Oct 3, 2025
Travelers Return from Successful Trip to Tanzania
This past September, four LPGM travelers spent quality time with our partners in Tanzania.
Sunday started with a worship service at the church attended by Eripoto founder, Esuvat Lucumay. The theme of worship was “receive the gifts you’ve been given.” For the remainder of the day, the travelers spent time at Eripoto - meeting safe house residents and staff and hearing their stories.
Monday was spent exploring Arusha National Park on foot, followed by dinner with Mwangaza Education for Partnership advisors Phillip Wilder and Daudi Msseemmaa.
On Tuesday, they visited Mwangaza’s newest partner school, Lowasa Secondary School. The school’s headmaster is “all in” on the Safe Schools Initiative, which partners with secondary schools and communities in Tanzania to create safe learning environments, primarily through teacher training, community education, and Peace Clubs.
Wednesday consisted of a special visit to Eluwai, the Maasai village of Musa Kamaika. Their Maasai hosts killed and prepared a goat for them, which was a huge honor. The travelers spent the visit attending worship at Eluwai Lutheran Church, drinking chai with Musa and his neighbors in his boma (a homestead made of mud, sticks, and thatch), sharing lunch, and visiting the village preschool.
Thursday brought another safari adventure, this time at Tarangire National Park. The travelers, especially LPGM board chair Kathleen Hokemeir-Seim, were thrilled to see elephants.
On Friday, the travelers had chai with the Mwaganza leadership team and talked about the future growth and expansion of Mwangaza, which LPGM will help fund.
The rest of the day was spent at Eripoto. The travelers played with the preschoolers, met with Esuvat and Eripoto staff, and baked with the Eripoto girls. Many of the girls were away at boarding school, so the travelers spent time with the college-aged girls who were waiting for classes to be back in session.
Saturday brought a Peace Summit at Manyara Secondary School. The travelers sat at the head table as each participating school performed skits, songs, dances, and poetry inspired by what the students had learned during Peace Club.
On the travelers’ final day, Sunday, they attended a partner summit where LPGM partners from Eripoto and Mwangaza met for the first time. This exciting opportunity felt like worlds colliding in the best way. Our partners connected, attended a nonviolent communication training and shared their experiences with one another. They even discussed potential ways to collaborate. After the discussions wrapped up, the group hiked to a nearby waterfall.
LPGM’s International Program Manager Laura Feile reflects, “‘I traveled to Tanzania with an open heart and was received with incredible care and compassion. Everyone we encountered -- our guides, hosts, partners and students radiated warmth, kindness, respect and hospitality. I sincerely look forward to returning someday.”
Travel to Tanzania with LPGM from September 10-20, 2026.
