Team leader: LaMurl Morris (lmorris@sjumc.org)

Our team returned on June 11 after 2 weeks of ministry in Morogoro, Tanzania. This year we worked with Pastor Salvatori Daffi at the Mazimbu Temple. The purpose of this year’s trip was to: (1) spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in areas where there is heavy Muslim influence and tribal religions; and, (2) encourage the Christian believers in Tanzania and join them in ministry in their communities. In addition to preaching and teaching in the afternoons and on Sunday, we spent 3 mornings with the children, ages 4-6, at the Mazimbu Temple Nursery school. On Saturday morning we had the opportunity to work with over 250 of the poorest children in that area by assisting with children’s ministry. In the afternoons we spent time with the children at the Village of Hope orphanage, which is privately owned and administered by Helen Rusimbi, a citizen and businesswoman in Morogoro.

The second week of the trip we made site visits to numerous ministries. We returned to the Assemblies of God church in Kidodi, which is the first church that St. James built. The church is flourishing and the spiritual climate in that community has changed. We visited the Colors of Africa, a sewing ministry that was started by St. James, which enables women to help support their families financially by learning sewing skills. The ministry has expanded to include jewelry, shoes, embroidery items and other accessories. We visited other ministries that are sponsored by the Bethel Revival Temple AOG church in Morogoro.

Team members from St. James UMC were senior pastor Jerry Meredith, Scott Meredith, Tyler Morris, and LaMurl Morris. Hope Elkins, a member of Compass Church in Athens, and Jayne Jansonius from Hays UMC in Hays, Kansas, were on the Tanzania mission team.

Future mission trips to Tanzania will include church construction as well as a variety of ministries. If you are interested in being part of a future mission team to Africa, please contact LaMurl Morris (lmorris@sjumc.org). You may also contact the St. James office at (706) 548-1680 or info@sjumc.org.  

2011 Tanzania Photo Gallery