It’s hard for me to believe that it has been six weeks since my last entry. It is now Jan. 15 and we have been back in the U.S. since Friday, Jan. 11 (very late, after a 30+ hour journey from Tanzania). We are trying to get settled in but everything is so different from the life we have lived for the last seven months in East Africa, where almost every waking hour had some connection with the ministry of Here’s Life Mission to Africa. It is impossible to explain all the emotions that we feel. We have to just turn our whole being over to the Lord and let Him give us the “peace that passes all understanding”. Since last May, we have spent time with: a medical mission, staff conferences, pastor’s conferences, staff training, “Real Faith” studies, visits with teams (in Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, and Congo), visits to new churches planted by teams, evangelism in our neighborhood, showing the “Jesus Film” in our home, having meals with local pastors and neighbors (in our home), helping disciple new Christians, speaking at many churches (as assigned by the Here’s Life director), and even trying to help with administrative tasks (while coping with power outages and sporadic e-mail, and lost work). We are so grateful for the patience and mentoring by so many connected with "Here’s Life" during our seven months learning process.
We feel that God is leading us to return to our “home” in Arusha, Tanzania in March. We ask for prayers from all of you that we will remain focused on Christ and His will in our lives as we spend the next several weeks visiting with family and friends, some at great distances from Alvord, TX. Also, please pray that we will be good stewards of the time, resources, and finances that God provides for us. We can never say thank you enough times to really say how much we are grateful for what so many have done to be a part of what God has had us doing. Your prayers, e-mails, and all types of support are precious gifts; and you are a big part of ” Here’s Life” in East Africa.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Thursday, November 29, 2007
ANSWERED PRAYERS!
This week started off full speed ahead, church with Stanley’s family and some friends and then errands and a visit to a family that lost their daughter recently. Later in the day, Pat was not feeling well and was running a fever. Monday she felt a bit better but I insisted that she go to the hospital (clinic) or I would cancel the trip we had planned to the two sites of our medical mission in June. Pat and I had anticipated the trip for some time and the timing was right for us to go, with Pascal and Paul, back to the Ngorongoro/Karatu area of Tanzania.
Monday: We left Pat and Sara at the clinic and the three of us (at Pat’s insistance and promise that she would take a taxi home and let Sara care for her) headed off to visit the Maasai. After getting lost twice during our many hour trip, we finally arrived and set up our tent (so we wouldn’t have to do it in the dark) in the area where we lived in “tent city” for a week in June. We had a great traditional Tanzanian meal at the school headmaster’s house, after visiting with the two head officials of the village (to get permission to spend the night). The phone call we got from Pat was not what we had expected, she had tested positive for tick fever and was also diagnosed with a urinary infection and was given medication for both. Our “instructions” from Pat were to not worry and try to find her friend Paulina and give her the Maasai blanket we had brought for her. When we got to the boma where she lived, we found that she had moved and the people told us they would notify her, so we had to leave the Maasai blanket with a team leader to get to her later.
Tuesday: We headed to the Karatu area, site of the second half of our medical mission. Our objective was to visit two areas where new churches had been planted (after the showing of the Jesus film) and to find the young lady that I mentioned in our blog after the medical mission. You may remember that the English translation of her name is “Taboo” (probably because of her crippled leg). When we first met in June, she looked depressed, would not look at me and smiled only after receiving Christ as her savior. Pat and I had been praying that she had connected with a church family who would show her the love of Christ. We had a Katange and a Maasai blanket for her and our prayer was that we would locate her in the remote area where she lived, where there was no road to her home. We did find her and the reunion was such a blessing, she remembered that I had said that God’s grace would be sufficient and that I was going to call her Grace (Neema, in Swahili) from then on. She was smiling, was happy to see us, and told me (through an interpreter) that she was growing in the Lord. I wept with tears of joy for her, and sadness that Pat was not there to experience it all. Earlier in the day, we had visited the site of one of new churches, where we were met with praise songs and smiling faces. They gave us a tour of the three acres they had purchased for the building. We prayed over the plot and sang praise to the Lord, then went back to the home of Stanley’s dad (where they have been having prayer and worship service) where we ate rice, chicken, goat, and soup to put on the rice. After dark we attended a showing of the Jesus film and rejoiced (with the angels in heaven) at the addition of some new brothers and sisters to the body of Christ. We got back to the location where we had set up our tent, between a church and the pastor’s house, at just about midnight (what a full day). We were served a big meal by the pastor’s wife, and while we were eating we got a text message that Pat had stomach cramps, nausea, hives and that her throat was swelling. She took some benedryl and thought she might have to have our landlord take her to the hospital. When Paul got the message on his phone (Pat had mine) we all agreed to pray for Pat’s healing. You can’t imagine the seven of us seeking the Lord for Pat’s healing. We first sang praise to Him and then prayed for a long time, all at the same time, as is their custom. I have never witnessed such passion as these Tanzanian brothers lifted Pat up to the Lord, in English, Swahili, Maasai and possibly in another tongue. We had no way to hear from Pat after that because both phones were out of minutes and we were outside of Karatu. My night was very emotional as I prayed and cried out for my “beloved” wife.
Wednesday: After an early morning meal at two different homes (their custom is to feed guests, no matter when you are invited into a home) and a short meeting to evaluate the film showing, we headed home to Arusha. About two and a half hours later we got to Paul’s home (another meal) to meet his family, and finally arrived back at our home. I was so happy to see Pat and report all our experiences and see that she was feeling much better. We found out later that two of our prayer warriors in Alabama had experienced hives at about the same time as Pat, we had all been praying and fasting, on Wednesdays, for the ministry during the time that Stanley has been in the U.S. to visit many churches so we knew that it was an attack from the enemy but we know that the power of the Holy Spirit that is in us is more powerful than the power of the enemy. Bwana Asifiwe! (Praise the Lord).
Today, Thursday, is a time for relaxation and thanks giving to our Lord. Our God is Good. Mungu Awa Bariki! (God Bless all of you)
Monday: We left Pat and Sara at the clinic and the three of us (at Pat’s insistance and promise that she would take a taxi home and let Sara care for her) headed off to visit the Maasai. After getting lost twice during our many hour trip, we finally arrived and set up our tent (so we wouldn’t have to do it in the dark) in the area where we lived in “tent city” for a week in June. We had a great traditional Tanzanian meal at the school headmaster’s house, after visiting with the two head officials of the village (to get permission to spend the night). The phone call we got from Pat was not what we had expected, she had tested positive for tick fever and was also diagnosed with a urinary infection and was given medication for both. Our “instructions” from Pat were to not worry and try to find her friend Paulina and give her the Maasai blanket we had brought for her. When we got to the boma where she lived, we found that she had moved and the people told us they would notify her, so we had to leave the Maasai blanket with a team leader to get to her later.
Tuesday: We headed to the Karatu area, site of the second half of our medical mission. Our objective was to visit two areas where new churches had been planted (after the showing of the Jesus film) and to find the young lady that I mentioned in our blog after the medical mission. You may remember that the English translation of her name is “Taboo” (probably because of her crippled leg). When we first met in June, she looked depressed, would not look at me and smiled only after receiving Christ as her savior. Pat and I had been praying that she had connected with a church family who would show her the love of Christ. We had a Katange and a Maasai blanket for her and our prayer was that we would locate her in the remote area where she lived, where there was no road to her home. We did find her and the reunion was such a blessing, she remembered that I had said that God’s grace would be sufficient and that I was going to call her Grace (Neema, in Swahili) from then on. She was smiling, was happy to see us, and told me (through an interpreter) that she was growing in the Lord. I wept with tears of joy for her, and sadness that Pat was not there to experience it all. Earlier in the day, we had visited the site of one of new churches, where we were met with praise songs and smiling faces. They gave us a tour of the three acres they had purchased for the building. We prayed over the plot and sang praise to the Lord, then went back to the home of Stanley’s dad (where they have been having prayer and worship service) where we ate rice, chicken, goat, and soup to put on the rice. After dark we attended a showing of the Jesus film and rejoiced (with the angels in heaven) at the addition of some new brothers and sisters to the body of Christ. We got back to the location where we had set up our tent, between a church and the pastor’s house, at just about midnight (what a full day). We were served a big meal by the pastor’s wife, and while we were eating we got a text message that Pat had stomach cramps, nausea, hives and that her throat was swelling. She took some benedryl and thought she might have to have our landlord take her to the hospital. When Paul got the message on his phone (Pat had mine) we all agreed to pray for Pat’s healing. You can’t imagine the seven of us seeking the Lord for Pat’s healing. We first sang praise to Him and then prayed for a long time, all at the same time, as is their custom. I have never witnessed such passion as these Tanzanian brothers lifted Pat up to the Lord, in English, Swahili, Maasai and possibly in another tongue. We had no way to hear from Pat after that because both phones were out of minutes and we were outside of Karatu. My night was very emotional as I prayed and cried out for my “beloved” wife.
Wednesday: After an early morning meal at two different homes (their custom is to feed guests, no matter when you are invited into a home) and a short meeting to evaluate the film showing, we headed home to Arusha. About two and a half hours later we got to Paul’s home (another meal) to meet his family, and finally arrived back at our home. I was so happy to see Pat and report all our experiences and see that she was feeling much better. We found out later that two of our prayer warriors in Alabama had experienced hives at about the same time as Pat, we had all been praying and fasting, on Wednesdays, for the ministry during the time that Stanley has been in the U.S. to visit many churches so we knew that it was an attack from the enemy but we know that the power of the Holy Spirit that is in us is more powerful than the power of the enemy. Bwana Asifiwe! (Praise the Lord).
Today, Thursday, is a time for relaxation and thanks giving to our Lord. Our God is Good. Mungu Awa Bariki! (God Bless all of you)
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
BITTERSWEET DAYS!
It has been pretty busy since I last wrote. We have been back to Monduli Juu, to a small church in the mountains at the edge of the Munduli Forest, where we enjoyed the singing and fellowship as well as the scriptures that were used in the message. There were sometimes two interpreters because we speak English and some speak Swahili and some Maasai. I don't think that there is a more colorful group of people on the face of the earth and the mountains are beautiful. We also had the opportunity to visit in the homes of two evangelists from our village. It blesses us so much when people who have very little share all they have with us and treat us as family. Maliaki, one of the evangelists at the Oloirien Lutheran church is bringing his family for lunch at our house this Saturday. Pat finally got her new tooth and we have been able to visit Stanley's (Here's Life Director) family three times since he has been in the US. We also made a quick visit to the boarding school where a young Maasai friend of ours is getting ready for exams next week.
The bitter part of the last few weeks, in addition to the usual attacks from the enemy, took place very close to our home last week. A little boy was killed by a mini-bus that went out of control and ran over him in his yard. He was an only child and an only grandchild. It was hard on our whole neighborhood. We went to the home, along with a few hundred other neighbors, for the funeral and then walked about a mile to the burial site. The line of people was probably a half mile long, all walking to the grave site. We plan to go back to the home tomorrow to offer them the love of Christ the best we can.
The bitter part of the last few weeks, in addition to the usual attacks from the enemy, took place very close to our home last week. A little boy was killed by a mini-bus that went out of control and ran over him in his yard. He was an only child and an only grandchild. It was hard on our whole neighborhood. We went to the home, along with a few hundred other neighbors, for the funeral and then walked about a mile to the burial site. The line of people was probably a half mile long, all walking to the grave site. We plan to go back to the home tomorrow to offer them the love of Christ the best we can.
Our Thanksgiving meal today consisted of Ugali, meat (with sauce made with onion, tomato and bell pepper) and fresh avocado. Sara prepared the lunch and shared it with us and two young friends from our neighborhood.
This Sunday we will go to church with Stanley's family at St. Paul's and be blessed once more by the praise, worship, and fellowship. We may have the opportunity to return to the area of the June medical mission this next week, for a few of days. We will probably be staying in tents so keep us in your prayers. It will just be about three days without a bath, so the blessings will far outweigh the difficulties.
Please keep Stanley Hotay in your prayers. He will be in the US until the middle of December. He has already been a blessing to many churches and individuals. I just had to add to this because one of our last blessings of the day was a phone call from Stanley. It was great to hear his voice from America telling me how good I looked, Ha!
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
MONDULI JUU AND THE MAASAI CHOIR
We had quite a weekend Nov. 3-4. We left Arusha on Saturday, with our Tanzanian "daughter" Sara, headed to Monduli Juu (northwest of Arusha in the mountains) in a Toyota mini van loaded with 22 people packed in very tightly. We got to Monduli, about 50 kilometers from Arusha, rode in another vehicle about 20 minutes to Monduli Juu, and then walked about 45 minutes into the mountains to a Maasai boma where our friend Isiah lives. We had a wonderful day with him and his extended family who live in several houses in the boma. After visiting for a few hours, and enjoying a traditional meal, we walked back to Monduli Juu and rode in the back of a truck to Monduli, then crowded into another mini van and returned to Arusha. What a day! We even got to rejoice with three of Isiah's family members accepting Christ as their savior.
Sunday, Pat's birthday, we met Isiah and the Maasai choir from Monduli Juu at a Lutheran church in our village (Kijenge), where they sang for the morning worship service. After the service we were all treated to a meal of rice, meat and cooked cabbage and carrots. We got to listen to some great worship music and were blessed by all the members of the church. Isiah's younger brother, Lazaro, is staying with us for a few days before returning home. We are really enjoying his company; he is a very dedicated Christian young man, 18 yrs old.
Sunday, Pat's birthday, we met Isiah and the Maasai choir from Monduli Juu at a Lutheran church in our village (Kijenge), where they sang for the morning worship service. After the service we were all treated to a meal of rice, meat and cooked cabbage and carrots. We got to listen to some great worship music and were blessed by all the members of the church. Isiah's younger brother, Lazaro, is staying with us for a few days before returning home. We are really enjoying his company; he is a very dedicated Christian young man, 18 yrs old.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Arusha Update.
(Nov. 1, 2007)
We have been pretty busy since the last of the Americans (Bill and Sally Sandford) left for home on Oct. 22. It seems like more than just a week and a half ago. Sunday, Oct. 21 (the day before Bill and Sally left) BF, Bill, and I were in the Maasai choir at St. Paul's church, what a hoot. Tuesday(Oct. 23) we just stayed home and chilled. During the rest of the week we did our shopping, went to the office to visit with Stanley Hotay about our role in the ministry and discussed his presentation for the meeting in the US. Pat’s dentist appointment turned out to be another bummer, the technician couldn’t get the new crown/bridge off to replace it and broke the crown removal tool, so we have to go back again this week. Pole Sana, TIA, Hakuna matata! One evening, at the banana market, a lady saw Pat’s necklace and asked if she were Maasai, Pat said she was and said some greeting in Maasia. They (several ladies) were impressed and started singing praise in Maasai, before it was all over Pat and I joined in the movement part of the song (trying to get more practice like Sally said I needed). It was quite a deal, all the ladies were having a good time, us too! We had two Maasai students spend the night with us on Friday night, they were on their way home because they graduated . Saturday we met with Stanley, then met with the student we help with fees and took him to lunch. Saturday night we had Munka and his wife (our landlord) over for supper. On Sunday we went to “Field of Salt” church for the second time and I preached on the need for continual self examination in the Christian walk. The brothers and sisters there were a real blessing to us (all 20 of them).
Sunday afternoon we took Neema (Stanley's secretary) out for a birthday dinner, she turned 29 about a week ago. Also on Sunday, Pat made some new friends in our neighborhood and had one of them over for tea yesterday (Mon. Oct. 29) evening. She spoke hardly any English but Sara translated and the conversation turned into a gospel meeting. Bwana Asifiwe! We spent much of the day trying to catct up on e-mails, etc. That takes much longer over here because of power outages and internet problems on an almost daily basis.
We are excited, yet concerned, about Stanley coming to the US. He hasn’t been back to normal since his last issue with malaria and some recent medicine he took for stress lowered his blood pressure to the point he felt bad. I think he feels better now but he is still trying to get everything just right before leaving, which is understandable. We meet with him on both Tue. and yesterday and went with him to the airport last night. His plane was to leave at 9:40(Arusha time) We have been going over things we he wants us to do while he is gone, as well as doing our best to help him be prepared for "life in America". He had asked us to work with Neema, Paul, and Saddok on some organization and editing of his notes and pictures. I hope that our very slight input was not detrimental to the over-all effort. Stanley is so full of ideas and energy, even when he should rest. Our prayer is that our American brothers and sisters will take good care of our brother, Stanley. We got a text message from Stanley this evening, Thur. Nov. 1, that his flight had been canceled and he was in a hotel, probably in Amsterdam. Please keep him in your prayers for the next several weeks, he will be very busy in the US.
Mungu Awa Bariki
John and Pat
We have been pretty busy since the last of the Americans (Bill and Sally Sandford) left for home on Oct. 22. It seems like more than just a week and a half ago. Sunday, Oct. 21 (the day before Bill and Sally left) BF, Bill, and I were in the Maasai choir at St. Paul's church, what a hoot. Tuesday(Oct. 23) we just stayed home and chilled. During the rest of the week we did our shopping, went to the office to visit with Stanley Hotay about our role in the ministry and discussed his presentation for the meeting in the US. Pat’s dentist appointment turned out to be another bummer, the technician couldn’t get the new crown/bridge off to replace it and broke the crown removal tool, so we have to go back again this week. Pole Sana, TIA, Hakuna matata! One evening, at the banana market, a lady saw Pat’s necklace and asked if she were Maasai, Pat said she was and said some greeting in Maasia. They (several ladies) were impressed and started singing praise in Maasai, before it was all over Pat and I joined in the movement part of the song (trying to get more practice like Sally said I needed). It was quite a deal, all the ladies were having a good time, us too! We had two Maasai students spend the night with us on Friday night, they were on their way home because they graduated . Saturday we met with Stanley, then met with the student we help with fees and took him to lunch. Saturday night we had Munka and his wife (our landlord) over for supper. On Sunday we went to “Field of Salt” church for the second time and I preached on the need for continual self examination in the Christian walk. The brothers and sisters there were a real blessing to us (all 20 of them).
Sunday afternoon we took Neema (Stanley's secretary) out for a birthday dinner, she turned 29 about a week ago. Also on Sunday, Pat made some new friends in our neighborhood and had one of them over for tea yesterday (Mon. Oct. 29) evening. She spoke hardly any English but Sara translated and the conversation turned into a gospel meeting. Bwana Asifiwe! We spent much of the day trying to catct up on e-mails, etc. That takes much longer over here because of power outages and internet problems on an almost daily basis.
We are excited, yet concerned, about Stanley coming to the US. He hasn’t been back to normal since his last issue with malaria and some recent medicine he took for stress lowered his blood pressure to the point he felt bad. I think he feels better now but he is still trying to get everything just right before leaving, which is understandable. We meet with him on both Tue. and yesterday and went with him to the airport last night. His plane was to leave at 9:40(Arusha time) We have been going over things we he wants us to do while he is gone, as well as doing our best to help him be prepared for "life in America". He had asked us to work with Neema, Paul, and Saddok on some organization and editing of his notes and pictures. I hope that our very slight input was not detrimental to the over-all effort. Stanley is so full of ideas and energy, even when he should rest. Our prayer is that our American brothers and sisters will take good care of our brother, Stanley. We got a text message from Stanley this evening, Thur. Nov. 1, that his flight had been canceled and he was in a hotel, probably in Amsterdam. Please keep him in your prayers for the next several weeks, he will be very busy in the US.
Mungu Awa Bariki
John and Pat
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
They all left on a jet plane!
The last several weeks have been busy ones. Since returning from Uganda, we have attended a Maasai "send-off" for a bride-to-be, a Secondary School graduation, a yearly staff conference, a two day safari to the Ngorongoro Crater and the Lake Manyara National Park, visited with friends from the USA, had meetings with administrative staff and finally said our good-by to Bill and Sally Sandford from our home church in Decatur, TX.
The "send-off" and the graduation were nothing like we had ever experienced before, full of action and lots of "food". Both of those celebrations were very colorful and lasted for hours and hours.
The yearly staff conference was a great success. Pat and I were privileged to be asked to speak (teach) at the conference, which was attended by "Here's Life" staff, team leaders, associates (and their wives) and several board members and their wives from the USA. After the four day conference we were invited to go and "watch the animals" with some of the Americans, which was a real blessing for us . There were then a few evaluation meetings with staff and board members and finally the ride to the Kilimanjaro airport with the last of the Americans, Bill and Sally. Needless to say, today was a real slow one.
We hope you enjoy the pictures of the events of the last few weeks. We also hope you all got a copy, by e-mail, of our "P & J Tanzanian Mission, Quarterly Report: June - September, 2007. If you didn't get a copy, we apologize and will send you one if you let us know.
Please know that we couldn't make it through the day without your prayers!
Mungu Awa Bariki (God Bless all of you)
The "send-off" and the graduation were nothing like we had ever experienced before, full of action and lots of "food". Both of those celebrations were very colorful and lasted for hours and hours.
The yearly staff conference was a great success. Pat and I were privileged to be asked to speak (teach) at the conference, which was attended by "Here's Life" staff, team leaders, associates (and their wives) and several board members and their wives from the USA. After the four day conference we were invited to go and "watch the animals" with some of the Americans, which was a real blessing for us . There were then a few evaluation meetings with staff and board members and finally the ride to the Kilimanjaro airport with the last of the Americans, Bill and Sally. Needless to say, today was a real slow one.
We hope you enjoy the pictures of the events of the last few weeks. We also hope you all got a copy, by e-mail, of our "P & J Tanzanian Mission, Quarterly Report: June - September, 2007. If you didn't get a copy, we apologize and will send you one if you let us know.
Please know that we couldn't make it through the day without your prayers!
Mungu Awa Bariki (God Bless all of you)
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
UGANDA AND BEYOND!
Our mandatory two week exit from Tanzania to Uganda would have been an insurmountable burden without the prayers and support of many people. We praise God for you. Our journey started in Arusha on the 29th of August when we left on the bus for a 15 hr. trip to Kampala, Uganda. The trip took us through Nairobi, Kenya and around lake Victoria to the heart of Uganda in an amazing “24” hour bus ride over the roughest paved roads in the universe, with potholes the size of a suitcase and a couple of bus breakdowns. Since there was no toilet on the bus, we made a few stops in the 24 hours we were on the bus, for “restroom” breaks, which were on the side of the road with the men going to one end of the bus and the women going to the other, in the bush if there was a bush available. It was quite a shock for non Africans, they (the Africans) seemed to be used to the whole 24 hr “adventure”. We arrived in Kampala and met Faustino Ringe, who had waited for about 7 hours, with the people at the bus station telling him about every 30 minutes, “Oh, it should be here any time now.” We had to stay two nights in Kampala because of problems with the ministry team truck and finally headed for Paidha, Uganda, which is only about a mile or so from the border of Congo. The roads got worse because the potholes were more numerous and some of the roads were not paved, which is not always a disadvantage because the potholes are more rounded if the roads are not paved. But, there is also the rain on the dirt roads, which makes for even more excitement. On the road to Paidha, we saw several refugee camps that still had people living in them several years after the wars in Uganda and a saw the leftovers of the reign of Idi Amin, one of the worst dictators in the history of the world, who almost devastated his country. The area around Paidha is beautiful, it is in the mountains and you can easily see the border between Uganda and Congo. We also met Faustino’s wife, Florence, and his associate team leader and his wife, Francis and Mary.
After a night’s rest we loaded up and headed for Yei, Sudan, which was the site for the quarterly meeting with the teams from Uganda, Congo and Sudan. It seemed that every time we made a trip it ended up being a more challenging adventure than the one before it. The trip from Paidha to Yei would have taken about 3 hours at the most, it took us about 11 hours of one new experience after another. We experienced (on all dirt roads) a bus hanging off the edge of a bridge, trucks overturned, many long lines of trucks and other vehicles stuck in the mud and several detours. By the time we got to Yei, we had crossed part of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and part of Sudan and had to go through customs and get visas in each of those countries. (Because of our travels have had to purchase visas twice in Kenya, three times in Uganda, once in Sudan and once in Tanzania, to get back to our “home’ in Arusha.)
The Sudan visit was a real blessing for us, as well as an eye opener as to the difference in prices and standard of living in places just a hundred miles apart. The prices in Sudan, for food and petroleum products, were higher than anywhere we have been. Even bottled water was twice the cost ( U.S. dollars) that it was in Uganda. We stayed in Sudan for three days, got stuck for several hours trying to get to a Jesus film showing, had to do without running water, had no electricity at times and ate all the local foods including several types of ugali, chapati (like a tortilla),many kinds of bananas (some cooked) and boiled fish that is still looking at you as you eat it. We were blessed to meet Wilson and John, the team leader and associate, in Yei and found them to be very dedicated men with a real heart for the souls of the Sudan people. They face many hardships on a daily basis. We were honored to be able to take part in the quarterly meeting of the Congo, Uganda and Sudan film teams under the supervision of Faustino Ringe.
Our return trip to Paidha, Uganda was about the same as the earlier trip. After a night of rest at the hotel in Paidha, with no running water and electricity some of the time (our home for the next several days), we took several trips toward the Congo to show the Jesus film in small villages. We saw many people with very tattered clothes, no shoes and a joy in the Lord that was very refreshing. Many of the people, in the area within a mile of Congo, who looked terribly impoverished, were very industrious and had gardens, banana trees, cassava, jackfruit trees, pineapple plants, different kinds of greens, and other food items. One gentleman asked me to take his picture with his hoe so it would "look like I'm working". Their homes were very small with thatched roofs, dirt floors and no windows. They were all anxious to meet the mzungu (white) people. Some of the young children were frightened by our white skin, other children wanted to bow, shake hands or just touch us (we still have a great joy in thinking back on that area and the people who blessed us with food and fellowship in the Lord). We were able to witness many people receiving Jesus as their Lord and Savior as a result of the film and the gospel being taught by the Here’s Life teams. While in Paidha, we attended church with Faustino and his wife Florence (who, by the way is a great cook and gracious host) for a great praise, worship and teaching service. The monthly meeting of the Congo, Uganda, and Sudan team leaders, associates, volunteers and their wives was held in Paidha while we were there. Pat and I (she taught the women and I taught the men) were asked to teach a 1 ½ hour session specifically for men and women. We were honored and blessed by the response and the dialogue which followed the teaching.
Our next adventure was the several day trip back to Kampala to catch the bus for the return trip to Arusha, Tanzania. We left Paidha, headed for Gulu, in two vehicles (eight of us) to have film showings and visit the site for a conference to establish a new Here’s Life team in Lira. By the time we got to Gulu, we had abandoned one vehicle (we had to push it about a mile to leave it at a church) and loaded all the film show equipment on the other vehicle and all of us had to squeeze in for the remainder of the several hour trip to Gulu. We had two nights of film showings (praise, aids film and Jesus film) and had follow up lessons during the days. I was privileged to be able to teach some of the follow up on security, relationship and fellowship in Christ. We were also blessed to be served local food at the pastor’s home each day. From Gulu, it was on to Lira for a one night stay to check out the location for a conference, in October, where local pastors and volunteers will be trained in preparation for a Here’s Life team being planted in the area.
The nineteen day adventure ended almost the same way it started, with a 21 (a bit quicker this time) hour trip from Kampala to Arusha. The excitement started even before we got to Kampala from Lira. About 20 miles from Kampala the truck died and we found that the diesel fuel filter had fallen off and the threads were stripped. We finally used a piece of tubing from the radiator for a bypass of the filter and made it to our destination. The Kampala to Arusha trip was during the night for a long part of the trip, just like going the other direction. You haven’t lived until you have ridden a speeding bus over naroow winding roads, filled with potholes, partially through the mountains, at night, in the rain. I guarantee it will keep the adrenalin going and you will spend much of your time in prayer. Remember, the bus driver goes nonstop for 21-24 hours over very challenging road conditions.
Finally, we arrived back in Arusha. We had a lifetime of excitement, blessings, frustrations, and close calls in a very short period of time. Our God it to be praised, His mercies are, indeed, new every morning!
We never cease to be amazed at how God is working in the hearts of the believers in Africa. All of the Here's Life Mission to Africa team leaders, associates and volunteers have an unmatched enthusiasm and desire to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Their love for lost souls takes them to the enemy's camp almost every day. The new believers accept their new life in Christ with a joy that is readily seen in their lives. As you pray for the lost people of the world, please remember that you are just as much a part of His plan to reach the lost as we are. God works through each of us in His way and in his timing.
After a night’s rest we loaded up and headed for Yei, Sudan, which was the site for the quarterly meeting with the teams from Uganda, Congo and Sudan. It seemed that every time we made a trip it ended up being a more challenging adventure than the one before it. The trip from Paidha to Yei would have taken about 3 hours at the most, it took us about 11 hours of one new experience after another. We experienced (on all dirt roads) a bus hanging off the edge of a bridge, trucks overturned, many long lines of trucks and other vehicles stuck in the mud and several detours. By the time we got to Yei, we had crossed part of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and part of Sudan and had to go through customs and get visas in each of those countries. (Because of our travels have had to purchase visas twice in Kenya, three times in Uganda, once in Sudan and once in Tanzania, to get back to our “home’ in Arusha.)
The Sudan visit was a real blessing for us, as well as an eye opener as to the difference in prices and standard of living in places just a hundred miles apart. The prices in Sudan, for food and petroleum products, were higher than anywhere we have been. Even bottled water was twice the cost ( U.S. dollars) that it was in Uganda. We stayed in Sudan for three days, got stuck for several hours trying to get to a Jesus film showing, had to do without running water, had no electricity at times and ate all the local foods including several types of ugali, chapati (like a tortilla),many kinds of bananas (some cooked) and boiled fish that is still looking at you as you eat it. We were blessed to meet Wilson and John, the team leader and associate, in Yei and found them to be very dedicated men with a real heart for the souls of the Sudan people. They face many hardships on a daily basis. We were honored to be able to take part in the quarterly meeting of the Congo, Uganda and Sudan film teams under the supervision of Faustino Ringe.
Our return trip to Paidha, Uganda was about the same as the earlier trip. After a night of rest at the hotel in Paidha, with no running water and electricity some of the time (our home for the next several days), we took several trips toward the Congo to show the Jesus film in small villages. We saw many people with very tattered clothes, no shoes and a joy in the Lord that was very refreshing. Many of the people, in the area within a mile of Congo, who looked terribly impoverished, were very industrious and had gardens, banana trees, cassava, jackfruit trees, pineapple plants, different kinds of greens, and other food items. One gentleman asked me to take his picture with his hoe so it would "look like I'm working". Their homes were very small with thatched roofs, dirt floors and no windows. They were all anxious to meet the mzungu (white) people. Some of the young children were frightened by our white skin, other children wanted to bow, shake hands or just touch us (we still have a great joy in thinking back on that area and the people who blessed us with food and fellowship in the Lord). We were able to witness many people receiving Jesus as their Lord and Savior as a result of the film and the gospel being taught by the Here’s Life teams. While in Paidha, we attended church with Faustino and his wife Florence (who, by the way is a great cook and gracious host) for a great praise, worship and teaching service. The monthly meeting of the Congo, Uganda, and Sudan team leaders, associates, volunteers and their wives was held in Paidha while we were there. Pat and I (she taught the women and I taught the men) were asked to teach a 1 ½ hour session specifically for men and women. We were honored and blessed by the response and the dialogue which followed the teaching.
Our next adventure was the several day trip back to Kampala to catch the bus for the return trip to Arusha, Tanzania. We left Paidha, headed for Gulu, in two vehicles (eight of us) to have film showings and visit the site for a conference to establish a new Here’s Life team in Lira. By the time we got to Gulu, we had abandoned one vehicle (we had to push it about a mile to leave it at a church) and loaded all the film show equipment on the other vehicle and all of us had to squeeze in for the remainder of the several hour trip to Gulu. We had two nights of film showings (praise, aids film and Jesus film) and had follow up lessons during the days. I was privileged to be able to teach some of the follow up on security, relationship and fellowship in Christ. We were also blessed to be served local food at the pastor’s home each day. From Gulu, it was on to Lira for a one night stay to check out the location for a conference, in October, where local pastors and volunteers will be trained in preparation for a Here’s Life team being planted in the area.
The nineteen day adventure ended almost the same way it started, with a 21 (a bit quicker this time) hour trip from Kampala to Arusha. The excitement started even before we got to Kampala from Lira. About 20 miles from Kampala the truck died and we found that the diesel fuel filter had fallen off and the threads were stripped. We finally used a piece of tubing from the radiator for a bypass of the filter and made it to our destination. The Kampala to Arusha trip was during the night for a long part of the trip, just like going the other direction. You haven’t lived until you have ridden a speeding bus over naroow winding roads, filled with potholes, partially through the mountains, at night, in the rain. I guarantee it will keep the adrenalin going and you will spend much of your time in prayer. Remember, the bus driver goes nonstop for 21-24 hours over very challenging road conditions.
Finally, we arrived back in Arusha. We had a lifetime of excitement, blessings, frustrations, and close calls in a very short period of time. Our God it to be praised, His mercies are, indeed, new every morning!
We never cease to be amazed at how God is working in the hearts of the believers in Africa. All of the Here's Life Mission to Africa team leaders, associates and volunteers have an unmatched enthusiasm and desire to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Their love for lost souls takes them to the enemy's camp almost every day. The new believers accept their new life in Christ with a joy that is readily seen in their lives. As you pray for the lost people of the world, please remember that you are just as much a part of His plan to reach the lost as we are. God works through each of us in His way and in his timing.
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