So, while we were in Bashanet, we had the nicest home in town! We were so blessed by Father John, as he graciously hosted us in his home. The rooms were wonderfully comfortable, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting.
Of course, you remember that we love plants and gardening. So, of course, we walked around Father John’s house, admiring the carefully planted garden in the front yard. But,. . .we saw a strange plant that none of us can identify.
Do you have any idea what this plant may be??
Father John is a wonderful testimony of the growing unity among church leaders from many denominations. Denominational segregation is common here, as it is all over the world. However, when we explain that we will not bring any particular denomination’s doctrine, it often causes them to be just a bit curious. . .though perhaps still somewhat suspicious.
The testimony of their experience becomes evident when many come later to greet us with an open heart. . .just as Father John expressed his enthusiastic affirmation for the ministry of AIM. He loved how vibrant and Biblically-sound the teaching materials were. He agreed that when when denominationally controversial doctrines are emphasized, then we will undoubtedly cause segregation; but when we teach strictly the Bible as our authority, THEN we can all stand in agreement, in unity. All pastors throughout the room we were of one heart. . .with the Word of God, not the “bent” of a particular denomination, as the center of our message and our ministries. As brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, we have the joyous privilege to learn and grow together, and to care for one another. As Father John said, "Truly the Holy Spirit is at work here."
Young women tirelessly prepared lunch each day for us and about 120 pastors and church leaders. Each day, a small wagon (pictured here) arrived with water barrels to facilitate the cooking, hand-washing, and dishwashing. The building, on the left emiting smoke, is the cooking “kitchen,” and the large pile of wood that has been collected sits ready as fuel for the open fires upon which the food is cooked. No chimney for the kitchen house means the smoke must find its way out through small spaces just below the roofline.
These amazing women produced cooked beef and goat in a broth, rice (2 varieties: plain white and broth- flavored), beans, cooked greens, and roasted potatos. . .with bananas and oranges for dessert. Yes, we eat right alongside the participants. And surprisingly, right on time for our mid-afternoon breaks they brought freshly brewed tea for refreshment for our training team. There was a tremendous amount of work in very primitive conditions performed by these quiet servants of the Lord.
The pastors showed intense interest as Bob provided instructions on use and capability of each of these devices.
Carefuly laying down Biblical foundations, our training team led the pastors present into the process of development into mature disciple-makers, thereby enabling them to bring transformation to their homes, churches and communities by the power of the Spirit of God at work in them.
What a joy it is for us to work with these devoted church leaders. Men and women, side-by-side, in honor and respect for each other. We have seen a steady increase in the percentage of women in attendance at our conferences. It is a true joy for us to witness their hunger and open hearts as they listen and show visible and enthusiastic responses.
AIM’s teaching on FRUITFULNESS was very well received. We had, perhaps, our youngest ever attendee--this lovely pastor (“Mama Mchungaji” or Pastor Mama) brought her little baby along and did not miss a single session of the training. She followed the notes and scriptures with rapt attention and deep respect.
As we led church leaders through Jesus teaching regarding principles of the Vine and Branches and the Parable of the Sower, they could see how God is at work in their lives and churches. They recognized how our heavenly Vinedresser is faithfully pruning and shaping us so that we will bear abundant fruit. . .fruit that will remain. Times of deep prayer, reflection and repentance were powerfully rich as they aligned their hearts with the will of the Father so that with one heart we can see His Kingdom come and His will done on the earth as it is in heaven.
The music was already beginning and the choir was leading worship and praise for the pastors who had come from all over the valley to be present for the teaching conference. Our good friend Tlanka (pronounced “Danka”) immediately came over to our car to assist in gathering our printed materials for distribution to the pastors.
We were delighted with the music of this well-practiced choir who added some coordinated dance to their repertoire, emphasizing the message in song. This church even had access to a generator which powered a keyboard to accompany this group. They blessed us and the conference participants with their very best.
This is the day we had been working toward since our arrival in Tanzania. Because of some delays (see previous post), we had to make the lengthy drive early on the morning of conference. As we entered the Dareda Valley again, we followed the line of the cliffs, looking for a road that would get us up and over them. (Bayo had left the day before, so. . .we were kind of on our own!) Finally finding the “pass,” we traversed the winding road to the village of Bashinet, at the top of the cliffs.
We were on our way to conference! The pastors were waiting and eager by the time we arrived!
As we pulled into a dirt lot, we saw the impressive Lutheran church building where we would have our conference. Pastors had already arrived, but now were hurrying into the uncharacteristically (and amazingly) “modern” church.
Plans are being made. Lots of work, lots of studying, lots of conversations and brain-storming, because. . .
Next week, we plan to travel to Bashinet for a training conference for pastors from many denominations. They have banded together and resolved to build unity in the Manyara region, and it has been working!
They have all been praying for the rains to come, from which their crops and grasses will grow, ensuring an extra harvest. Indeed, the rains have begun, but they are what Bayo refers to as "warning rains"--warning people to make sure their fields have been prepared and planted. He reports, however, that there have been years in which they receive the warning rains, but the true rainy season doesn't come. That causes huge devastation. So, please continue to pray.
We will also be praying for the “rain of the Spirit” to do a work in their hearts and prepare them for the upcoming harvest! Pray with us that the Lord of the Harvest will send out strong, resolute and equipped harvesters into His harvest field, so that the harvest will be truly great--homes, communities, and eventually the entire nation will be positively affected by the wondrous Gospel of Jesus Christ
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Freshly washed from a spring rain... our ministry car. This little Suzuki Escudo (the equivalent of an American Suzuki Side-kick) has taken us over rough roads and mud pits to faithfully deliver us to town for supplies as well as out to the bush for pastors conferences. We thank God for this car, without which ministry would be impossible; and we pray that it will continue to be relatively problem-free as we plan more conferences in areas beyond where we have yet traveled.
(Ok, so. . .truth be told, it's in "the shop" right now, getting the air-conditioner fixed before our trip out to the bush next week. But, otherwise, it's been good to us.)
We struggled for a few days with water problems, as we turned on the water spigot in the house, and only a few trickles came out. Bob recognized it was not a water shortage for our 3-house compound when he climbed up to the water tank and found it full. *sigh*
The other 2 houses within our walls had water. . .so we knew something was wrong in this house’s water line. Thus, Bob got to use a car battery and the 12-volt water pump that he brought with us back in 2006 to pump water from the main tank into the house tank. Sure, it is only a temporary solution until a fundi (fix-it man) can come and help us in a few days, but at least we have water in the meantime!
So we congratulate Bob, our own creative repairman, who came up with a temporary way to overcome. The tank is filled, for the time being, and we can wash some dishes, take baths, and wash the floors. Thank you, Bob!
It’s not just the flowers that catch our eye these days. An abundance of beautiful and melodious birds have been drawn to our yard by the quiet and peaceful grounds, the pretty flowers, a plate of breadcrumbs we put out, and. . . the newly-hatched flying termites! Gross!!
These gorgeous birds serenade us with calls and melodies, when they aren’t dipping and swerving to catch the termite lunch.
Even weaverbirds and thrush congregate here, joined by the bulbul with its beautiful songs. We got out our African Birds book, and we have been trying to identify them, with some success.
A favorite street on our travels into town is what we call Jacaranda Lane. I have no idea if there really is a name for this street, but it does describe the beautiful purple flowers on the trees that come out in Tanzanian spring. When they begin to fall from the trees, a beautiful purple carpet blankets the road.
Lining the sides of this road , however, are vendors selling plants of every color, shape, and texture. They find any available space along the road, and grow plants in old grocery bags.
Since you understand that we are plant-lovers, I am sure you can see why this is one of our favorite places to drive. Unfortunately, Susan nearly always finds something new she wants to add to our gardens. (Ha-ha!)
Thought you might be interested in seeing a bit or our road. A ditch on the one side of the road acts both as a drainage run-off during the rains and, unfortunately, a dumping ground for unwanted items.
Children spend a lot of time just “hanging out” with friends.
Thorn bushes line the side of our “street” (a clear indication that it is the fence around someone’s property). Metal sheet roofing atop cement block homes dot our neighborhood, as well.
Now, most people in this culture walk everywhere; however, occassionally someone has the privilege of owning a bicycle. Bike owners are not usually children. Adults are the ones who can afford a bike, and adults are (hopefully) the ones responsible enough to ride them.
Just yesterday, we saw a man riding a bike with apparently no brake system. He was in an almost freefall down the road, with the sole of his shoe against the front tire, attempting to slow down. "Careening," I believe is an adequate word.
The road repairs are such an improvement in this area! You may recall photos a year ago of the steep drop offs and pothole-pocked roads that were such a challenge. But behold!--Drainage culverts, road-burms and new pavement! What progress!
All these things are common sights in Arusha these days. Carts are pushed everywhere, heavy-laden with anything from lumber or sugar cane to pots and pans. Mamas carry unusually large loads on their heads, goods for the market or purchases to be transported home again.
But here is a sight we don’t see very often: they are painting the walkways on street! These city workers put up simple barriers (sand bags, paint buckets, or rocks) so that they can hand-paint new lines on the road. I guess, the guy who can paint a straight line gets the job.
We got one of our Tanzanian friends James to help us in our yard, too. After having been away from our headquarters for awhile, there was a lot of catch-up work to be done on the grounds: cleaning, pruning, fertilizing, etc.
James originally worked as our night guard a few years ago. We would wake in the morning to the sound of the hedge clippers or pruning shears, and we quickly came to understand that what he really loved was plants. So he began making a little extra money helping us with our yard.
When we had to leave Tanzania for an extended period of time, James became the full-time gardener to our missionary friends. (We were able to hire him for one day this Saturday, to help us get this yard back under control.)
James is such a great Christian brother. He is a joyful worker who is so pleasant to have around.
Of course we take breaks from our writing and translating to enjoy the lovliness of the Tanzanian land. Susan loves to go outside and get her hands in the dirt. We enjoy beautifying the flowerbeds and bringing in varieties of colorful flowering plants that are abundant in this part of the world.
The fragrance is wonderful, so we put this one near our clothes line where we spend a lot of time on laundry days (ugh!).
People have wondered a bit about what we live like, what our office is like. This is the ministry’s headquarters in Tanzania. No mud hut! We do have a very odd tree in the front that grows in distinct, gangly layers. We call it the “Dr Suess tree.”
One of our most important areas is the kitchen. This area holds a refrigerator and stove, as well as a small table for food prep. A sink and a few shelves for dishes are in a small, adjoining room, and the pantry is yet adjoining that.
Maintaining health is an important part of our work here so that we have the strength & stamina to do what is before us every day. This is an area where we have to be very intentional since there are so many challenges to personal health in this part of the world. There are no fast-food options, and a limited number of restaurants where we can safely eat and even fewer that can ensure gluten-free, dairy-free options for Bob’s dietary restrictions. This results in our personal responsibility to plan and prepare meals that will build our strength and immune systems.
We have been to the Blue Heron Restaurant in Arusha many times. On some days, they prepare something that they call “Health Drink.” So, we decided to try it at home. . . sweet passion fruit (in the picture. Don’t look closely--I had been in the rain.), carrots, cucumber, and one beet. Believe it or not, it's very tasty and refreshing! Definitely a pick-me-up.
Looking around the countryside, you begin to see people out in the fields, preparing for the short springtime rains. Indeed, there have been hints of the returning rains: a cool breeze and nighttime sprinkles that clear the dust out of the air (though barely moistening the parched dirt).
Even Sofia reports that she and Elibariki will wait to see if the rains come. If the “short rains” begin, they will immediately plant their maize and try for a second harvest this year. However, if the rains do not come, they will not waste the precious seed. They will then wait until next March and the “long rains” before planting a crop.
We have returned to Tanzania at this agriculturally-opportune season, and have begun preparing the material for our next pastors conference. The topic: FRUITFULNESS.
We will discuss spiritual topics related to the preparation of the soil (fallow ground),
the four soils (Matthew 13), the vine and branches, pruning vs. discipline, the harvest, and the rewards of the harvest.
Such concepts will be rather familiar to the very agriculturally-minded Iraqw people. It is our prayer that they will receive spiritual understanding and insight, increasing the fruitfulness of their lives, their churches, and their communities.
Looking out over Lake Duluti, there is a dry, brown hue. However, the beautiful purple jacaranda blossoms bring glorious color. As we walked the garden grounds, we noticed that we were being watched. . .by a local monkey. Perhaps he was curious, or perhaps he was interested in our coffee.
On our way back to Arusha, we stopped for a coffee at the beautiful Mountain View Lodge, where tourists go when they come to Tanzania for safari. We sat for coffee out on the beautifully manicured lawn surrounded by incredible gardens. It was a surprising contrast,….going from the simplicity of the common African home to the posh luxury of a resort.
The banana plants are blooming right now. The petals of the flower unfold one layer at a time exposing little flowers beneath. Those flowers get pollinated and voila! Bananas begin to grow in rows and then in bunches.
Elijah is now 3 months old. Don’t let the pink clothing fool you; he is a happy and healthy little boy. As Bob held him, Sofia giggled and rejoiced that “Babu Bob” (Grandpa Bob) was finally able to see the baby.
According to Sophia’s report, she and little Elijah had many challenges during her pregnancy. When she was only 3 months pregnant, she began bleeding. Doctors examined her that told her that her baby was dead. They scheduled her for medical procedures to clean her out.
But God talked to Elibariki three times, instructing him to fast and pray. God infused Sofia with a great level of faith, and she said “No, my baby lives!”
Throughout her pregnancy and labor there were complications. But, now he is here! They both know that Elijah is a bit of a miracle “by the grace of God.” This little guy is recognized to be a true blessing from God.
2.5 Kilograms (5½ pounds)
He is a happy little guy who loves to sing already!
As they began to go through the presents, their eyes beamed. Even Elibariki’s young sister came over to check out the new things! We asked Sofia if she already had many things for little Elijah. She said no. Even used baby things are very expensive at the market, beginning at 2000 Tanzanian shillings per piece. (That’s about $1.30 US, but I guess when you figure that the average Tanzanian makes only a dollar a day, we can see the problem.)
Everything we brought was extremely well received. Sofia was most grateful for the clothes and the diapers. She said, “Now I won’t have to go to the market for a long time!”
Of course, she had never seen a pacifier before. They don’t have such things here. When Susan explained its use, Sofia’s eyes lit up. She was relieved to know that, from time to time, she may have a bit of a break.
Believe it or not, Elibariki’s favorite is the pairs of shoes! Even though these shoes will not fit properly for about a year, he laughed openly with excitement and placed the oversized shoes on Elijah’s feet, and stood him up on them!
Elibariki is one proud Papa! He has tender love for his son, even carrying him around, changing him, and playing with him (not at all typical here.)
We had learned about Elijah, when Sofia texted us in mid-June with the grand announcement. Because we know and understand their financial situation, we wanted to bring some gifts to congratulate them. We purchased a few things before leaving the States. But, thanks to a wonderfully generous friend at LifeQuest Church in Holland, Michigan, we were able to bring a large box of baby clothes and diapers for the next full year!
(Thank you, Amanda! Your gifts and generosity made a huge difference.)
Sophia was so happy she cried with delight.
We drove to Tengeru on Saturday to see our former office worker, Sofia. You may recall that she began working in our office in 2006, helping maintain our database of pastors. I’m sure you can imagine that it’s a bit difficult to keep addresses and phone numbers in a culture where many live in mud huts in the middle of nowhere!
Sofia is a delight. Her smiling face brings light to a room. She has become a close friend to us.
Last year when we arrived in Arusha, we learned that she had recently been married. She was happily in her new home (pictured above. . .and yes, that is the entire house--a small cement block bedroom and sitting room only, with a kitchen and make-shift toilet enclosure outside). She is so happy, and she and her husband Elibariki are so grateful to God, and in love with each other.
In their home and surrounding yard, they are raising chickens--now up to 8 large chickens and 24 baby chicks. This provides them with both food and a potential little income. Additionally, they have used their yard as a small maize-field. Sofia says they have 2 feedsacks of maize from their crop last year.
When Sophia heard we were coming she wanted to honor us as special guests, so she actually went out and killed one of her chickens and cooked it along with roasted banana for us to eat. She was so excited to have company!
Elibariki is a good and kind man. We came to know him also in 2006, as he worked for friends as a construction worker. He has now learned the skills to be a mason, working well with concrete, brick, and plaster. As you can see, they have a new addition to their family! They are both so happy and excited about this new baby boy, Elijah (pronounced ee-LEE-yah).
Saturday is Tengeru’s market day, and you could begin to sense the chaos when entering the village. People from miles around come to buy and sell almost anything--animals, produce, clothes, spices, etc.
Vendors bring their wares and display them across the ground on blankets or mats.
