By: REBECCA FANSLER, PERIMETER SCHOOL NURSE AND PERIMETER SCHOOL MOM

If you could go and see a place where you knew God’s spirit was actively working to transform a village, a region, and even a nation, would you go? We had the opportunity to do just that this summer with our whole family when we made the over 18 hour journey to Karansi, Tanzania. Karansi sits in the northern part of Tanzania. It isn’t the kind of place that would garner a lot of attention. Other than the majestic views of Mount Kilimanjaro towering in the distance, Karansi is a small village of unpaved roads in a remote part of Tanzania. But it’s a place where God has been doing some incredible things over the last 20 years. 

It started with a vision from a local pastor who had a heart to care for the widows and orphans in the village. God connected him with some people from Perimeter Church, and they began providing shelter and food for the widows and a school for the orphans and the children to receive meals and an education. Through this, God has transformed the people of Karansi. The whole region of Tanzania now knows of Karansi as the village of the widows, and the Siha Leadership School (Perimeter School’s sister school) that was started there is now one of the leading primary schools in the country.    

Perimeter School’s Influence in Tanzania

We loved seeing the influence Perimeter School has had on the Siha Leadership School. Not only did we get to see the playground and desks that had been purchased through donations to the Perimeter School Missions Fund, but we also got to see the influence of Perimeter School on the curriculum. Their preschool and kindergarten classes were learning handwriting without tears. The first and second graders were learning how to tap out and form English words using similar centers that we use. One of the teachers of an older grade brought in an actual cow’s intestine to help the kids learn about the digestive system. 

We also visited a local public school where eight children have to share a textbook and where they don’t have many of the basic supplies. Perimeter School had donated an old playground to them, and the Siha Leadership School was helping them provide the kids with meals during the day. We visited a disabled children’s school called Faraja too where we got to play basketball, soccer, and run around with the kids. We even participated in some service projects in the village that led to the opportunity to share the gospel with a group of villagers who had gathered to help and see what we were doing.         

On our trip, we also got to visit a widow’s house that has been impacted by Ubora (our ministry partner)! Through Ubora’s program, they helped build her a house and gave her skills to make a small living. Part of this celebration trip was to celebrate the work of the widow ministries. There is nothing more fun than watching our kids dance with these widows and celebrate.

This trip was a blessing for our family in so many ways! We got to see and love on our sponsor children, we got to meet and join hands with the teachers and staff at the Siha Leadership School, but more importantly, we got to witness God’s great works of transformation!

Be a part of what God is doing in Tanzania through donations to the Perimeter School Missions Fund on Dress Down Days!