Our team of 6 is meeting weekly.
There is so much to learn. So much to discuss. The details are endless.
We are excited to learn everything we can about missionaries Coni and Harold Kneppers, Hope of the Nations, and the people we will encounter in and around Kigoma during this 18-day ministry.
We have been studying God’s word as relating to missions, spent time studying and discussing workbooks and videos, and have shared on the topics of culture, traditions, food, necessary vaccines, jet-travel, language, weather, necessary equipment, testimonies and culture shock.  

The VBS theme for this trip is Trust and Obey. The various stations and lesson plans are already coming together, and are currently being fine-tuned. It’s going to be incredible!  
Please partner with the team in prayer. Pray that the Lord would do a mighty work in our attitudes, that our hearts are softened towards the people in Tanzania, and that we can encourage and fellowship with them deeply.
 
Left: Kathleen Youngberg (VBS Leader), Tammy Stone (Team leader), and Laurel Lindner (Team Blogger).
Center: Aidan Tomasini (Games, YAS Co-Leader), Jack Daly (Young Adult Seminar Leader, Co-team leader), and Kevin Higgins (Games, YAS Co-Leader).
Bottom: Our curriculum

The team participating in the Tanzania STM 2026 have been solidified and started meeting regularly.
We meet in person or via Zoom to go over our study guide on "Before You Pack Your Bag, Prepare Your Heart", watch instructional videos, discuss the culture of Tanzania and program planning.
The excitement is building and team fundraising has began!
On the 2026 STM team is:
Jack Daley (Co-team Leader)
Kevin Higgins
Kathleen Youngberg
Aidan Tomasini
Laurel Lindner
Tammy Stone (Team Leader)

Aidan discusses fundraising issues and ideas for some VBS group games.

Tammy, Kathleen, Aidan, and Jack at our team meeting, Tammy is holding our Tanzania 2026 Preparation Packet we are working through, Kevin in on Zoom and I (Laurel) am taking pictures. 

A significant percentage of funding for TZ26 team supplies will come from the sales of burritos on monthly Burrito Sundays.
Here, the church kitchen is abuzz with helpers creating hundreds of delicious handmade burritos.