Hills native learns Tanzanian way of life with mission group
By Jolene Farley
Daryl and Jane Schubert, and their children, Clair and Isaac, arrived in the United States a few weeks ago for a two-month work assignment.
Every two years, the Schuberts and other Lutheran missionaries visit the United States to show sponsoring congregations their overseas progress.
But for Jane (Sandager) Schubert, the trip to the United States isn't just a work assignment. She gets to visit her parents, Vic and Fran Sandager, Hills.
Daryl, born and raised in Australia, met Jane in 1989 while they both worked as missionaries for the Lutheran Church in Papua, New Guinea.
Daryl currently works in Tanzania, Africa, for the Division for Global Mission as one of two coordinators, or principals, for the Theological Education by Extension Program through the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
An eight-year program, TEE was founded to educate and equip overseas church leaders. Classes meet weekly for three hours in a church or other building, but the majority of the class work is done at home.
The program "brings the education to the village," Jane said. "It gives opportunity to a greater number."
Some students canÕt read and write well and group leaders are not generously reimbursed for their time, but everyone appreciates the opportunities the program offers.
Students pay $3 a year to participate in the program, a lot to some Tanzanians, but other programs can cost more than $100 per year.
Tanzania was the couple's first location choice. "When we knew we were interested in overseas work, we looked at the listings," Jane said. "This was kind of always our first choice."
Daryl had experience in similar work in other countries, and the couple thought Tanzania would be a good fit.
Tanzania is twice the size of California with a population of 30,000,000 people. The annual income is $30 per month.
"If someone is employed in town," Daryl said. "That's the standard wage."
The Schuberts live in Shinyanga, a city of 120,000 people in the Shinyanga region.
Daryl works primarily with the Sukuma, an ethnic group of people numbering more than 5 million.
The Sukuma are subsistence farmers by necessity, herdsmen by choice. They are 5 percent Christian and 5 percent Muslim, with the remaining majority the traditional animist religion. The animist religion worships ancestral spirits.
The main crops in Shinyanga region are maize, rice, sweet potatoes, cotton, peanuts and millet. Cotton is the only cash crop. The area is semi-arid receiving about 20 inches of rain per year.
Children in Tanzania are required to attend school up to the seventh grade. Swahili is the primary language, with English taught as a second language. Only about 10 percent of students attend high school. There are very few high schools so entrance exams are stringent.
Jane's life in Tanzania includes home schooling the couple's two children. She is involved with the women's group and choir at the local church.
"Everything is done from scratch and by hand, so everyday household tasks are very time consuming. Keeping the household running takes more time than it does here," she said.
Tanzanians place great value on relationships with other people, according to Daryl. "Hospitality is one of the greatest values," he said.
"Materialism is starting to pick up," Jane said. "But for the most part value is placed on relationships."
Church services are usually two hours long. The Tanzanian culture is very musical so new songs are frequently written for church services, and the choir practices two or three times a week.
A major concern in Tanzania is the spread of the AIDS virus.
"AIDS is getting worse and there's more orphans and families that are dying because of AIDS," Jane said. "Almost every family in Tanzania is affected."
Different church groups and government organizations are going into schools to educate children on the disease. The issue is receiving more attention because the problem is growing, according to the Schuberts.
Recent events in the United States had many around the world grieving. The couple said everyone was saddened by September 11 terrorist attacks.
"Everyone we knew expressed shock and they were horrified," she said. "Our Muslim friends were horrified."
Daryl said the most rewarding aspect of his mission work is people's appreciation.
"The enthusiasm of people to be a part of this program," he said. "They appreciate the opportunity they have to gather together and study God's word."