Nyamudeza , Tariro Salim 

Tariro “Tarie” Salim Nyamudeza is an International Global Mission Fellow with the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, engaged in a two-year term of service. 

The Global Mission Fellows program takes young adults ages 20-30 out of their home environments and places them in new contexts for mission experience and service. The program has a strong emphasis on faith and justice. Global Mission Fellows become active parts of their new local communities. They connect the church in mission across cultural and geographical boundaries. They grow in personal and social holiness and become strong young leaders working to build just communities in a peaceful world. 

Tariro is a member of the United Methodist Church in Chipangai, Zimbabwe. The church is related to the Zimbabwe East Annual Conference. Tariro’s church activities include participation in hospitality, hosting and worship teams, and assisting with children’s ministries. She holds a master’s degree in sociology with a focus on gender and sport (2022) from Stellenbosch University in South Africa. She also earned a semester exchange postgraduate certificate in sociolinguistics on gender and sociology (2021) from the University of Bern in Switzerland.

Raised in a Christian household, Tariro grew up knowing about God and attending Sunday school as a weekly family routine. Enrolling in a university in a different country, she was exposed to a new culture. As she gained independence, Tariro recalled, she grew closer to God. She bought herself a Bible, became involved with Every Nation Church, Stellenbosch, and carried her beliefs from the United Methodist Church of Chipangai.  

Then Tariro’s father died. “Losing my dad in July 2021,” she said, “while I was away in Switzerland for my semester exchange, honestly made me question the Lord. Various questions of ‘Why me?’ after having not seen [my father] for close to three years broke me. Psalm 147:3 helped me in my time of grief as it says that [God] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”  

Although she is still healing, Tariro continues to grow spiritually. “I wanted to help families, some broken or apart or far away from their families back home,” she said. “Hence, my call to mission, working alongside migrants. Working at Mission for Migrant Workers, currently in Hong Kong, has not only helped me fulfill my desire of helping the strong migrant workers around me separated from their families, but also has greatly shown that the love I have felt from the Lord can be shared with other people.” When one’s family is absent emotionally or physically, God’s love and grace fills the void. 

“As I continue to grow in my spirituality,” the young woman said, “not only can I share my experience, but I also can learn more and enrich it as I follow my call to be on a mission as a volunteer case officer and staff support with the Mission for Migrant Workers.” She has learned while engaging with migrant domestic workers, mainly women from different origins, and has become immersed in their cultures due to her organization’s outreach. With that, she continued, her growth is never-ending.

Coming from a sports background, Tariro enjoys being part of a team. “It shows likeminded people in one space,” she said. “My involvement in sports has given me the skill of interacting well with people from different backgrounds, and I feel that will be the same when joining Global Mission Fellows.”  

At Mission for Migrant Workers, Tariro asserted, the motto “Serving Migrants Anytime Anywhere” shows that God’s work is visible 24/7.