Brothers & Sisters around the world

At the end of the conference, Becky had the privilege of addressing the Unity Committee of the Dareda Valley Region. She explained to them that there have been people on the other side of the world who have been praying for them, not just during this conference, but also for several months in preparation for this conference. The entire group was very surprised and touched that brothers and sisters in Christ would love them and commit to praying for them.

Becky then presented the Chairman of the Unity Committee with a “zawadi” (Swahili for “gift”) from the Sunday Night Prayer and Bible Study Group of Ionia, Michigan. As he unfurled the banner, the crowd and other committee members clapped and praised the Lord. They came to understand that the passage written on the banner was John 3:16. And though it was not in their “mother tongue” language, they seemed quite happy and satisfied to have that very familiar passage in OUR language.

They felt very loved and cared for, and they agreed that this banner should accompany the Unity Committee at all future AIM conferences, both as a reminder of the love and care of their “distant brothers and sisters” but also as a reminder of the love of the Father Who sent His Son for our salvation. Praise God!

Becky's impressions

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.” (2 Chronicles 7:14-15)

Becky’s impressions: “When God's people earnestly seek Him - the Spirit of God fills the room. What you can't see in the picture of this room is the 90+ pastors crying out to God, seeking God for forgiveness and restoration. . . . Those pastors touched God's heart that day, and I am waiting with excitement and anticipation to hear what happens next in that area. God is up to something good!”

How honored Becky felt to be able to share and pray with God's people. She sat ouside during one of the break times, praying with a woman who suffers from an ailment that causes her temporary blindness from time to time. The episodes have been getting stronger and more frequent; however, they do not stop her from sharing the love of God with those around her. As she shared her story, Becky’s heart tore in half. This woman’s pastor also talked with Bob about her circumstances, and together they were able to pray safety and healing into her life.

As we left the conference, the woman (named “Alyca”) asked us to continue to keep her in our prayers. Please join us in prayer for this wonderful evangelist from the city of Mbulu. God has plans for her, and she is willing.

Val has been one of our strong intercessors before and during the conferences. At times, the speakers could even see her walking around the church or pausing to pray outside in the shade of an acacia tree. AIM was, in fact, blessed to have the team of 3 intercessors for the second conference in Katesh.

Having heard for hours about God’s covenant love and faithfulness toward them, these pastors and leaders had tears streaming down their faces during prayer times. The beauty of this fervent prayer must touch God’s heart. It most certainly touched ours.

Val had the wonderful privilege of addressing the pastors as well, and with the help of our translator Bayo, she demonstrated how close and personal God desires for us to be in relationship with his people.

*Special note: The pastor pictured in the bottom left of this picture (in the thinking position, barely visible) is the leader of the church in which we spoke. This is particularly notable because he is a member of the Barabaig tribe, a tribe who as of yet are awaiting a translation of the Bible into their language. They currently have only the gospel of Mark in their native tongue. Please pray!

Praise and Worship. . .Tanzanian style

One of our participants in the Katesh conference was this lovely and vibrant woman, Mary, a teacher in the Catholic church. Gifted by the Holy Spirit as a teacher, she was so excited about learning about the Covenant that she faithfully attended every session, studiously taking notes and following along in the training material and in her Bible, even repeatedly volunteering to stand and read a passage to the group. (This is a bit of a contrast to many of the pastors with limited education)

We encouraged her to come forward and lead the praise and worship time near the close of the conference. With a little coaxing, she shyly came forward to comply with our request, but that shyness diminished quickly with the songs of praise, and was finally flung aside with abandon in the worship as the pastors enthusiastically proclaimed the greatness of our Covenant God! There is no lack of passion when these Tanzanian ministry leaders sing and praise!

The AIM team is always blessed in our times of singing with them because they are a people with real depth of heart. They sing, harmonize, sing in rounds, raise their hands, clap, sway, dance and sometimes stomp their feet. African praise time can be an aerobic experience! Mary was not just vibrant in the music time; she also left us with the passionate promise that she was going to begin teaching the materials in her church at her first opportunity. . .only 3 days away!

Teaching and a Special Gift

The rural pastors listened intently to Bob’s insights regarding God’s covenant promises, a teaching insufficiently taught in the US and in East Africa. Several commented that this teaching series was of such value for understanding the foundation of our faith!

It was exciting to watch the translators being impacted by the Word even as they were translating. At times, they had to make difficult choices between wanting to write down what they just heard (so that they could retain it in full) OR actually translating the words as they heard them. We encouraged Polycarp to just translate in full, and then made sure he had the complete notes when the conference was over.

We want to give a special note of thanks to Polycarp for assisting us with translation for this conference. as well as to Steve McFarland (Key Connection Ministries - Arusha, Tanzania) for "lending" us his great employee for 3 days. Polycarp was a huge asset to us. We couldn't have done it all without him.

In addition to the valuable teachings, this pastor (and the many others in attendance) received a special gift: a copy of the recently released Ki-Swahili version of An International Minister’s Manual, by Jim and Carolyn Murphy, which you can see next to his Bible and training material. The late Jim Murphy had begun the translation process of this book over five years ago. Now, having been translated, formed, and shaped by many hands, including our own, it is finally being distributed by our ministry for the first time! We have had a significant work investment in this book, and we are delighted that this important volume is now available in the Tanzanian pastors’ native language. Hundredfold provided this book as a free gift to these servants of God, and they were thrilled!

Feel free to read a chapter online at http://www.hundredfold.org/MinMan/mmtoc.htm

Lunch time!

Lunch and sodas for 100+ conference attendees arrives in a over-sized wheelbarrow that the locals call “kokoteni” carts. We joined the pastors for each of the 4 days of lunches, eating the very Traditional Tanzanian meal of rice, beans, and mchicha (greens).

We are thankful that it is a meal we all enjoy. . .because we ate this same meal for 4 lunches and 4 dinners while we were in Katesh. Food is food in Tanzania and variety is not a necessity on the menu. Upon leaving Katesh, we all decided to leave rice and beans out of our diet for perhaps at least a week.

Mmmm. Looks good, huh?

Karen's impressions

AIM was so privileged to welcome Karen to join us for 3 weeks. Her gifts as a teacher and an intercessor proved to be quite valuable. Both the AIM team and the pastors benefitted from her presence and involvement.

“As we [Karen and Val] led the pastors into a time of repentance, their close attention and openness, and their unity as a group in prayer were striking. God was molding the Body of Christ! I found it humbling to see His hand at work in so much power and beauty.” --Karen

The African women pastors in Katesh listened intently and prayed deeply. One "Mama Mchungaji" (Mama Pastor), who is pictured here in the back, was so excited about the teachings. She assured us she would begin to share the new teaching “right away this Sunday" - two days away. Her enthusiasm was contagious.

Sugar cane harvest time

October also sees the harvesting of sugar cane. Truckloads of stalks are being loaded to leave the area, but not all the cane departs on trucks.

Not sure what this man is going to do with his few canes. We have heard that some locals even make alcohol from fermenting cane.

Covenant with God teachings

We had a great conference in Katesh. Most of the attending pastors were new to our ministry, since this location moved a bit beyond the edge of the Dareda valley and expanded the territory a bit. You can see the eagerness in their eyes as they received the teaching and came to understand the concepts of Covenant with God.

They were so responsive! As they received a “new” perspective on the “old” story of David and Goliath, their enthusiasm was obvious. It has truly been a blessing to see them so hungry for this teaching and so eager to participate.

We put them to work a little bit, taking notes and filling out some information on their own sheets. While it was a challenge to some (not common in this culture), they worked hard at it. We were even asked to pause a few times, to allow pastors to “catch up,” not necessarily because they were so slow, but because they were writing down everything and didn’t want to miss even one concept! They were very thankful that we were able to provide them with such a thorough material packet, which they intended to take home and teach to their congregations. This was very much an equipping experience, and this conference really hit the mark! We are so thankful to the Holy Spirit for "leading them into all truth" and for helping to drive these truths home for all of us--teachers and "students" alike.

Susan really enjoyed working with our friend Polycarp. He stepped in to assist Bayo in the translating work and was very well received by this group of pastors. They loved the stories that Susan wove for them. As she shared insights from the Lord, at times Polycarp would exclaim “AHH!” (momentarily forgetting that he was supposed to be translating, and getting enveloped in the gripping teachings). He would pause slightly, quickly writing down his own notes before making the translations of what she had just said. He, too, was hanging on every word and eager to soak it all in. What wonderful gifts God gave us in Bayo and Polycarp. They each have influence among many pastors, and their passion for God and for the people of God are such an encouragement to all of us.

Dry season

The soil in this part of East Africa is surprisingly fertile, and as part of the preparations for the coming rains, many of the fields have been tilled (by hand or by ox and plough) and now await the soaking moisture.

This dry time is, however, not void of beautiful scenes. Lacy purple jacaranda trees dot the hillside, but will be gone soon after the rains begin.