Church Building at Kilungule

Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. Disease, famine and drought have decimated some regions to the point that many people are barely clinging to life. More than one out of every ten children born today will die before their first birthday. And of those who do survive, most will die before age 40.

Yet in the midst of such despair - hope springs eternal!

In 2002, the people of Kilungule (an area on the outskirts of the capital city of Dar-es-Salaam) came to the Missionaries of Africa working in the region to ask for help. "If our people had a church building," Fr. Brian Mkude wrote, "the hope of a better tomorrow would blossom!" Fr. Brian is a parish priest working among the people of Kilungule.

Thanks to the generosity of many donors and benefactors, the Missionaries of Africa were able to provide Fr. Brian with a grant of $10,000 for the purpose of building a church for the people of Kilungule. Much of the labor for the entire project was donated by the men, women and children of the community. And even though our grant covered less than 20% of the total cost of the building - Fr. Brian and his parishioners were able to raise the additional money that was needed for building materials.

"I want you to know," Fr. Brian wrote in his expense report to us, "that your gift was a blessing. It showed us that someone cared. When we received your grant, we knew that we could do the rest. You were our partners - you had done your part . . . we were going to do ours!" (A copy of Fr. Brian's detailed report is illustrated below).

Dedicated last year, the church now serves thousands of people every week! But it is used not only as a place of formal prayer and worship. It also serves as a classroom as well as provides a meeting place for tribal discussions and community functions. "We now have a place to celebrate our Hope!" explains Fr. Brian. "Our hope for living - our hope for life!"