Triptych of people by an ancient tree, women in hanbok by a Korean building, and friends by a colorful waterfront cityscape.

Global Seminars

A group of fifteen people on a rocky outcrop with greenery and a body of water in the background under a clear sky.
Tanzania 2026

Day 14–16: The call of the wild safari day!

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The group set off for Ruaha National Park early Wednesday morning. Spirits were high, and everyone was excited for a well-deserved break. We arrived in the early afternoon, loaded three Land Cruisers, and headed toward our camp.

A group of people attend a presentation with a slide titled "Ndengisivi Overview" displayed on a projector screen.
Tanzania 2026

Day 13: Presentation day!

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We started the morning with a great breakfast, as usual, at the Lutheran Center. Most of us spent the morning a bit stressed, working through our presentations and fine-tuning the details.

Four young people standing together outdoors at dusk with a scenic background.
Tanzania 2026

Day 12: Welcome back to Iringa

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We were happy to return to Iringa from the villages, but even happier to see that all of our bags had arrived! However, there is no time for a break! This morning, Harrison’s breakfast gave us some wonderful brain food for a big day of designing and presentation prep.

A large group of children and a few adults posing together outdoors in front of a building and wooden fence.
Tanzania 2026

Day 9-11: The intrepid teams have returned

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Today’s blog is a three-for-one, featuring stories from all three village experiences. Before we get to those, we want to share the arguably more anticipated news: every piece of luggage has finally made it to the team. Kufurahia!

A large group smiles while posing on and beside a tan safari vehicle outdoors under a cloudy sky.
Tanzania 2026

Day 8: And we are off...

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The teams are packed up and on their way to three villages: Ilandutwa, Mbuga and Ndengisivili. We will be in the villages through the 11th, so don’t expect the next blog update until after we return to Iringa — and finally get a shower.

A group of 16 people posing indoors with a table and decorated cake.
Tanzania 2026

Day 7: Final village prep and more Iringa shenanigans

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Today’s focus was village preparation, as it was the last day before departing Iringa for the three villages: Mbuga, Ndengisivili and Illandutwa. Exciting stories from each village will be shared in the next blog post, so stay tuned.

A diverse group of people posing in front of a brick building with large windows and a central doorway.
Tanzania 2026

Day 6: Experiencing a traditional Tanzanian village

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At the crack of dawn, Johnnie, Abel, Josh, Dane, Ellie and Victor went on a morning run to see the sunrise. We returned before breakfast, just in time for some bags to arrive.

A group of people listening to a speaker in front of an orange shipping container outdoors.
Tanzania 2026

Day 5: A thank you to those supporting us

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Our group is settling into a much-needed routine here in Iringa. After breakfast, we started our morning by touring the Iringa Diocese and meeting some of the partners who make this class possible.

A group of fifteen people smiling around a whiteboard with notes and diagrams.
Tanzania 2026

Day 4: Starting preparations for village trips

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We started the morning with a breakfast spread of eggs, toast, chai, and mango juice. Iringa’s weather is unlike Dar’s. It is a cool 70° with a nice breeze, reminiscent of an early Minnesota autumn.

A paved road flanked by greenery leads towards distant mountains under an overcast sky.
Tanzania 2026

Day 3: Cross-country on the coaster

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Starting with an update on Operation Bag Recovery: Unfortunately, our bags did not make the flight from Amsterdam to Dar es Salaam (except for Victor’s, whose bag seemingly magically teleported to Dar). For team solidarity purposes and to avoid adding an additional two hours to our trip, the decision was made to leave his bag at the airport.