Msamaria Mwema

"Msamaria Mwema" or "The Good Samaritan"

This painting was on the wall of an orphanage about an hour north of Kigoma called Matyazo Children's Home. The painting is large and takes up most of the wall as you walk in the main entrance. It caught my attention and immediately the verses from Luke 10 came to mind. It is a wonderful illustration of what this orphanage is doing for their "neighbors" here in Kigoma. 

For every child that ends up here, and there are 77,  there is a story that will break your heart. For many of these children, their mother died soon after giving birth from complications. There are many sets of twins and even triplets there who lost their mother, or she is mentally unable to care for the children. Thankfully for most of these orphans, after 2 years of age they will be placed with a relative who can then care for them.

This little boy was found with his umbilical cord still attached. His mother tried to push him through a fence when she abandoned him at birth which left a large scar on his neck. An animal of some kind nibbled on his nose before he was found and rescued. Today he is doing great and hopping from crib to crib to visit his friends! 

Here are some pictures from our visit. 

  

 

A little closer to home, here in Kigoma, we just learned about a very important ministry for the many street children and the poor. Joy in the Harvest, a local Christian Radio Station located less than a quarter mile from our house is meeting a big need here in the community. They built a facility to provide meals three days a week for anyone who is hungry! The menu is the same each day: rice, beans, and a banana, but there is no complaining! There are only smiling faces, and for many of these children, these may be the only real meals they will get all week.

Anywhere from 200 to as many as 400 mostly children, wait outside the rear gate every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The gate opens at 3:00pm and everyone is fed and gone by 4:00pm. Everyone also gets a vitamin, and twice a year they get medicine for worms. 

The important part of this ministry is that the Word of God is shared before each meal. These children have learned to sit quietly while the message is being given and the plates are passed out. Before eating, they sing and then someone gives thanks for the meal. 

 

Our children have enjoyed helping with the serving line. Sam is the "Banana man" and he is responsible for putting one banana on each plate. Isaac is the "Spoon man", and he is responsible to put one spoon on each plate. Elaina and the rest of us help pass the plates to the various tables.

Here is a video clip of the group singing before the meal last week. 

This has been a great way for us to get to know some of the kids here in Kigoma. We try to walk down to the feeding center when we can to help and to continue to build relationships with these precious souls. 

Below is a picture of the "street boys" we know from town. 

Most of them are not in school and cannot read yet. 

The Good Samaritan saw someone in need and couldn't pass him by, but was compelled to do something to help. The Lord Jesus is the ultimate Good Samaritan! 

He looked past our many faults and saw our need. 

He came to our rescue and had compassion on us.

He showed us that our greatest problem is not poverty.

Poverty is only a symptom of a greater problem. 

The Lord said that the poor we would have with us always. 

He came to pay for our sins, and proclaimed from the cross, "It is finished!". 

He paid the price for every sin this world has ever, or ever will commit. 

He is the only One who can forgive us and save us. 

He is the only Savior this world has to turn to for salvation. 

Truly there will always be poverty in the world while there is sin. 

Everyone in this world needs to hear and believe the Gospel, not just the poor! Above is a picture of the weekly missionary meeting where I have had the opportunity to teach the missionary kids. There was a family visiting from South Africa (some are seen in the pictures at the feeding center) that had six children, which bumped our numbers up to 20 kids! Although they have all grown up in Christian homes and their parents are missionaries... they need the Gospel too!

God has no grandchildren.  :)

Jesus also said that the poor are rich in faith. Why did He say that? 

Perhaps because they have been humbled by their circumstances and their hearts are soft and tender? Or maybe because they are not as distracted by material things? 

The western world is blinded to their greatest need, to have their sins forgiven, because in their own eyes they have "everything" they need. So many are unaware of the reality of their own sinful condition and the coming judgment that is looming over them each day. 

In reality, the wealthy business man is no different than the street kid in Kigoma,

"It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment..." (Heb. 9:27)

It's easy to be deceived by the outward appearance of those not in physical need. We can easily think they are OK because they already have "everything", but oh how false that thinking is! Think of those  who are not saved as God describes them in His Word! Spiritually dead in their sins and separated from God.

And we have realised that the struggle is just as real in this context where the poor, lame, and blind are literally sitting outside our gate. It's also easy to be distracted by their physical needs and lose sight of their true need, which is Jesus! 

May the Lord help us to be Good Samaritans :) 

Above is a well worn path that cuts up through our front yard, (our house seen there on the left), to Harry and Ruth Johnson's house up the hill and to the right. Only the Lord knows how many have been helped by coming there. Years of almost daily visits for prayer, counsel, and various needs to be met with true compassion. 

Love is a verb. (Selah)

Thank you so much for praying for us! We so appreciate it!

Here are a few specific prayer requests:

1. That each of our children would come to know the Lord personally and would have sensitive hearts toward Him.

2. That the Lord will continue to guide us clearly into the ministry He has for us here & that we would not get distracted by "good things" that aren't in His plan for us.

    3. For homeschool as it has been a real struggle for Jennifer to find time to adequately teach them.  Isaac is in 5th grade, Elaina is in 4th, and Sam just started kindergarten. 

Katie will start kindergarden next year. 

We are praying for the Lord's clear guidance in this.