OPENING DOORS

Pastor Mdindi’s Journey with the DATOGA Taturu People

In central Tanzania, Pastor Frank Mdindi, coordinator for the Datoga Taturu Bible translation project, is helping lay the foundation for a community that has waited generations to hear God’s Word in their heart language.

The Taturu people are pastoralists, scattered across dry, rural regions with little infrastructure. Reaching them is no easy task. Roads are few and far between, distances are long, and traditions run deep. Pastor Mdindi, working alongside the Lutheran Church of Tanzania and Lutheran Bible Translators, has embraced the challenge.

“We knew that if we wanted to truly reach the Taturu,” Pastor Mdindi shares, “we had to first earn their trust. That meant respecting their traditions, sitting with their elders, and letting them know we are here to walk with them.”

It’s a journey filled with obstacles, from navigating treacherous terrain by motorbike, facing seasonal flooding, to adapting communication to deeply rooted cultural expectations. Yet through it all, God has been opening doors. The once-distant elders welcomed Pastor Mdindi into their councils, a rare and meaningful sign of acceptance. They even offered land to build a church, a powerful testament to the growing relationship.

Now, a small group of Datoga Taturu Christians are eagerly working to bring God’s Word to their neighbors, a project that promises to transform not just individuals, but an entire community. For many, it will be the first time they hear and understand the story of God’s love in the language of their heart.

“The work isn’t easy,” Pastor Mdindi says. “But every meeting, every mile traveled, every conversation is worth it—because we know that God’s Word brings hope, life, and transformation.”

The road is long, but the destination is clear: a future where the Datoga Taturu people know they are seen, loved, and included in the story of God’s redeeming grace.

Learn more about the Datoga Taturu and how you can support the impactful work happening right now in Tanzania