Working in The Province of Tanzania

The CMS began work in Tanzania in 1878. The Province was inaugurated in 1970 following the division of the Province of East Africa into the Province of Kenya and the Province of Tanzania and currently has 19 dioceses.

Mothers' Union membership in Tanzania is growing at a phenomenal rate and currently stands at 700,000. Tanzania is a vast country with expanses of arid desert as well as fertile highlands. It is fortunate not have been troubled by war like its neighbours Rwanda, Congo and Burundi and instead has provided safe refuge for hundreds of thousands of refugees who have fled because of the fighting.

One of the wonderful attributes of Mothers' Union family in Tanzania is the fellowship the members have together. Not only are they are source of encouragement to each other but also to those are facing adversity. The Church Mothers' Union work together in refugee camps helping those who have suffered under such horrific circumstances. Mothers' Union helps in both a practical as well a spiritual way, offering hope and encouragement to those who have lost everything and in some cases everyone. Just knowing people care about your situation is very precious and the refugees have said that they felt very blessed by the support and fellowship Mothers' Union has given them.

For Mothers' Union members meeting together is always a very special time. In the Southern Highlands diocese where the lands are fertile Mothers' Union members get together once a week to share fellowship with one another. They pray, study the Bible and sing together in the morning then go into the fields to hoe their potatoes and sing all the more.

Life is not always easy for Mothers' Union members in Tanzania. In the last few years many have been affected by severe drought and food shortages. In response to the crisis, money from the Mothers' Union Relief Fund was sent to a number of dioceses in Tanzania enabling the local Mothers' Union to give much needed relief to families in their communities.