STT VISIT NURU CHOIR OF ANGLICAN CHURCH IN MAKOJA

Nuru is an Anglican Church choir in Makoja parish within the Diocese of Central Tanganyika (DCT). The group have other different kinds of activities apart from singing spiritual songs, they compose songs to make the community aware of outstanding matters concerning their day to day life e.g. Environment, Aids etc. (after receiving their request STT trained them on the production and use of mycorrhizae for tree planting). On the 14th of August 2008 STT team received an invitation from Nuru choir to visit them at their church. Among the people who visited was Mama Kevin (my wife), Christowaja (Gideon’s wife), Lillian and Elifuraha Elisha a friend of the team from TAFORI (Tanzania Forest Research Insistute). Elisha was very impressed by the choir’s Environment song and promised to go back with a video camera to film it. We were given some work to do during the service I led the service, Gideon preached, Christowaja (Gideon’s wife) and Lilian read the first and second readings. In the end of the service Rev.Silla the pastor of the Parish introduced us to the congregation, we gave brief information about our work then the pastor encouraged them to go and have lunch quickly so that they can come on time to hear more about the information we have come to share with them. In the afternoon the leader of the St.Peters Church Mr. John Saigwa explained that they appreciate our work and said that we need to work together to accomplish our goals. Then he invited me to explain about STT and our work in general, before speaking I gave opportunity to my colleagues to say whatever they want to tell the congregation and share their experience. Mr.Elisha explained why all people need to take care of Environment and told them that God needs us to do so that’s why he created garden before he created man. Then it was my turn to speak. I spoke about different environmental changes and asked them if they are aware of any changes in their Village, I asked them if they know the meaning of the name of their village (Makoja-Shells). And asked an old man to tell us how he compared the number and size of freshwater shells found in Makoja in the 20-30 past years and now. He said in 30 years time the number and size of shells have dramatically declined when I asked why he thinks this have happened he said destruction of forests have caused the weather to become unpredictable. Before finishing my speech I related our work to what the Bible says about environment. Bible verses: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose hope is in the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river. And will not fear when heat comes; but her leaf will be green and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruits” (Jeremiah 17:7-8). Dry and unproductive land is like a cursed land and productive land is blessed that means people make the land blessed or cursed by the way they handle it, if they use it carelessly they pay the prise by it being cursed and unproductive. But if is looked after well then people get the reward of it being blessed and productive. STT is trying to reduce the habits that damage environment by introducing fuel efficient stoves and replacing the land that have been depleted of trees, with trees inoculated with mycorrhizae to make them more resistant to drought. “Thus says the Lord God, I will take also one of the highest branches of the high cedar and set it out. I will clop off from the highest topmost of its young twigs tender one and will plant it, on a high and prominent mountain. On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it, and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruits and be a majestic cedar. Under it will dwell birds of every sort: In the shadow of its branches they will dwell. And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the Lord have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree and, dried up a green tree and made the dry tree to flourish: I the Lord have spoken and done it” (Ezekiel 17:22-24). Planting trees is a blessed work God wants us to do it that is why there are many examples of trees being given in the Bible. NB: Tanzanian government is urging people to plant at least 10 tree seedlings per year for every household. Let us keep doing the blessed work for the well being of our world and our future generations. I wish you all the best. Justin.