Ushirombo

Ushirombo is a small town which has recently become the centre of a newly created government region. It has a busy market and frequent buses, but no electricity supply. It is growing fast due to gold being found locally and mined by locals. It is quite likely that a large foreign mining company will open a mine in the area in the near future.

We sent two evangelists to this area, Alex Iseke and Amos Bikalakala. Alex is based in the town of Ushirombo and Amos decided to concentrate his efforts on the village of Businda.

There was a small congregation of Anglicans (in fact just two families) worshipping at Ushirombo when Alex started. Numbers grew rapidly and by the end of June the congregation had grown to an average of over 70. Bishop Francis confirmed four adults and baptised two adults this September.

The congregation have obtained a site for a new church and a pastor's house. They plan to start building work soon. In the midst of all this, Alex's youngest child, aged two, died of malaria earlier this year.

Two hours bicycle ride along the main road from Ushirombo lies the village of Businda. There was already a small congregation of 14 adults and 11 children at this location and they had already built a temporary church of mud and sticks with a grass roof. Since Amos Bikalakala arrived the Church has received much needed teaching and leadership and by June had grown to a regular attendance of 22 adults and 23 children. Amos has five adults studying for baptism and one adult was confirmed in September. 

Amos Bikalakala:

"I myself love the Lord Jesus. I became a Christian in 1986 when I lived in the diocese of Ngara. I went to Nyakato Bible School in Mwanza for a three month course in 1993 and was an evangelist in that diocese for three years until 1996 when I moved to Ushirombo. Following my missionary training course in 2000 I was given the job of planting new churches."

Amos has also opened a new congregation at Buntubili, a one hour bicycle ride from Ushirombo. By June he had 8 adults and 12 children meeting for services in the local primary school.

Amos still lives in Ushirombo town but needs to move to Businda. They have now got a site to build a house for him there.

Encouraged by the progress that Alex and Amos have made, Bishop Francis has decided that these three congregations will become a new Parish in January 2002. Alex will be ordained Deacon and then sent for further study as soon as resources allow. On his return he will be ordained to the Priesthood and become the Rector of the parish of Ushirombo.

Dateline Tabora