The team

Just who are we who decided to step out in faith and expectancy and go to  Africa, specifically Tanzania?  And why?

Hosanna Lutheran Church in Lakeville,  Minnesota, has been sending mission teams to the area of Karatu, Tanzania, for the past seven years. The purpose in this region includes a three -prong approach of trying to meet the physical, spiritual, and educational/health needs of the Tanzanians. This is done through the building and maintaining of schools and churches, bringing supplies to hospitals, orphanages, and schools, and sharing the gospel with those who have never heard.  We are team number 15, a group of ten headed by Sandy and Lee.  They are experienced, to say the least, as they have travelled on a number of previous mission teams to Tanzania.  Sandy, so gifted in organizing all of the daily events, and Lee with his passion to serve,  helped us all benefit from their variety of experiences there. Here they are with Esther, from Kenya, who blessed us with her spiritual guidance and translating expertise.

Dennis, retired, but certainly still involved in mission work in Mexico, was new to coming to Africa.  He  has an adventurous spirit, relying on his trust and faith in God to get him from Nairobi to Arusha on a crowded bus across the Kenya-Tanzania border.....and also staying an extra week to experience a few days  in the "bush" with a Tanzanian pastor!








Kim is a first grade teacher and a willing and talented asset to our team with her jumping in and teaching at a couple of the schools.  She thrilled the kids with her bags of school supplies, soccer balls, jump ropes, and even a couple of parachutes she collected from her school! She was always ready with her camera!

Greg, the eternal optimist of the group, was ready and willing to do whatever was needed to get done.  He had been on a team to the area once before and wanted to share it this time with his grandson, Zac.  Quiet Zac, the youngest on our team who is still in high school,  blossomed as the week went on with his kind heart.

"Mama Shirley" joined us from Colorado and has a heart for the Tanzanians.  This was her 13th trip,  filling her retirement days with her passion for helping in any way she can.  She personally raises money by sewing pillowcases and selling them to boutiques so that she can bless the Tanzanian people with whatever she can pack to bring.  She found these two little boys on a road, near death, a few years ago on an earlier trip, and brought them to an orphanage. She now personally helps their two sisters with schooling.

Megan, a college student studying to be a social worker, is not new to mission trips.  She has been on a number of them with her church, but had never been to Africa!  She loves children and jumped in, ready to serve, whether it be at a school or orphanage, or painting a church!

Lyle and I were "newbies" to the idea of missions but were ready to try something new and wanted to give in some small way.  I was one of those who said to God, "Here I am Lord, but don't send me to Africa".  This would be a stretch for both of us.  We also had been supporting a girl through World Vision and discovered that it would be possible to visit her too.  What a blessing that turned out to be, but more on that later.....

Last, and certainly not least, was Karashi, our Tanzanian team partner.  He was our right-hand man, our spiritual leader, translator, coordinator, and the most gentle Jesus-like man I had ever met.  His wealth of knowledge on Africa, the wildlife, and the Bible was astounding to me.  He, along with our guides (who also drove our jeeps) and Peter, were also always ready to pitch in and help in any project we were doing (Karashi is the one standing.)






Team 15....quite a mix of ages, backgrounds, and experience. We were ready to serve however needed!