We have returned from our five-day village visit, and it was amazing!
On our journey to Illambo, we stopped at Image Secondary School. After a wonderful welcome, we met many students from Illambo who attend the school. They shared how much they appreciate the scholarships they had received through Prince of Peace.
After lunch, we began the journey up the mountain. As always, the road was steep and full of potholes. We were pleasantly surprised when we reached the roughest section and discovered that the government had poured a stretch of cement. It only covered a couple hundred yards, but it made the most difficult part of the drive much easier.
As we began our descent, we caught our first glimpse of Illambo. Our village escorts guided us the rest of the way. As we entered the village, the entire community came out to greet us, singing, dancing and waving tree branches. It’s hard to find the right words to describe such an incredible welcome.
We drove through the village and arrived at the church, which became the center of our time in Illambo. After introductions, we spent time playing with the children. Their energy and joy were contagious. We ended the day with dinner and an early bedtime after a very full day.
Each of the next three days was filled with long hikes and drives to remote preaching points. At every stop, we received a warm welcome and learned more about each community.
Sunday worship was the highlight of the week. The service began at 8:00 am and ended shortly after 11:00 am. In many ways, it felt just like worship at Prince of Peace, only different. The structure of the service was similar to a traditional service, with the exception of the choir dancing while singing. One choir member even placed a pot on the ground and used it to keep the rhythm with her feet. (Let that soak in for a moment!)
The hospitality we experienced throughout our visit was truly humbling. Everywhere we went, we were welcomed with singing, dancing and celebration. Why were they so warm and friendly to people they had never met? Our translator explained, ” This is our culture. This is what we do.”
We left Illambo shortly after lunch with a long drive ahead of us. It was difficult to say goodbye because we had been welcomed and treated like family from the moment we arrived.
Our final stop was at Ilula Lutheran Hospital, a tremendous gift to the region. We learned about the hospital’s work in health care, maternity services, malaria treatment and dental care. We also saw how the hospital is expanding to provide even more care for the surrounding communities.
We continue to be grateful for the people we have met, the relationships we are building and the opportunity to witness God’s work in Tanzania. Thank you for your continued prayers as our journey continues.
Peace,
Team Tanzania 2026
Pastor Jill Bergman grew up in Albert Lea, MN and received her B.A. from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter with a double major in environmental studies and religion. She earned her Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary and has served three congregations prior to Prince of Peace.
Pastor Rory Philstrom has served as the Lead Pastor at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Bloomington, MN since 2016 where he led the community through institutional change, community health and the pandemic response, and addressing the moral issues of affordable housing, anti-racism, and LGBTQ+ allyship. Prior to that, he served as co-pastor with his wife at a four-point parish in western North Dakota.