Tanzania (MNN)–Electricity–it’s a precious commodity in parts of Mumba, Tanzania.
Grace Ministries International’s Don Tenhoeve. “Right now, we spend probably over $300 a month on diesel to run the generator, and that’s just a few hours a day, where this would provide an electrical supply for 24 hours around and the need for lighting at the high school, in the pastoral college and the missionary homes.”
Tenhoeve says there’s an engineering team there from Engineering Ministries International, doing a hydroelectric feasibility study for their compound.
GMI’s mission statement has always consisted of evangelism, church planting, leadership training, and mercy ministries such as health services, education and community development.
As part of seeing that fulfilled, GMI teams have been working to train nationals on a compound that houses a K-12 high school, a pastoral college, offices and a mission station.
Tenhoeve says they’ve aquired two used turbines from a farm in Europe. It’s the dry season right now, so the engineering team is getting a fairly accurate look at how the region would support the hydroelectric plant.
The Mumba River wraps around their campus with a significant elevation drop. According to eMi’s website, what they’re looking at is a gravity-fed water-driven hydro-electric system.
The project could provide a sustained means not only for training, but also for other community projects that require reliable power sources. Tenhoeve explains that, “None of these villages or towns around us have electricity and in fact, we’re one of the rare ones that has a generator, so to have 24-hour electrical supply would be a great plus for ministry and for reaching people for the Lord.”
If you want to serve or support, go to: http://www.gracem.org
