When we made the decision to
leave Tanzania at the end of this year, we didn’t do so because we were tired,
frustrated, or worn out from the work here. In fact, we very much grieved the
decision. But, we did so because we were on the cusp of completing the work we
were sent here to do. Our primary goal here in Tanzania has been to be a
transitional piece, a bridge between the missionaries who have run the Children
of Promise program in the past and a new Tanzanian director. For us, when we
made the official transfer of leadership to Herman David Kisasila, a Tanzanian,
it felt like the end of a journey. But that journey didn’t begin with us; it
started many years before we would ever arrive in East Africa. This is the
story of how a young East African boy would grow up to be the new Director of
Safina: Children of Promise in Tanzania, and the folks who have helped him
along the way.
Herman was born in 1978 and
spent his first few years in Arusha town. His father and mother would separate
when he was only three, as his father walked out on the family and never
returned. To this day Herman hasn’t seen or heard from his dad in over 30
years. At age seven his mother sent him to live with his grandmother in Babati.
The small house he shared with six other cousins would be his home for the next
six years; his bed was a small patch of floor, he spent his nights nestled in
amongst his relatives.
At age 13 Herman began
Secondary school, sleeping in a dorm on the small school campus in Singe. It
was here that Herman first learned English, and here that he would graduate in
1995. Upon completion, he moved back to Arusha and completed a two-year course
in electrical installation, graduating with his certificate in 1997.
Having moved back to Babati,
he began working with local electricians doing small installation projects
around town, while also attending the Babati Church of God. It was also here
that one of the patriarchs of the Church of God in Tanzania, Elizer Mdobi,
began encouraging Herman to apply for admission at the Bible school. Although
he knew little about the Bible, he was anxious to learn, and passed his
entrance exam and was given admission.
Herman began courses at the
Bible school in September of 1999. It was also during this time that he began
developing a relationship with then missionaries Don and Caroline Armstrong.
Don and Caroline were the directors of Children of Promise in Tanzania, but Don
was also the principal of the Bible school. Caroline, for her part, would be
Herman’s English teacher during his tenure at the school. In 2000 Don left the
Bible School to focus on the work of Aldersgate and Bruce Hazel became the new
administrator. Bruce would begin several projects during his time at the
school, including a new grinding machine and chicken development. Herman would
be appointed the supervisor of each of these projects, and would also continue
doing small electrical projects around campus.
Herman graduated in 2002 with
a certificate in theology. At around the same time a new ministry of the Church
of God was beginning in Dar es Saalam, Tanzania’s capital. It was to be the first Church of God
congregation in the city. The current pastor of the project was elected to a
new position and the church began looking for someone to take over while they
searched for a new fulltime pastor. Herman agreed and in October of 2002, left
Babati for Dar. He initially agreed to provide leadership for two months.
Despite receiving no payment or income for his work, he stayed to lead the
church until February of 2003.
Herman returned to Babati and
reconnected with Don and Caroline. Don offered him a job working at Aldersgate
and he continued there for several months.
By this time, Don had passed
on leadership of the Children of Promise program to new missionary Jeri Kemmer.
Jeri’s husband Rick was beginning his own community development project at the
time, working under the title of CDM. As Rick sought an assistant for the newly
developed program, Don was quick to recommend Herman. Herman began working for
CDM in December of 2003, and would spend his time assisting Rick in teaching
and instructing development programs with Maringa trees, goats, and dairy
camels. At the same time, he was overseeing the construction of new Bible
school dormitories.
In 2004, Jeri would hand over
leadership of Children of Promise to new missionaries Ben and Kelli Shular.
Herman would continue working with CDM through 2006 when the program ended. It
was this same year that Herman would marry his wife Grace. As his employment
with CDM had come to an end, Ben offered Herman a full-time position with
Children of Promise. He had been doing some part time work throughout 2006 with
the program, but was now coming on as the lead assistant for the program,
overseeing employee salaries, letter translation, driving, and disbursement.
In 2008 Jon Matlock replaced
Ben with Children of Promise, as Ben moved on to other projects in Tanzania.
While Herman would continue to work part-time with Ben, he maintained his role
with COP. Eventually Ron and Carol Baker would take over for Jon, and Ben and
his family would finish their work in Tanzania. At that point, Herman returned
to COP fulltime and was given the title of Tanzanian director, a position that
had him working alongside Ron as the National Director of the program.
In May of 2012 we arrived in
Tanzania and eventually took over the position of National Directors from Ron
and Carol. For the first several years of our ministry we worked alongside
Herman in a co-director role along with the rest of the Tanzanian staff of the
program. We knew when we arrived that Herman’s leadership was the future of the
program. After continuing together for several years, the time was right to
make the full transition of leadership. In May of this year we announced to the
general population that Herman was now the official Director of Safina:
Children of Promise in Tanzania. In August we will have a special ceremony with
Linda Mason from our American office to recognize the decision.
Herman has been uniquely
shaped, educated, and prepared for this position. His path and the folks that
have walked along with him through its various stages have equipped him in
every way possible. I can’t begin to explain to you the quality of Herman’s
character and the qualifications he brings to this position. I’m confident he
will do amazing things going forward. While Herman is now technically the
“boss” of Safina here in Tanzania, he sees things with a unique perspective,
“The title isn’t my primary concern. My real boss is
each of the Children of Promise students. Together with the staff, the
committees, the parents, and the church we will work together for the benefit
of the children. They are our central focus. They make our positions exist and
their care and well-being will continue to be at the center of everything we
do. “
Please know that the future
of Children of Promise in Tanzania is in great hands. We rejoice in knowing
that our students in East Africa will be well taken care of for years to come.
Not only because of the amazing staff here in Tanzania, but also because of all
of the wonderful sponsors around the world who continue to invest in changing
the lives of these kids.
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