Bishop Keshomshahara from Tanzania opens traditional UEM bazaar

The UEM bazaar in the mission house in Wuppertal is well known for its international flair. But this year it has been even special, as the bazar was opened by the young Bishop Dr. Abednego Keshomshahara from the North-Western diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT-NWD) who has been installed only several weeks ago. His first official travel led him to Germany where he did his doctoral studies as a UEM scholarship student at the Barmen School of Theology (Kirchliche Hochschule Wuppertal/Bethel) from 2004 to 2008. In his devotion, presented in perfect German by the way, Keshomshahara expressed his thanks to UEM for its educational programs which have allowed so many people in Tanzania and other countries in Africa and since so many decades to live a self-determined life. „Education is the most important precondition to enable people to satisfy their basic needs like food, accommodation and work by their own“, said the 46 years old theologian This year, the earnings from the UEM bazaar are dedicated to the Huyawa project supporting HIV/AIDS orphans and widows in the ELCT-NWD in Tanzania. On the question what he and his family liked most during their stay in Germany the Bishop replied: „We appreciated very much the variety of good bread and good food in general“. (Martina Pauly)