PRECIOUS SOULS
Since we have been here in Kigoma, we have discovered an "Unreached People Group" of sorts. This group of little people may not exactly qualify as an official people group, but here in Tanzania we have noticed that they are in most places the forgotten ones of this culture. They have work to do around the house to help mama or baba, but other than that they spend their days here almost completely unnoticed. Children are everywhere here in Kigoma.
When we go into town or into a nearby village, they all come out to see the wazungu (white people).
The Lord Jesus said,
"Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them,
for such is the Kingdom of Heaven."
Last year when Isaac and I visited Tanzania, I took this picture (above) while we were in a small village called Kigalie. The Lord used this picture of these precious children as one of many ways He confirmed His will for us to come here to serve Him. Precious, forgotten souls for whom Christ died! The Lord has given us a bit of His own burden for these precious souls, which is heavy on us.
Our home church in Kigoma is working to help a small struggling assembly in the village of Kizinga. They send out a small team of 2 or 3 men to lead the meetings each Sunday. Three weeks ago we drove a team out there to see the work. The building is no longer functional, the roof is gone, and the walls have been knocked over, but under a mango tree beside the old church building they are faithfully meeting every Sunday.
Interestingly we took a picture after the meeting while standing inside the walls of the old church building. The Lord Jesus said, "I will build My church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it." We returned this past Sunday (three weeks later) where I gave my first sermon in Swahili!
I thank the Lord for His help and especially for my language tutor (Tryphone) who helped me tremendously. Tryphone and his family were in a motorcycle accident several weeks ago. He broke his leg, his wife broke both wrists, and their baby was knocked unconscious. Amazingly they are all doing great and recovering nicely. The Lord has used Tryphone to really help me with my Swahili, and we are very thankful for them!
We covet your prayers for us as we continue to learn how to effectively communicate God's love
to these precious souls here in Kigoma region.
Speaking of precious souls, somebody has been enjoying holding many little African babies! Every time Jennifer sees one, she lights up! She obviously has a special burden for these precious souls!
Jennifer also joins Ruth Johnson every Thursday for visitation among the ladies at the chapel. Each week the ladies get together and go visit one of their own from the chapel. They sing, share a devotion, and take an offering to meet their needs. She has been able to get to know these precious ladies through this ministry and enjoys serving them each week.
Also, Jennifer has adapted well to the many challenges in preparing meals for our family every day. Meals take much longer to prepare here because you have to make everything by scratch! Below is how we get ground beef here in Kigoma.
We go to the local butcher where he weighs out how much meat you would like in kilograms. Then we take the meat home in a plastic bag, cut off the fat, and then grind it ourselves with a manual meat grinder and voila! Ground Beef!
Every meal is made with much love :)
Our children have settled in here amazingly well. While they (and us) miss many things such as family, friends, and certain foods, they have been enjoying many things about living in Tanzania.
On Saturday afternoons we go to Lake Tanganyika to swim and enjoy some down time. Other missionaries in the area also frequent this beach, so we get to enjoy some fellowship with them as well. There are zebras that live in this area, also, monkeys, a few antelope, and an occasional monitor lizard and even a hippo has been seen there!
We had heard about the zebras, but it wasn't until last week that we saw them for the first time. The kids were able to get pretty close for a good look.
The monkeys will steal your food if you are not paying attention. They also know what a Pringles can is, so we have to keep a close eye on them :)
A monkey climbing a palm tree :)
Precious Souls :) (first thing in the morning)
Thank you all for your interest and support, it means so much to us!
Isaiah 58:6
Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free
And that you break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
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