Friends of Huruma is Official

This Blog was originally published on September 9 - then promptly disappeared. Now it's back!

At its August 14 meeting, the Iringa Committee of the Saint Paul Area Synod approved Friends of Huruma as an official affiliate of Bega Kwa Bega. Thank you to everyone who helped us along to get to this point, especially, BKB Director Peter Harrits and Iringa Committee Chair Kirsten Levorson. If you’d like to have a look at the Friends of Huruma Charter, just email me at friendsofhuruma@gmail.com.

Advisory Board Meets

And there’s more! Last week on September 14, the Advisory Board Friends of Huruma held its first meeting and it was wonderful. Advisory Board members Mary Blomquist and Don Fulz educated us on the history of the Huruma Centre orphanage and answered all of our questions. We also discussed my upcoming journey to Iringa and how to maximize my time with DIRA leaders and with Centre Director Joyce Ngandango, and closed out the meeting with discussion about the Iringa Day gathering on November 11 and, of great importance, raising funds to support the children of the Huruma Centre. You can see nearby the photo of Don, Mary, Advisory Board member JoHanna Pokorny and me. Not pictured are Board members Eunice Fulz and Rachel Beaudin.

Traveling Soon to Iringa

I leave for Iringa on October 4. I’m looking forward to working with the new BKB volunteer in Iringa, April Trout, meeting with DIRA leaders about the ministry of the Huruma Centre, spending many days with Pastor Joyce and the children, and meeting with leaders of parishes in the Iringa area who can offer their own support to the Huruma Centre. I ask for your prayers as I take this inaugural journey on behalf of the children of Huruma.

Upon my return, I’m going to be making calls and visits to raise money toward the central mission of Friends of Huruma, supporting a safe and nurturing home and education for the children. If you want to beat me to the punch, you can send gifts to the Saint Paul Area Synod. Please make checks out to “Saint Paul Area Synod,” with “Friends of Huruma” in the memo line. Send your gift to:

          Saint Paul Area Synod, ELCA

          C/O Greg Triplett

          105 University Ave W.

          St. Paul, MN 55103

And, if you want more information about Friends of Huruma, email at friendsofhuruma@gmail.com or PM me via FaceBook.

Look for travel updates in November.

With Gratitude,

Pastor Chris Smith