Isaiah 44:6 “This is what the LORD says— Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.”
When the staff get involved, things happen! Edward, leader of the EI Tanga, Tanzania project, heard about a group of Maasia that were being relocated by the government into the project area. Edward put the word out, requesting that EI Tanzania reach out to this community with assistance through the Imarika program.
'Imarika' is a Swahili word meaning 'to be strengthened' and is also an acronym for 'imarisha mazingira, riziki, na kanisa' – meaning to 'strengthen environments, livelihoods and the church.' The EITZ team visited their partner church The Assemblies of God church in Msomera and found 18 Maasai individuals present. The Msomera group, originally from Ngorongoro, was formed among these newly arrived Maasia.
Edward and his team initiated a period of mobilization, focusing on the church for one week and the wider community for two weeks. Following this, core training was provided to members of both the church and the community. After the training, the staff decided to officially launch the group in Msomera, naming it "En'geno," with an initial membership of one hundred people.
The establishment of the EITZ Imarika project in Msomera has had a positive impact on the local church. The Pastor shared that it inspired him to start raising goats and chickens at home, noting that it was the first time he had seen a significant number of Maasai people actively involved in church activities, as traditionally, many follow their own customs and beliefs, making change challenging.
