Robin Judson went to Musoma, Tanzania for 3 months during a gap year before going to study medicine at university
This was your first time in Africa. What were your impressions of Tanzania, the land and the people?
It was the first time I'd been past Germany to be honest! My first impressions of Tanzania were of the rugged beauty of its countryside, with rocky outcrops scattered all around. Shortly after that we were welcomed at Musoma. People are so cheerful and friendly, it came as a nice contrast to British formality!
How easy was it to forge friendships?
I'd learnt a little bit of Swahili before I went which went down well. It gives you a way of connecting with people and I'd definitely recommend putting some effort in beforehand, but because people are so friendly you forge strong friendships pretty quickly either way.
The Church in the area has grown a lot. Why do you think they have been so successful?
The church there is showing God's love in so many practical ways, like providing homecare to those severely affected by AIDS and running clinics to help people with disabilities such as clubfeet. I think the local people see Jesus through the actions of the church there and are drawn to him.
What sort of help do they want from people in the UK?
Enthusiasm and a desire to get stuck in is definitely up there on the list! Every single Sunday we got asked to sing songs as a choir to the church, it was great fun! There's no doubt the people of the region also need our money and resources too.
What sort of things were you doing during your time there?
We did a lot of building (a water tank, pit latrine and we completed a half-constructed house) with local guys from the village, helped at an orphanage, did health education and Sunday school for the kids of the village and many more things besides. The variety is great because you can play to your strengths.
Was there anyone over there that you were particularly inspired by?
There was a farmer called Zephaniah who came every day to help build with us, whilst still tending his fields to feed his family. He worked harder than we ever could! During our 3 month stay he was ordained as a vicar and was being sent to work elsewhere. He'd known this was going to happen all along - we hadn’t realised he was building the water tank for the rest of the village, and he wasn’t going to benefit from it.
Who, in particular, would you recommend a Mission trip to Tanzania to?
Anyone who likes a bit of an adventure and is willing to get involved! You've got to be up for working hard and having kids shout "Mzungu" at you (which means white person...obviously they might not shout it if you're not white!)
Robin Judson
Resourcing a church on the move
Faith is flourishing like never before in Mara – a region about the size of Wales. Fifteen years ago there were 35 parishes in the Diocese now there are 150. All this is happening because Christians in are determined to make an impact on their community. They are transforming remote villages with an intensely practical expression of their faith; they are building schools, providing fresh water and supporting communities’ own aspirations to rise out of poverty.
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