During the holiday season many of us demonstrate love and appreciation for others through gift giving. We often struggle, however, to find the right gift for our mother (brother, father, uncle or aunt). What meaningful gift can we give that will last beyond the holiday season!? Celebrate the holidays this year by giving a gift that Read more
Over 100 people attended our Tapestry of Tanzania event on October 13th to raise support for the Backroads Banking program. Following the event one of our guests wrote about her experience: “The location was beautiful – a large hall perched on a Mississippi river bluff with 20-foot glass windows looking to the river as the Read more
President, Curt Rosen, conducted a workshop on October 4th in Des Moines, IA at the Annual Gathering of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC). The workshop focused on how individuals and congregations can make an impact on poverty in the developing world. Through partnership with World Encounter anyone can participate, advocate, and support our work Read more
Ninety women in Tanzania will mark a milestone this November. Each of these women will successfully graduate from our three-year microloan program. They have worked hard to build their small businesses, repay three annual loans, and put their children in school. And World Encounter’s supporters have been part of turning their dreams into a success Read more
World Encounter microloans are “tools of hope,” igniting dreams and transforming communities. We understand that people want choices not charity. They want an opportunity to better their lives and contribute to their communities. Irene Albanse is one such woman. She is a grandmother living in Kiomboi. Irene operates a duka (small dry goods store) next to Read more
Usuili’s name means “faith” in Swahili — and faith is what we saw on a rainy night in late March. It was after 6 p.m. and getting dark. We arrived at Usuili’s house in Kiomboi and walked to the backyard pigpen, where her World Encounter story begins. A year ago Usuili’s life was pretty typical Read more
Mwanga, Tanzania: No running water or electricity here, but many people have cell phones. On top of Naomi Athumani’s roof, you might be surprised to see a solar panel. She uses it to charge cell phones for 300 Tanzanian schillings (20 cents) each, earning her family about $2.00 per day. People will walk long distances Read more
Meet Angelina, Emmanuel and daughters Jennifer and Rachel. They live in the remote village of Mwanga in their 2 room mud hut. Angelina used to rent, but now can purchase a treadle sewing machine with her 2nd year loan of $90. “The loan helps me grow my tailoring business and eat better food. Now we have some vegetables Read more
It is tradition, and perhaps human nature, to begin a new year by considering our hopes and dreams for the months ahead. Dreams have hope when there is potential. Dreams become reality when there is opportunity. And dreams become larger than ourselves when there is partnership and community. Meet Marylen, Comfort and their two microloan Read more
THANK YOU! Because of you, women like Esther can feed her three children through her successful business! This is World Encounter’s microloan program in action! You may remember Esther Boniphace from our October letter; we were eager to see her progress during our November visit to Nkungi, Tanzania with the World Encounter outreach team. Your contributions Read more
Saturday Morning: 8:00 am
Saturday Vigil: 4:30 pm
Sunday: 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 10:45 am,
12:30 pm, 5:30 pm
Saturday Vigil: 6:15pm
Sunday: 9:00am, 7:15pm
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 8:30 am
