CMDI’s Bliss and Smith have been involved (along with our friend Karl Gingrich) in the grandly titled informal organization “Tractors for Tanzania” since 2001.  Karl has been the primary driver of TFT, coordinating, finding and buying equipment, investing his own money and time, with CMDI acting in a supporting role.

The original project was for congregations of the Central Conference, Northwestern Ohio Synod (ELCA – Lutheran churches) to purchase a tractor for parishes of a mission district in the Dodoma region of Tanzania.  This was concluded successfully with the purchase and equipment of a 45-hp Massey-Ferguson model that is still in service today although it has had an interesting service history.

God provides all kinds of gifts, and wishes good things for his people. One gift is the energy to wisely manage and improve the economic situation - business and trade. We work to identify opportunities for Dodoma people who have skills and dreams, helping to inject wealth into the economy.