This story was originally published in the 2022 Midland Magazine.

In his time as a pastor and through his work with the Opportunity Education Foundation, Martin Russell ‘86 has made more than 75 trips to Tanzania. But it’s the first trip he made to the East African country in 1999 that still stands out in his mind. “I was a pastor in Wayne, Nebraska, and I was selected to travel to Tanzania as part of a pastoral exchange through the Northern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania,” Russell said.

He was always interested in Tanzania due to a friendship he formed at Midland with a Tanzanian international student, Alvera Byabato ‘87. “I first went to Tanzania for six weeks and had no idea how transformational it would be in my life,” Russell said. “A remarkable moment during that trip was when my host in the local village where I lived informed me there was a gentleman who wanted to meet me.

We began talking and he told me he had been in the United States in the early 1960s to attend college. Turned out he was a Midland graduate. I went to his house and noticed that his wallpaper was entirely made up of Midland alumni newsletters he had been sent during the 1970’s and 1980’s. He was so proud of being a Midland graduate and leveraged his Midland education to make a difference.”

That man was John Mkenda ‘65, who had a scholarship established in his name in 2018. Mkenda graduated with a business degree and was eventually honored with an honorary Doctor of Law Degree by the university in 2002. His scholarship is awarded to international students of good academic standing with encouragement to use their education in service to the church and their community.

Crossing paths with Mkenda is just one of countless lifechanging events for Russell in his travels to Tanzania. When Martin arrived at Midland as a freshman 40 years ago, serving halfway across the globe was the furthest thing from his mind. “It was never on my radar,” he said. “I came to Midland initially to study accounting, but I began to realize I wasn’t wired to do that. After graduation, I went to the seminary and became a pastor. I figured I would always be a pastor, but now it led to a new path. It was a path that wasn’t necessarily scripted, but I’m deeply grateful for it.”

His first trip to Tanzania 23 years ago was just the tip of the iceberg for Russell, who knew as early as his initial trip home that more would follow. “On my trip home, I prayed I would be able to come back at least one more time,” he said. “Well, be careful what you pray for because earlier this year, I just completed my 75th trip to Tanzania.”

After completing seminary at Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Russell served in churches in Texas and Pennsylvania before arriving in Wayne in 1996. After four years in Wayne, Russell received the opportunity to serve as Assistant to the Bishop for the Nebraska Synod of the ELCA. He would spend 11 years in that position, and one of his roles was providing leadership to global mission partnerships in Tanzania, Argentina, and Uruguay. During that time, he led more than 400 people on 24 mission trips to Tanzania.

“Our trips were built around seeing the ministry of the Lutheran Church in Tanzania,” he said. “Our travelers gained an understanding of what life is like in Tanzania, developed friendships, worshiped in modest churches, visited villages, hospitals, schools, and homes. They learned about the economy, education, and healthcare systems. We experienced the breathtaking beauty of the land and the wildlife it supports while on safari to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. Most importantly, introducing people to people became the foundation for ministry partnerships between Americans and Tanzanians.”

After 11 years, Russell saw God call him in another direction as he returned to serve as a Pastor at a church in Helena, Montana. He soon received a phone call from the Omaha based Opportunity Education Foundation, asking him if he was ready for another challenge.

Russell took the role as Tanzania Country Director, where he would oversee the work of the Opportunity Education Foundation in Moshi, Tanzania. He became Director of Africa Operations in 2017. In his role, Russell spends about half of the year in Tanzania, heavily involved with the education system. Tanzania, a country of 60 million people, has an education system that Russell said needed work in terms of getting students ready for what awaited them when their formal education was finished.

“One of the greatest challenges facing students in Africa today is access to high quality education, that is relevant and engaging, and that also grounds them in the skills and habits they will need to succeed,” he said. “At Opportunity Education, we offer secondary students across Tanzania a high-quality secondary education, and the opportunity to gain the mindset, habits, and skills to create value for their families, their communities, and their country. Our method places students at the center of learning activities by encouraging them to drive their own education.”

Russell said they are starting to see very positive results in Opportunity Education’s growing network of 20 secondary schools. “We believe secondary school today should help students prepare for a successful life and give them the skills they need to find a purposeful role in society,” Russell said. “Instead, most students sit passively day after day, diligently taking notes, and rarely speaking, focused mostly on passing high stakes exams with good marks. Our program, which we call Quest Forward Learning, combines high-quality academic materials with student-centric, hands-on teaching and learning that activates students and helps them become lifelong learners.”

Russell has introduced many people to Tanzania who have made a tremendous difference in the lives of Tanzanians. Bob Kasworm is one such person. Kasworm is based out of Omaha and works for CHI Health in Tanzania. Kasworm’s first trip to Tanzania was with Russell in 2001. As a leader in the Nebraska Synod Companion Synod Relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania for 20 years, Kasworm has helped enact meaningful change for Tanzanian citizens on many levels. Among the many things he’s been vital in helping establish are the Machame School of Nursing in 2013, the Houses for Health, which has provided more than 150 homes for Tanzanian families, and the Orthopedic Center at Machame Lutheran Hospital, which has served more than 12,000 people and is the leading orthopedic center in northern Tanzania. Kasworm has hosted Midland University students on many study abroad opportunities for nearly 20 years.

“I first met Bob over 20 years ago when the Lutheran Church in Tanzania was looking at ways to strengthen healthcare in Tanzania,” Russell said. “Like me, this was never on Bob’s radar, but his first trip turned out to be a transformational experience. Bob has done incredible work in Tanzania, and there are tons of people who are alive today because of the work he’s done. He’s driven by a passion to make a difference and get things done.” Russell has been able to share his love of Tanzania with many Midland alumni over the years. “Midland has a strong history with Tanzania, and I’ve been fortunate to travel with many alumni and professors to Tanzania,” he said. “My parents, brother, and extended family members all went to Midland, so it has intertwined with my life.”

As someone who took a far different route from what he intended when he arrived at Midland, Russell believes students should always be willing to shift gears when the time is right. Russell was quick to acknowledge that he is grateful for his wife, Lori, and daughter, Grace, who are supportive of him in this calling. “I would encourage students not to have life be scripted and be open to possibilities,” he said. “You never know where God might lead you, and there are so many opportunities out there. My life is richer because of my global opportunities. I have made so many African friends and have been able to spend time with people from all over the world.”