Tanzanian Outreaches

Last week, while training students at a Christian University not too far from where I live, I spend a few minutes with two male students who were trained earlier this year to teach the VOICE module on Honesty. Both of them are from Tanzania and as their internship they chose to teach the module to those in their circles “back home.” They told me that about 1/3 of the population as a nation are Muslim with many of them in the capital city, Dar es Salaam. According to the internet, another third are “Christians” and the final third are quite a variety of other indigenous religions. Swahili is the main language spoken pretty well throughout the country.

 

The younger man chose an organization that works with vulnerable children in his home city which happens to be Dar es Salaam. I didn’t get how many children he was teaching but he mentioned that only two of them were Christians. He was asked to teach in Swahili (of course) and not to use the Bible which he agreed to. He (actually both of them) opted to sing the two songs, one of which is a Bible verse, in English rather than translating them, so the children were singing God’s Word but in English. He reported that the children absolutely loved the lessons and eagerly participated. But, unfortunately following his third lesson, the “elders” asked him not to continue as they felt he may influence some of the Muslim children toward Christianity. Although he was disappointed, we both agreed that God can take those three lessons, two of which come from the Bible, and bring about eternal fruit, so it was certainly not wasted effort.

The older man who is actually a “Reverend” in the Anglican Church lives in the far western part of the country. He taught it in several places including a school and a church, again translating it into Swahili but singing the songs in English. Although there were Muslims among those he taught, he was given the freedom to complete the lessons. He was thrilled with the enthusiasm of the children. Both of them pleaded with me to make the curriculum available in Swahili. I told them that we are in conversation with Scripture Union Tanzania who is asking for the same thing and encouraged them to pray toward that end.

I left that conversation so encouraged and energized with the realization again of the huge potential each of these students have in all the various places they are from and where they will end up. God is “the Lord of the Harvest” and His plans are far beyond our imagination!

God in the Details

(From New Brunswick, Canada) - One of my goals this mini home service (Aug. to Oct.) is to say “thank you” to our donors and prayer partners. Time allows only some to be included. A few days ago I was gathering my things to return to a point in New Brunswick where I would overnight before the Sunday Service. I was looking forward to spending the night with a long-time friend. When I arrived at her place and began to unpack the car, I realized I had left my Sunday morning African dress behind!  What to do?  It was Saturday night…. “Oh, you forgot a skirt when you were here last… and I think I have an African shawl,” my friend replied when I revealed my dilemma.  Sure enough, it fit perfectly together and the shawl could be worn for the Ladies Luncheon that was to follow. Indeed we have a great God Who cares and provides.

(From Uganda) – Chris, one of our VOICE workers shared this testimony with me yesterday. Thursday evening last week, he carried out his responsibility to bring the 5 boxes of curriculum to Jinja where there would be a 2-day training the next day. After a few other options fell through, he decided to go by “matatu” also called a “taxi” – a sort of a van bus that is very common here. Since there was no room for the boxes inside, they were put up on the roof and tied in place. As they headed out, Chris saw a few large drops of rain splatter on the windshield (called windscreen here). He asked the driver if he had a tarpaulin to cover the boxes to which the driver replied negatively. Chris began to earnestly pray and was relieved when it proved to be just a few big splashes. (Each set of curriculum inside the unprotected cardboard boxes is wrapped in plastic and scotch taped shut but not truly water-proof.) About half way there, they came to a place that had lots of freshly fallen water running along the sides of the road—obviously there had just been a hard downpour…but all was clear once they arrived. He saw a dark cloud over them but clear skies ahead and kept praying. Soon they were on dry pavement again but before arriving, once again a few big splatters of rain kept Chris praying! Praise God they arrived in dry weather and got the boxes transferred to boda-bodas (motorcycles used for public transportation) and then safely delivered to the venue of the training. “Next time, if we have to take them by taxi, we’ll try to wrap the boxes in plastic.” Praise God that indeed, He is in control of each detail.