Dear friends,

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are doing fine here in UKD. Most of families are now harvesting their crops (rice and maize/corn), but his year the harvests are not so much good as anticipated due to excessive flood during rain season that damaged our crops.

As a result of the meeting of the Southern Zone Dioceses held from 3rd through 4th of June 2008 in Dodoma and the Development Plan of the Diocese, yesterday evening I had a meeting with Hon. Dr. Juma Ngasongwa, the Member of Parliament of Western Ulanga Constituency here in Malinyi discussing about the plans of the diocese to establish a Nursing College at Lugala and Integrated Agricultural Project at Mngeta.

Through our discussing based on how best we can involve key or potential people who are government leadership and are originally from the two districts --Ulanga and Kilombero districts. The matter was taken into highly consideration by Dr. Ngasongwa and he advised us to prepare the Concept Paper for the programs then write a letter for the call to all officials whom their originality is Ulanga and Kilombero districts to attend that very important meeting regarding the two proposed programs. He also added that apart from establishing the Nursing College we also need to expand the Lugala Hospital as it dicharges services to large population whom majority are the poor people. Al these need a joint effort and he thanked the diocese to take this initiative to provide medical and education services to the people whom it serves. And, there is a need also to think about the compassionate economy in which the existing social services will sustain from it.

We have some potential persons including the Governor of Bank of Tanzania, Ambassador of Tanzania to Switzerland, Director of Tanzania Petroleum Development Company, the Secretary of the President, the Director of Tanzania Meteorological Authority. All these, their places of origin are Ulanga and Kilombero, so they hold potential role in the development affairs in the two districts where UKD is serving.

We are highly convinced to do this and you will be informed regarding the result our meeting and if possible we can arrange even our partners (representatives) to attend the meeting if this would possible for you. I hope this will be very important stepping stone for UKD. We pray for feasibility of this matter and please pray for us to handle this very sensitive agenda.

I wish you all the best and pray for the forthcoming initiatives.

Regards,

Philorian Mpendaye