applying their talents to serve their community; and in the families who humbly, triumphantly declare their faith day in and out, resolute in their belief that the difficulties they encounter do not define their worth.
Our work matters. My time with our local partners last month grounded me in that truth, as it does every year. But I was also reminded of the need for and virtue of Tumaini’s mission upon my return, when I learned of last week’s gruesome news that at least 148 university students in Kenya had been murdered, and countless others injured, because of their faith and their love of learning. None of our students attends Garissa University College. (All our university students are enrolled in schools in Tanzania, which thankfully has not seen the same extremist violence.) But any of these Garissa students could have been our students: young men and women, the delight and joy of doting moms and dads and proud bibis (grandmothers) and babus (grandfathers), committed to using their unique minds, personalities, passions, senses of humor, and relationships to build a stronger country and continent. Education is important, especially in East Africa, because it sends hope into a world desperately yearning for redemption. Our brilliant students’ commitment to their studies and to their communities, and their communities’ investment in them, proclaim that the evil we too often see—in the poverty, sickness, and strife that represent daily life in Sakila; in the suffering, strain, and heartache of our own lives; and in the unfathomable massacre in Garissa—does not represent the end of the story. Hope—tumaini—will overcome.
It is a privilege to join with our local partners in supporting these students as they carry out God’s redemptive plan for their community, country, and continent. I give thanks for them and I give thanks to you for sharing in this important work. Over the coming weeks, we’ll send more updates about our program and recaps of our recent trip. For now, I just want to extend my thanks and share a few photos, below, of the hope that continues to drive this organization and fill me with joy.
You can continue to support this important work by clicking on the link below to invest in our students.
Nakushukuru, (With great appreciation for you,)
Lide