Our Partners in Tanzania

In June 2006, Central member Mia Mengel went on a 35 day visit to Tanzania, East Africa accompanied by physicians Bill and Peg Hoffman and a reporter and photographer from the Morning Call newspaper. Mia's visit included consultation with the Bishop of the Western Province on financial and management issues, touring the Orphans' Project villages and participating in the church life of our partner congregation in the town of Sikonge. Rev. Gordon and Mary Mowrer and other family members joined Mia on this trip to Tanzania and also enjoyed visiting with the people of Sikonge and learning about our on-going partnership with these people. Read the Morning Call story by clicking here.

Mia Mengel, Katie Stehly and the Rev. Dr. Douglas Caldwell will return this June, 2008, to Sikonge, Tanzania with Drs. Bill and Peg Hoffman for a three-week trip.

Come support their trip, Saturday, June 7, 5 p.m. in the C.E. building, with a lasagna dinner. Tickets are available by calling the church office.

Some of the children of Sikonge, W. Tanzania

The Sikonge partnership evolved from a relationship with an ordained Tanzanian pastor studying at Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem in 1991. The Rev. Eliah Kategile, along with his family, became members of Central Church and encouraged the Central congregation to help finance the building of a new church sanctuary for the Sikonge Moravian Church.

Over the years, the partnership developed and expanded from the completion of the building to the effort by two physicians, Bill and Peg Hoffman, working with the Tanzanians to address the growing HIV/AIDS issue as well as the issue of care for the orphaned children left behind.

Mia Mengel, Veronica Terrojon, Peg Hoffman, and Bill Hoffman and Sikonge villagers.

Mia teaching computer skills.

Many groups at Central have contributed significant financial and spiritual resources as we have prayed, built, healed and grown together - Two Moravian Communities on different sides of the world, but One in Faith.

Learning skills (sewing and wood-working) at Youth New Fashion in Sikonge.

Continuing our work with the children of Sikonge, particularly the successful orphans program (Adopt a Village) in Sikonge and areas beyond, is a main initiative of Central's partnership with Sikonge.