Margaret and Palmer Rauk initiated this mission about 20 years ago with the founding of Palmer House in Baptala, India. Currently the project serves approximately 350 children each day, both with children living onsite and those who are bused in.This project has support from individuals as well as congregations throughout the United States. Donations are tax deductible.

Kihesa Connection: Kihesa Lutheran Church in Iringa, Tanzania
As part of our companion congregation relationship with the Kihesa Lutheran Church in Iringa, Tanzania, St. Mark’s has committed to help raise funds to build a Youth Life Skills Center next to the Kihesa Church; to sponsor Kihesa youth attending secondary school; to pray for each other’s congregation and to exchange visits with the Kihesa Church periodically to maintain a relationship with the pastors and congregation.

St. Mark’s has raised $36,000 in 2002-2003 to help fund the construction of Phase 1 of the Kihesa Youth Life Skills Center at the Kihesa Lutheran Church. St. Mark’s has sponsored an increasing number of Kihesa secondary students: 10 in 2002, 20 in 2003 and 53 in 2004.

A mission team of 9 St. Mark’s members visited the Kihesa church from Feb. 28 – March 16, 2002 to begin construction on Phase 1 of the Life Skills Center. Pastor Anta Muro, the senior pastor of the Kihesa Church, visited St. Mark’s from April 2 – May 7, 2003. A second St. Mark’s mission team of 15 high school students and 9 adults visited the Kihesa Church from March 17 – 31, 2004 to begin construction on Phase 2 of the Life Skills Center and stayed in the Phase 1 building. Click on the “Mission Trip” link to read the trip diaries.

Huruma Lutheran Diaconical Centre, Iringa, Tanzania
The Huruma Lutheran Diaconical Centre (HLDC) was established in 1994 by the ELCT-Iringa Diocese. The aim is to help homeless orphans and other children, both girls and boys between the ages of 5-17 years old in difficult circumstances who have turned to the streets for survival, to get a brighter future. St. Mark’s donated $500 in 2002 to fund construction of a brick chicken coop and $364 to buy chickens for their eggs to help feed the children at the Huruma Centre.