Transitions

Update on our transition planning

As many of you know, our term of service with Eastern Mennonite Missions is coming to a close in July of 2008. Our family has walked an incredible faith journey over the past three years. We thank each of you for being part of the Hummels Mission in Tanzania.

As a family, couple, and individuals, we have been searching for God’s next call in our life’s journey. When we moved to Dar es Salaam in July of 2007, we were counting down the days until we would board the plane and return to our farm in eastern Pennsylvania. But as we settled into our new home and lives in Dar, we began to sense that God was not finished with the Hummels in East Africa. The children began to ask if we could stay a couple more years before returning home. Ellen and I both are finding meaningful connections and continuations of work and ideas resulting from our experience at Shirati.

Ellen began volunteering at the Haven of Peace school library last fall and has found working in the library with the students provides her with a great sense of joy and purpose. She has been asked to serve as the assistant Librarian for the 2008-2009 school year.

Along with our MST, we are working to set up an education foundation to help children with educational needs throughout Tanzania. Through your generous support, we are currently supporting 14 children in various levels of education. Ellen and I have worked with Frank Magare, KMT Director of Development and Planning, to develop a program within KMT to administer the Education program. The program is open to any student regardless of tribe or religion. Currently the fund has collected about $35,000. We would like to stay close to this program as it continues to grow and develop.

My role of mentoring a new Project Office Assistant in Dar es Salaam has seen positive results from the work that we do. As this office and individual grows in capacity, I want to remain close and available to continue to coach and mentor the fledgling office. Each time I meet with the church leaders, they pray that God will find a way to keep me in Tanzania. Each time I tell them that we committed for three years and surely God will allow us to return to our friends and family in the US.

Over our time here, most of my work has been within the health care system. I have met people in many different organizations. I have seen and experienced the pain and suffering which occurs when no medical care or poor medical care is all that is available to the people of Tanzania. So often the lack of medicine and supplies limits the ability of the medical professionals here to effectively treat patients, resulting in what is a simple treatable problem turning into a life-threatening situation.

Recently, I was asked to consider applying for a position with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Tanzania as their Drugs and Commodities Logistics Advisor. The position is responsible for the oversight, management and coordination of the HIV/AIDS medication and treatment supplies for all of Tanzania. In addition, while managing the HIV/AIDS medicine and supplies, we are also improving the infrastructure for the delivery of all drugs and supplies within Tanzania. This has the potential to touch almost everyone of the 34 million people of Tanzania. After much discernment as a family, I applied for the position.
I was offered a two year contract which I officially accepted on January 10. It is anticipated I will begin full time service with USAID sometime in June or July. This will allow me to finish my assignment with EMM.

When I told the leaders of the Church here, they were so very happy that we would be staying a while longer. “This is an answer to our prayers”, was their response. We hope that you also will celebrate that God has opened new doors for both Ellen and I to continue to serve the people of Tanzania. While we are greatly saddened that this will delay our permanent return to the States, we are excited that we will be able to return to the US for a visit between ending our assignment with EMM and beginning our assignment with USAID.

We would ask that you keep us in your prayers as we continue to work through this transition.

Love,
Keith, Ellen, Alex, Gerry and Leah