A Timeline by Cindy & Bill Page

July 9, 2004 – Bishop Alpha and Mrs. Marian Mohamed, with their granddaughter Marian, come for dinner. We first hear about the AIDS orphans sponsorship program in their hometown of Manyoni. Little Marian isn’t eating what we prepared, and the Bishop asks if we have a banana for her (we do, thank heaven). After dinner, we all play Chickenfoot and laugh a lot.

July 14, 2004 – Thank you note from Bishop Alpha for “all what you did to us during our visit to your home. It was a great evening for us…”

July 23, 2004 – Letter from Bishop Alpha asking if we would consider being the US Representatives for MOSTRUST, and find sponsors for the 57 orphans currently registered with the program. We are honored, shocked and awed.

July 25, 2004 – We meet with Bishop Alpha between Sunday services, pray, and hear about MOSTRUST. He hands us a box containing registration forms and photos of the orphans.

August 4, 2004 – Letter from Bishop Alpha: “Thank you for your openness to the needs of the destitute children of the Rift Valley… As I said about the passion of this ministry that it is a life long term commitment. Thus, as God opening doors for us (you and the MOSTRUST) you will find time to come to Tanzania and see by yourself of how the beneficiaries have been helped. We shall be in touch through e-mail and general correspondence. But, above all, our consistent communication must be through PRAYER – in our daily life. You will see how our own spiritual life is being growing and help to other peoples can be given…” (italics mine)

August 15, 2004 – Bishop Alpha and family leave Grace Church and Colorado Springs to return to their home in Tanzania after their year’s sabbatical with us. We are able to hand them checks totalling $1200 from the first sponsors (Kathy Kellogg, Virginia Kellogg, Jim & Beth Cunningham, Clelia DeMoraes) recruited!

Christmas 2004 – All 57 orphans sponsored! Thanks be to God, and to the generous sponsors and donors who responded to the call.

June 2005 – Receive names of ten more orphans in the program, bringing the total to 67 orphans. We are informed of the death of one of the orphans, 9-year-old Pili Ismail Ganda, from AIDS.

August 28, 2005 – First Annual MOSTRUST Meeting. Group photo of 40 participants taken by Steve and Marilynne Starr. Presentation about Africa mission work by Paul Ronka. Annual Report: 66 orphans now supported by 38 sponsors and 4 donors (who do not have an orphan, but give money). A total of $9,410 wired to MOSTRUST Tanzania in the past year. Mahewa Mowo, Bishop Alpha’s daughter and Program Coordinator, lists “the needs that are most important at this time: Food; Treatment when they are sick; Clothes, soap, Vaseline, etc.; Running cost for office; Office equipment.” Our minds are boggled. What can we do??

October, November, December 2005 – First monthly meetings of MOSTRUST Prayer and Study Group in our home. It is a time of discussion and prayer to guide us in this fledgling ministry, recalling Bishop Alpha’s instruction that “our consistent communication must be through prayer.” All sponsors and donors are invited. The group averages about twelve people.

January 8, 2006 – At brunch at the Starr’s we have an epiphany: we are going to Manyoni! We realize we must start fundraising to buy the much-needed vehicle for MOSTRUST to use after Bishop Alpha’s retirement in October 2006. Our dream and prayer is to hand him a check for $18,000 for the 4-wheel drive vehicle -- dubbed “MOSTRUCK” by Dareleen Schaeffer -- on our arrival in July!

February, March, April 2006 – Prayer & Study Group meets monthly to learn more about Africa and pray for our brothers and sisters there. About $3,000 has been raised toward the vehicle.

May 2006 – Bill and Cindy attend the Navigator’s Africa Partners Conference at Glen Eyrie and learn about micro-enterprise, becoming a nonprofit, fundraising and the wonderful programs the Navs have had in Africa for fifty years – “to know Jesus and make him known.” Meet amazing people of God from this country and from Africa!

Mary Webster plans and executes an ambitious Mother’s Day Brunch in the Great Hall at Grace Church to benefit both the Mother and Child Clinc at Kilimatinde Hospital, and MOSTRUST. She is a force of Nature.

Our faithful Prayer & Study Groupees (Cunninghams, Jewells, Kents, Ronkas, Weiskopf) have become the Core Steering Committee for both the vehicle fundraising project, and the nonprofit incorporation of MOSTRUST USA. Getting 501c3 status has been a goal from the beginning of this ministry, as recommended by both Bishop Alpha and Grace Church’s legal advisor. Funds for vehicle now total $6,700.

June 2006 – Karl Weiskopf’s media blitz spurs parishioners up and over the top. By July 25th, 97 donors give $18,476 for MOSTRUCK! As Gary Jewell reminded us early on, “God will do it.” And He did – through people of Faith. The funds are wired to Tanzania to coincide with our arrival July 7th.

We finish application for 501c3 status, and receive provisional tax exempt status: MOSTRUST USA is established. The Prayer and Study Group/Steering Committee becomes the Board of Trustees.

July 5 -19, 2006 – Cindy & Bill Page, with daughters Alison Page and Ellie McMahon, fly to Dar Es Salaam via London and spend eleven days on the ground in Tanzania. We visit St. John’s Secondary School and Bible College, Kilimatinde Hospital, two primary schools around Manyoni, and eight homes where twelve of the registered orphans are living with relatives. We also see several churches under construction, participate in the last Confirmation service Bishop Alpha performs as Bishop of the Diocese of the Rift Valley – in his boyhood hometown of Kintinku – and cap the trip with a safari through Mikumi National Park in the beautiful region of Morogoro.

August 28, 2006 – Bill Page has open heart surgery to replace aortic valve.

September, October, November 2006 – Board of Trustees meets monthly to plan and pray for continuing function of and fundraising for MOSTRUST USA, and for the Reception for Bishop Alpha the day after Thanksgiving! Sara Jewell designs the MOSTRUST USA logo and a promotional poster.

November 24, 2006 – Bishop Alpha speaks to about fifty people in Taft Hall at Grace Church. He talks about the Bible being “our map” from here to eternity, and the “Three T’s” of mission work: Trust, Transparency and Teaming. He announces that eight more orphans have been added, with fourteen on the waiting list (bringing the total to 85 active, 14 waiting). We present him with a check in the amount of $2,300 for MOSTRUST Tanzania orphan sponsorship and administration. Gala reception with savories follows in the Great Hall.

December 2006 – Gifted communicator Karl Weiskopf masterminds the Alternative Giving for Christmas fundraiser. Bill Hazelton designs and donates beautiful cards donors can give as alternative gifts, indicating what has been donated to the Manyoni AIDS orphans in the recipient’s honor. Fundraiser nets over $2,300.

January 7, 2006 – Pages report to the parish on their trip during Adult Education time in the Great Hall.

Including the truck (a gleaming Nissan Safari), donors and sponsors have given over $50,000 so far to help the destitute children in the Rift Valley of Tanzania!

Thank you, People of Faith! To God be the Glory!