The Tarlings’ Newsletter Nº 48 ~ January 2008

“In their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.  Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
2 Corinthians 9: 14-15

“And what does the LORD require of us?  To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.” Micah 6:8 (NIV)

A Lightning Year

This year’s rains have come early again, but as with last year this has been at a price.  We have had an abnormally high number of electrical storms, one of which took out the telephone tower very close to our home and another less than a mile away sadly hit a man sheltering under a tree.  Since then we have had a rainless week, which is causing concern to all who have planted their crops.

Lightning apart, 2007 seemed to be very packed, but has seen both advances for good and trials to take us back to our knees.

Our remaining 5 months based in Tanzania are likely to prove to speed past even faster.

St. Luke’s Health Centre

The main works to expand St Luke’s have now largely been completed with four new buildings being completed during 2007 and another well underway – First the 12-bed waiting ward (Chigonela) was opened just after Easter to allow expectant mothers to be on site rather than have to walk in up to 50km at the last moment, then the new Anæsthetic Suite was finished in June followed by the laundry in September and the Patient’s Cookhouse and a general store with the turn of the New Year.  Still in progress is the construction of a Chapel to serve the Spiritual needs of the Patients and Staff.  In addition there were the usual batch of new Churches and a couple of Pastors’ houses to lay out around the Diocese.

With the main compound looking and feeling much more like a hospital patient numbers have been much higher, especially on a Monday when Rachel has been typically seeing upwards of 70 or more outpatients in her surgery in a single day!  Waiting times are long and tempers flare (especially of those patients who have walked in long distances), as we try and sort out the logistics to ensure a smooth work flow.  Numbers of maternity patients are also creeping up.

Trial wise one of the midwives was brought in by the police after she was caught selling off vital St Luke’s equipment in one of the nearby towns.  The investigation into others on a separate issue (who were selling Government Child Health Cards which should be given out free) is still pending.   Relationships among some of the staff are needless-to-say far from straightforward making management issues a permanent headache!

Meanwhile, discussion is continuing with the Health Committee and Bishop Jacob to look for two key people to take over from Rachel – a new Medical Officer in Charge, and an Administrator.  Both of these are critical positions to ensure the future smooth running of St Luke’s, and an early decision would ensure an easy transition, but we need to be sure of getting the right person.  Much wisdom is needed at this important time.

HIV Home Based Care

HIV continues to be a large problem in Mpwapwa, but gradually people are becoming more willing to face up to the problem and be tested.  For those who are positive, there is a good Home Based Care service run by our team, with carers in each village, and also help with fares for people to come to Mpwapwa town for treatment, and this is proving a lifeline for many people.  Mpwapwa Government Hospital has at last got a CD4 counter, saving people the effort of a 3-hour bus journey into Dodoma for a blood test before starting on medication to slow the progress of the virus, which was an insurmountable obstacle for many.  

Installation

During the last weekend of September +Jacob Chimeledya was finally installed as the second Diocesan Bishop of Mpwapwa.  He takes on a very poor (finance wise) set up, and needs to use all his skills to spur the people into taking responsibility for their own progress, both spiritually and economically.  As his wife Mwezwa put it during a Special Synod – “Our task and all the challenges that come with it, is only just beginning!”

The Tarling Tribe

Esther is in her final year at Dean Close Prep School, and has really got down to some hard work this term.  She has an opportunity in January to sit for a DT Scholarship to the Senior School – this would be very helpful if it came off!!

Chris continues to be keen on all things sporting, especially rugby.  He is also thriving and very happy in the senior boys’ boarding house at school.

Tim is continuing with Year 2 Home School.  He is excellent at Maths and Reading – his writing needs a bit more working at but he generally enjoys it all.  He remains keen on construction of all kinds – whether cardboard, or sand and earth works out in the garden.

Visitors

The Venerable Clive Mansell (the Arch Deacon of Tonbridge (in the link Diocese of Rochester) & his wife Jane came in September, ostensibly to be at the Installation of +Jacob, but due to a late change in Jacob’s dates ended up coming out two weeks early allowing them much more time to visit outlying areas and to get to know +Jacob better during a private trip to Mikumi Game Park.  Clive also laid the foundation stone for the new St. Luke’s Chapel whilst he was here.

Another visitor from the Diocese of Rochester was Rosie Smith, a retired midwife, who came out for two weeks to give valuable teaching to the maternity wing staff.

January will see a visit from a retired surgeon, Frank Guinness from Reigate and his wife Liz – again on a brief 2-week ‘busman’s’ expedition.

It is as always good to see visitors, each of whom brings their special blessings and encouragements and take away a wealth of prayers and interest to share with those back home.

as ever for your prayers love and financial support, which enable our (and therefore your) partnership in the Gospel in Mpwapwa

 Pointers for Prayer

Give Praise for: -

 P    The life and witness of the Diocese as the first chapter closes, and a new chapter begins.

P    The progress made on various building works that will enable local Christians to take the Word of God to their neighbours.

P    The reasonable start to the rains this year.

P    The ministry of St Luke’s in the local community with the opportunity to touch many lives with the Gospel.

Please pray for: -

^     Esther and Christopher at Dean Close, and Timothy here in Mpwapwa, in Home School Year 2.

^     The new Chapel at St Luke’s carrying on the history of the site as a Christian witness to all.

^     Wisdom in managing a staff team with varied temperaments, abilities and objectives!

^     For a replacement Doctor to be found to head up the work at St. Luke’s as we prepare to hand the work on.

^     For the continuation of a good rainy season so that people can grow enough to get them through the next year, as the cost of living continues to soar in Tanzania.

^     All at Crosslinks HQ as they continue to work in the background supporting the work all around the world, taking God’s Word to God’s World.

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