News from Our Companion Diocese of Newala: February 2024
We often share news from Newala that we get from Sr. Debora. We thought it'd be nice to tell you a little more about her and her ministry.
Sr. Debora, CMM (Chama cha Mariamu Mtakatifu/Society of Holy Mary) went to secondary school from 1992 until 1995. She then went to Ndanda School of Nursing. Ndanda is a Benedictine enclave of various schools and workshops and a parish in the Masasi/Newala district. For eight years she was in the congregation and learned of the religious life. Besides being an Anglican sister, she is a nurse and midwife. For three days she works at the Newala District Hospital and for two days she is involved in the ultrasound clinic there.
In January of 2019, Sr. Debora completed the ultrasound technicians course at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center in Moshi, Tanzania. The Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee paid for this course and the related expenses. Also funded by the diocese, this January Sr. Debora attended a three-day ultrasound workshop with a two-day science conference in Arusha. That bus trip was 8 hours and 368 miles to Dar es Salaam and another 11 hours and 390 miles to Arusha.
Thoughts from Sr. Debora (a Kiswahili speaker, so there is some editing of her message for clarity):
"Really I am very happy with this short training [and] it's very useful. I learned many things that I've previously never done. It's very difficult but I hope with more scan experience, it will become easier. Asante Sana. Our training already finished, and tomorrow and Friday we will continue with the conference. I am still in Dar es Salaam buying plumbing equipment. Praise to God for your love and care looking after us. [I purchased] plumbing and all things I managed to buy here are very [good] quality and durable. And today I will go to a transportation company for payment of all the cargo to Newala .”
Along with this, Sr. Debora is in charge of the construction of the aforementioned St. Mary’s Newala Pre and Primary School. [See previous newsletter articles here.] The window glass and frames are done and plumbing is on the way, so now the electrical and tiling projects remain. It has come a long way, but there is more to be done.
To support projects in our Companion Diocese of Newala, you can send checks to the diocese with “Newala” in the notation line:
Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee
804 E Juneau Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Neil Radtke
The Rev. Oswald Bwechwa
Companion Diocese Committee Members