Community in Tanzania

On our plane coming into Tanzania we were given immigration forms to fill out. Instead of having the letterhead at the top saying "The United Republic of Tanzania" the top line read "East African Community".  As I filled it out I wondered if our country would be very different if it was the United Communities of America.

On our drive to our hotel in Dar es Salaam and on our bus ride to Iringa it was a common sight to see a group of people sitting and talking. It might be two neighboring shopkeepers, maybe a group of people around a pump filling their water jugs, maybe some young men shooting pool on an outside billiard table, or it could be a group outside of a market standing with their bags. The rarer sight was seeing a Tanzanian alone. Community just seems to be something they do.

Tomorrow I go to Shepherd of the Hills' companion congregation in Kidamali to worship with them. I'm looking forward to our relationship being renewed. The companion congregations are all linked through a program called Bega Kwa Bega, which is Swahili for Shoulder to Shoulder. The relationships are built on 3 P's - Prayer, Presence, Projects. Shepherd has been through some turmoil in the past years with 5 Pastors in the last 5 years or so. Now, I hope that the relationship with Kidamali can be reinvigorated. We want to be in community with our companion congregation. 

Just a few examples of community that I've been pondering.