Agape Means Love

This morning I looked at our itinerary and was pleased to see it would be a nice slow day.  Again, I should know better by now.

We began by driving out of Moshi toward Agape Lutheran Jr. Seminary.  This is the first time we have gone this direction and the landscape changes from the dry foothills to a gorgeous mixture of deep greens and golds surrounded by mountains.  Agape is a Lutheran boarding school for the brightest young people from about the ages of thirteen to twenty-one. 

We toured the beautiful campus and stepped in to visit a class full of young physics students.  The older students became aware of our presence and asked to gather in the large cafeteria so that they could sing for us.  Standing in front of these incredible young people who represent hope for this country as their songs of faith washed over us was an unspeakable blessing.  I could barely speak as I stood on a bench to thank these kids for welcoming us in this way.

Everyone in our group placed a stone into the foundation being laid for the chapel being built on the campus.  The new church will seat 1,000 people and the students are helping to construct this holy space on the very location where the local tribes would make sacrifice in the old days.

Next, we made our way to Ashira Lutheran Parish.  This congregation has a fascinating history connected to the establishment of the Lutheran Church and the work of the German missionaries.  Back in the day this hilltop location was the sight where the local tribes disposed of dead bodies.  

The word Ashira is derived from the English pronunciation of the Chagga word for “place that stinks." Imagine telling people you are a member of Stinky Lutheran!  The chief figured that by giving the pesky missionaries this cursed ground they would soon disappear.  More than one hundred years later and the Lutheran church thrives everywhere you look in this region.  The gospel can take root and grow wherever it is planted.

We had a fun visit through a busy local market on our way to hike down to see the beautiful Marangu Falls. Oscar, our magic bus driver, had to wait until the road was cleared of a giant tree blocking the way.  The guys made short work of the big tree with nothing but an axe.

On our way home we stopped by the rock quarry at Uchira to watch the amazing women carry large stones on their heads up the steep narrow trails leading from the bottom of the quarry far below.

The day ended with dinner at Bishop Shao’s home.  Several dignitaries from the diocese were there and the food was fantastic.  After dinner we stepped outside for prayers and a group picture.  The bishop shared a heartfelt and personal reflection about what a blessing our partnership in the gospel is to the Lutherans in this region and the thousands of people they serve.  We held hands and prayed under the stars, under the mountain, in the presence of a gracious God we knew to be smiling.