I thought we’d share a bit our short trip to Tanzania and Bishop Bomani’s funeral, just to give you a little cultural insight. I’m writing a separate, more formal note to the people who shared official condolences via Claude at the funeral, including President Kieschnick, former and current Africa Regional Directors, and other missionaries. (Note to Scott – Claude did not tell them you felt like you had been kicked in the stomach when you heard the news, but I did mention that to Pastor Francis earlier. I think he appreciated it because he felt the same way.)

We were picked up at the Mwanza airport along with three bishops from the ELCT and taken directly to the church. It's very large and called a cathedral. That's where the diocese offices are, and there were people all over the parking lot. Lots of clerical shirts. Lots of tears. The bishops who had just arrived and we were gathered together so Pastor Francis (the assistant bishop) shared what had happened to Bishop Bomani and how Francis had found out about it and was with him. There was a room where people could sign a book of condolences. Bishop Bomani's picture was on the table and two large bouquets of flowers. The church and buildings and even the ambulance that carried the body to the church that night were decorated with white and purple balloons and purple ribbons. It's kind of like everyone needed to do something to feel like they are helping, so there was lots of activity. There was also an amazing amount of organization behind such a huge event. Impressive.

Here’s what had happened: The Bishop was on leave this month to work on a new house that was being built next his old one. They were taking down the old house (made of mud bricks). He was walking between them when a wall of the old house fell down on him and knocked him down. They said those bricks wouldn't have hurt him that bad, but he fell against the new hard brick wall and hit his head badly. They got him to the hospital. Francis went to get medicine that the doctor asked for, but when he got back, Bishop had just died only a minute before Francis returned. The doctor told him not to get upset, but Francis said nothing would ever be the same, so how he could not feel very upset?

The night before the funeral, the other diocese bishops washed and prepared the body with vestments. (I think the body was at a funeral home or morgue since Bishop died.) Then the body was brought to his home, where family had gathered. (We were not involved in any of this, but I actually watched a video of it in the back of the church before the funeral.) Later, the casket was brought to the church for the night, and some people slept there. They broadcast the moving of the casket to the church, including the procession, on the local evening news. Bishop was a very important man in this area.


Claude was told ahead of time to wear his alb and black stole, except he didn’t have a black stole. So I made one quickly, just out of heavy black cotton. I have some pictures of all of the pastors processing, as well as all the bishops, I think one from each of the other 13 dioceses, as well as the Presiding Bishop. It was all quite striking. They do like the vestments here.

The service started about 9:45 and lasted inside until about 1:30. It was a nice service, but all in Swahili, so I can’t tell you too much about it. Claude sat with the pastors and got some interpretation, but they planted me with some other white people whom I didn’t know, so I didn’t really know what was going on.

All of the bishops had a part in the service, and the Presiding Bishop had the sermon. There were three choirs. At one point, different people and organizations came forward to share condolences and leave an envelope for the family. Again, we had been prepared for this. Claude shared his own feelings as well as those expressed by others in the LCMS. Many pastors told us later that it meant a lot that we had come and that Claude had shared all of the greetings. They said it was an encouragement to all of them. I am just guessing that there were at least 1000 people. Several covered areas were set up outside the church.

Note the bishop’s chair behind Paul – General Secretary for the diocese and interpreting for Claude. It is Bishop Bomani’s chair with a black cloth on it.

Bishop was just 49 years old. He leaves a wife and six children, none of whom are adults.



A big government official (Tanzanian Minister of Internal Affairs?) was there with his entourage, and that created quite a stir. They were showed a lot of honor, and you could tell it meant a lot to everyone as well.

At the end of the service inside, all of the bishops gathered around the coffin and read Bible verses. It reminded me of an ordination or installation. Then the coffin was closed and quite a few pastors carried it out of the church. Claude was one of those, and he said it was very heavy. They carried it around to the side of the church where the grave had been dug. This is not a cemetery; there are no other graves there.

Claude’s white head is barely visible behind the man in the tan suit. This was the procession to the grave site.
The hole was very large and had been lined with ceramic tile. The coffin was lowered by hand into the grave. More words were spoken, and then family members each threw a handful of dirt into the grave. It was covered temporarily with a large metal sheet. After that, family, bishops, church leaders, the government people, and organization leaders each placed flowers on the grave. When they called LCMS, Claude and I place the flowers together. There was a wooden cross made with Bishop Bomani’s birth and death dates. I took a picture after everything was done.
All in all, it was a beautiful tribute to a man who was loved by many. One of his strengths is that he was a strong leader, but he did not lead alone. So others are prepared to take over. A new bishop will be elected in 3 months. Pastor Francis will be acting Bishop until that time.

Thank you for letting us share this significant event.

Claude & Rhoda

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Rev. Claude & Rhoda Houge
LCMS World Mission - East Africa