Trips to Tanzania
2017
Lushoto5 Group Members: Kevin Ruhf, Andrew McMaster, Stephanie Jacob, Debbie DiBatista, and Pastor Dyan Lawlor "My biggest take-away was that it didn't matter who you were or where you were or what you were doing. God was there, with us, in these people we have the privilege to call our friends. No matter what hardship, trial, or joy they are faced with, their faith in God never wavers. I am fortunate to have an ongoing relationship with Robert Manase, the choir director at Cathedral. We email on a regular basis and share music with one another. When UDLC visited a couple of years ago, I had written a song in Swahili and Robert had both his choir at Cathedral, as well as his class at Vuga Bible School prepared to sing it for us when we arrived. This was certainly a high point for me as we had been sharing music for a couple of years before we even met. This ongoing relationship has served to widen my musical tastes and appreciation and has provided another way to include more people (choirs and congregations) in that relationship." - Andrew McMaster
2014
Lushoto8 Group Members: Bob and Judy Masser, Tom Hanko, Heather Shreiber, Ann and Charlie Breinig, Laurine Valenti, and Pastor Dyan Lawlor "I was impressed with their spirit and hard work. At one school we saw their compassion as they cared for blind children, giving them an education and pairing them with other children allowing them to survive, thrive and joyfully experience life. It is common to see them with manual tools, breaking rocks, sawing trees, or farming. They build a school (or church) by hand, sometimes taking years, since it is a slow process and there is little money, and no financing. They treat visitors with their precious minimal possessions and chickens. They have God’s spirit and show it with song and hospitality. I valued meeting the kids, especially the scholarship students. My wife and I have been so blessed in our lives, that we are able to support a student. We have seen first hand how much they benefit, and wish everyone could have our experience." - Charlie Breinig
2011
Group: Linda Breckenridge, Pastor Carol Ficken, Laurine Valenti, Dorris Brown, and Pastor Dyan Lawlor
2007
Group Members: Bruce and Janet Waechter, Linda Breckenridge, and Pastor Dyan Lawlor
2005
Our partnership began when Pastor Dyan Lawlor and Janet Waechter traveled to Tanzania for the first time in 2005. Pastor Yohana Mmaka presented Upper Dublin Lutheran Church with a beautiful heart shaped plaque to commemorate the visit and beginning of what would become, a thriving partnership.