L ove i s b e s t wh e n s h a re d
Beyond their own backyard Rev Brian Polkinghorne talks about how a gift given by one South Australian congregation, allowed them to assist people in Tanzania – far beyond that congregation’s own community.
“Hodi.” It was a rare day when my wife, Jill, and I didn’t hear this word. Living in Tanzania in 2012 – not our first time there – we often heard people saying this outside our front or back door. This short word, which roughly translates to “I’m here, is anyone at home?” was a comforting one to be greeted by. Before Jill and I left Australia to return to Tanzania last year, the congregation at One Tree Hill Uniting Church almost knocked us off our feet. They announced that they would be giving us $350 per month and that we were to use this in any way that we wished. It was a gift not only to us but also to many in Murgwanza, north-west Tanzania. It was an expression of love, care and confidence – all of which we were able to share in a wide variety of ways with a large number of individuals and groups. In addition to home-schooling the children of missionaries, Jill taught ESL at the local Bible school. The generosity of the congregation at One Tree Hill allowed us to buy diglot Bibles for each student in her diploma class. These dual-language Bibles enabled the students to gain more meaning and understanding from their English and theology studies. The monthly support allowed me to develop simple agricultural tools and to set up a local craftsman in production techniques. Collectively, Jill and I were able to assist three young secondary school graduates in establishing a business. They
Dewatering a well before pump installation
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were able to set up a sustainable and expanding bean buying and selling operation that will give a significant level of economic security to their families in the future. We lost count of the number of medical emergencies, school needs, transport, food, and household disasters we responded to and were able to assist with. We were able to educate, train and help more than 100 local church leaders in the areas of reforestation, water collection and conservation techniques, and zero-till agriculture. We were at home for anyone in need – all those who approached us saying “hodi”. The ways in which Jill and I were better equipped to assist others because of the gift One Tree Hill gave us were innumerable. The practical way in which we were showed love by this community allowed us to do the same with another community vastly different and very far away. “Love is best when shared.” God shared his love with us – something that is at the very source of our faith lives. There is so much we can achieve when we follow his example. Rev Brian Polkinghorne and his wife Jill will be speaking about their time in Tanzania for State Mission Fellowship. You can hear them at Scots Church on Tuesday 26 February at 10.30am.