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OUR TANZANIA RELATIONSHIPS
In 2004, a group from Westwood visited Arusha Road Lutheran Church in Dodoma, Tanzania, and a new partnership was formed—and grew in remarkable ways.
For over two decades, members from Westwood have traveled to Dodoma 8 times, and representatives from Arusha Road have visited us 5 times. These exchanges have been invaluable in helping us grow in mutual understanding and in our ability to support God's work in our communities.
Annually, Westwood also sends over 50,000 meals from the Outreach Inc. food-packing event and provides support for the educational expenses of the orphans supported by Arusha Road Lutheran Church. You can support these ministries by visiting Westwood's Cause of the Month.
June 16-27, 2026
Westwood sent a delegation of 6 adults and 4 youth to strengthen our partnership with Arusha Road Lutheran Church in Tanzania. They continued to build relationships, share experiences, and learn from our Tanzanian brothers and sisters in Christ
(view photos in the gallery below).
Overview of Arusha Road & Westwood Relationship
Years Westwood traveled to Arusha Road: 2004, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2026
Years Arusha Road traveled to Westwood: 2006, 2010, 2012, 2019, 2025
Our Partnership Throughout the Years
Arusha Road Lutheran Church & Westwood Lutheran Church
(click below to view photos)
Food Packing Event
Every spring, Westwood hosts a food packaging event. Hundreds of volunteers from the congregation and surrounding communities join us to pack meals in an effort to support children who have lost a parent or guardian to AIDS in Dodoma, Tanzania. Our sister congregation, Arusha Road Lutheran Church in Dodoma, distributes these meals to its surrounding community. Our goal is to send at least 50,000 meals annually to Arusha Road.
There's a lot that goes into making this annual event happen, and we can't do this without lots of volunteers to pack the food, set up food stations, and tear down everything afterward. The cost to put on an event like this and to purchase the food through The Outreach Food Packing Program is $30,000 - we hope you will consider a donation to this impactful event!
Arusha Road Church, Dodoma, Tanzania
Over the years, we have partnered with Arusha Road Lutheran Church to help grow their mission in an area with a high poverty rate. With our support, Arusha Road has been able to expand their ministry with orphans in their community, many from the AIDS epidemic, from the original 60 to 150. Our food packing effort goes directly to this area, and we have been on hand to unpack the food on the other end. Financial support also helps cover educational expenses for 40 orphans.
Help support the orphan ministry in December as our Cause of the Month.
Dodoma Christian Medical Center
DCMC Facility
A child receiving oral care
Dodoma Christian Medical Center (DCMC) was launched in 2003 with a focus on community health in rural villages. In 2026, it is a thriving 125-bed medical center with nearly 154 employees, providing a high standard of service by well-trained Tanzanian medical and dental staff in a safe, clean environment. From safe childbirth and surgeries to dental care and comprehensive family medicine with a pharmacy, DCMC has become the facility of choice for reliable, high-quality healthcare throughout Central Tanzania.
DCMC is a hospital with a charitable status, with the scope to be a center for Medical Excellence by
delivering Specialist and Super Specialist Health Services with High Quality and Compassionate Care to
the people of Central Tanzania and beyond.
The Dental Clinic is a model for modern dentistry and training in Tanzania. This clinic's outreach also teaches oral health to school children. The Reproductive and Child Health Clinic is committed to reducing maternal and child mortality through pre- and postnatal care and free-will childcare. Their Community Health Outreach focuses on disease prevention through education and screening in regional rural villages.
The dream of DCMC is to become a sustainable model by combining thriving partnerships, social enterprise, and philanthropy to provide a consistent level of high-quality care that is rarely seen in Africa. The Tanzania Ministry of Health has recognized DCMC as the best medical facility in the region with a 3-Star Rating, and is not only a referral hospital but a model for sustainable healthcare in Africa.
Click here for more information on Dodoma Christian Medical Center.
Dr. Charles with Ntyuka students