Muted but…as found in the Christmas Story

Luke introduces us to Zechariah and Elizabeth, godly people whose prayers for a child seemed to be met with silence...God's apparent muteness. And then when told by an angel that they would have a child, Zechariah's faith in an omnipotent God struggled. His question to the angel brought instant, but temporary, muteness. When, in faith, he confirmed the child's name to be John, his speech was immediately restored.

With the pandemic-related restrictions, we have all felt “muted” in our usual routines and especially in the face-to-face ministries we’re involved in. Churches and global ministries have battled frustration with this forced muteness. VOICE ministries in both the Philippines and East Africa struggle with the closure of school classrooms where they used to have such a regular vibrant opportunity to invest in the students' lives. BUT, in faith, muteness has been at least partially overcome. God has enabled VOICE to focus on new platforms and share God’s truth in new ways.

• VOICE Philippines has produced and distributed a Devotional Book “Walk His Way” in both English and Tagalog.

• VOICE Africa has offered on-line Biblical values classes to families. Their latest module, Obedience, has just been completed and once again, the impact has been significant (see below for some testimonies).

• VOICE Africa is also producing video clips on the value of Moral Purity which they hope to air in the fairly near future.

• In Uganda, the government has allowed next year’s “grads” (elementary and high school) to return to school to prepare for upcoming national examinations. As only God could do it, several schools invited/urged Beth, Scripture Union Uganda missionary, to speak to their students this month. She began her sharing with her puppet, amid much laughter, and then challenged the students to consider trusting Christ as personal Savior by explaining the Gospel tract, CrossTalk. Dozens of students responded in faith and some have already been followed up and received literature to help in following Christ.

In God’s time, Zechariah saw God’s amazing fulfillment and purposes. His response was to praise God while prophesying that people would “find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.” (Luke 1:77) Let us continue to trust, pray, and serve while using opportunities to “un-mute” the Good News...all the while looking to our great God with expectancy to see what He is doing.

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Testimonies (a few among many) from the Recently Completed On-Line Teaching
of the Obedience Module in Uganda

Lower Primary:

• Austin: Thank you teacher for teaching us about Obedience.
• Austin’s parent: There is a definite change in behaviour and this is attributed to what Austin has been learning about obedience in the past weeks. Thank you so much for helping him grow and become more responsible.
  
• Abryl: I learnt to help my mother to cut the onions for cooking and my younger brother to do class work.
• Abryl’s parent: Yes, Abryl has been respectful and hard working.
• Tracy: It's the best--the Values Promises, the stories and what you teach us are the best.
  

Upper Primary:

• Passy - Obedience has helped me to obey my parents without complaining. Thank you for training me through this obedience exercise class.

• Passy’s parents: My daughter has followed all the Values Promises and chosen to obey immediately and wholeheartedly. Many thanks to Scripture Union.

• Elizabeth: Dear teacher I have improved in listening to my parents.

• Elizabeth’s parents: I realized a change in the lives of my children. They do things according to the way we have been telling them. They are quick to respond. Thank you Scripture Union teachers for the teachings. May God richly bless you.  

• Silver: I have learnt to be very obedient to my parents. It has changed my life. Like when today, my aunt asked me to help her hang clothes and I did it immediately and wholeheartedly.

Secondary:

• Joshua: I thank my teacher for these lessons and God above all. I am now more obedient and listening than before and have gained favour in the eyes of my parents and God. Like last week I did my best to be obedient to my parents and my mum really looked happy with me because of that; she even spared some time and we conversed though she was busy, so it's a very big testimony for me and I thank God.

• Joshua’s parents: Joshua has improved greatly spiritually, thanks to these lessons. And he nowadays sees that he obeys us and God. Continue with these lessons for a better future generation God fearing and obedient people. God bless you abundantly.

• Timothy: I thank God for enabling me to join these meetings. They helped me do the right thing.

• Timothy’s parents: Obedience class has been very insightful. Timothy has learnt some Bible verses that he always recites and have made him realize that God is always present in his life.

• Joy: It has changed my life totally to be obedient because Christ died for me yet He has never sinned.
  

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)

Who can forget the dramatic story of Zacchaeus whose encounter with the Savior brought radical transformation? Praise God, Jesus Christ continues to bring people to Himself and change behavior.

Earlier today, we received news from VOICE Africa that there were reports of 10 professions of faith from among those who participated in the recent Obedience on-line classes! One of those newly saved is fairly well known by us. The one who  relayed the news to us is an aunt...and her feet hadn't yet touched the ground since she learned of God's work! When still in Uganda, we recall hearing of the parents’ rather drastic discipline measures to break their child’s stubbornness. Praise God for the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin and this young teen’s submission to Christ as Savior and Lord.

Pray for spiritual growth for each of these 10 precious lives resulting in godly living, making a difference in their homes and communities. Ask God to continue enabling the proclamation of His truth during this prolonged time of pandemic restriction.

 

Rescuing Children from Disaster and Eternal Death

A Matter Of Life And Death

On September 17, I (Laura) was on a bike ride on the Sussex Nature Trail as I often do for exercise.  While sitting overlooking a steep bank by the Trout Creek, all of a sudden a third bike in a group of 3 middle school boys dangerously approached the bank of the creek, shouting "I've lost my brakes.”  I watched incredulously as the young helmeted boy lost control and dove 25 or 30 feet down the bank into the rocks of the Creek bed.  A man that I later met, Warren, began helping me with directions as I called 911 on my phone and directed the emergency services to our location on the Trail.  Two women stopped and one descended the steep bank to where the injured boy was.  I later met Beth, an RN, who stayed with the boy until the ambulance and emergency response people arrived. The injured boy, Leighton, in his early teens, I learned from others, had a fractured skull and several broken bones.  Having just met the two women again today, as far as they know, Leighton is healing well.  As I have pondered this rescue that God allowed me to be part of, we are surely to be calling 911 to Heaven, prayer for the youth that have lost their brakes and are in need of the Lord's rescue. As God spared the life of Leighton, we pray many may put their trust in the Savior.  

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As you know, the teaching of Biblical Values is one way being used in the Philippines and East Africa to give children/teens, ideally in school classrooms, Biblical direction and to sound out the alarm to those in spiritual darkness. Due to the Covid related closure of schools in Uganda, the VOICE Team undertook to teach Self-Discipline and Purity on line for families that have internet capabilities. (Currently they are teaching the module on Obedience.) Included in their report of the On-Line Teaching of Purity, Scripture Union Uganda sent us lots of wonderful testimonies. For the sake of room, only some are included below...but enough to make your heart burst with praise for God’s work as His Word is proclaimed.

Lower Primary (Kindergarten – grade 3)

• Am blessed because of you teacher. I have not kept bad secrets. (Esther)

• I want to say thanks Teachers and may God richly bless you all.” Abryl and Hananie opened up about some things and being free to discuss with us the parents. Thanks again. (Parents)

• Thank you for teaching me; my life has changed into doing good things. (Isaac)

• Thank you so much, teacher Paul, for teaching me. I have learnt to always stay pure and to know that God sent His only Son for me so He cares about me. (David)

• The lessons have been so helpful, the children have been tickled to share with us some school experiences, asked questions and we have had to answer them thus creating openness and bonding too. (Parents)

• Dear Scripture Union, my daughter loves the program and always sings the purity songs that they have learnt. We are proud to be part of the program and thank you for your efforts. God bless you all. (Parents)

• Dear Teacher I like the way you teach us. I have learnt not to do bad things which others are doing. I thank God because He stopped me from biting my nails and watching dirty videos. (Evangeline)

• Thank you for the lessons because since my son began to attend the lessons he is so cautious about the issues of purity. May God bless you. (Parents)

Upper Primary (Grades 4-7)

• Dear teacher, thank you for teaching us this topic of purity. It has been life-changing and has taught me to remain pure in all circumstances. May God bless you. (Passy)

• Thanks teachers for teaching us. It has really changed my life. (Mwiza)

• I have learnt from my teachers that God knows when He wants something to happen (sex) and we should never divert from His teachings for it will lead to horrible turns in our life that we will never forget. (Prima)

• I can see that my daughter has changed in the line of purity. (Parents)

• On Jordana's birthday she made a wish to stay sexually pure until her wedding day. (Parents)

• Dear my teachers. I am so happy that I have been able to learn about Moral Purity. I learnt that it is not right to have sex when still young. I will keep myself pure until I get the right person to marry when I am grown up. (Daniel)

• These lessons were very timely. We really appreciate Scripture Union values classes and believe and support this ministry in every way. Our children have grown in the knowledge of Christ and their biblical understanding of the concepts of purity and self-control. It is a bench mark for their growth indeed. Thank you again and again. (Parents)

Secondary (Grades 8-12)

• Thank you very much for all the lessons. They have not only helped me but also my brothers. (Timothy)

• The lessons of purity have taught me to make the right choices in life so that there will be no regrets. (Joy)

• As a parent this study has been profoundly impactful to my daughter & her siblings. I had shared with her how I had kept myself pure till I married, and when she heard this very clearly from her teachers through the purity lessons, she was more than determined to stay sexually pure till marriage. Am very grateful for this powerful ministry to our children. May the Lord richly bless you. Shalom. (Father)

• Since we began the purity lesson I have done all my best to avoid watching bad movies or reading any contaminated stuff. (Marianne)

• Dear teacher, thank you for the lessons you taught me, I loved them. God bless you. My testimony is, the knowledge about purity has made me change a lot in the way how I used to perceive things compared to now after these lessons. I hope to keep the values promises by God's grace. (Kayaga)

• We are grateful for this life changing class, I had difficulty talking sex education with Lynette but this has been awesome and wrapped up everything. I pray that God will enable the children to keep these promises. God bless you. (Parents)

• After hearing all about sexual purity, I am not afraid of anyone and I tell them straight forward that I will keep my body safe. (Mulungi)

 

Philippine Churches Still Proclaiming Godly Values

It was a blessing last month (via Zoom) to join the monthly VOICE Philippines VIP (VOICE In Prayer). Greeting and meeting the entire team “live” was special as well as praying through various praises and requests. Although the “lock-down” continues to be difficult, God is working! Here are a few things I learned:

• Life Gospel Church, Manila, has created online monthly Values Classes for youth and a separate one for parents!

• Capitol City Baptist Church (a church I am especially familiar with), Manila, was asked by nearby Sto. Cristo Elementary School to teach online Values Classes to twelve sections/classes.

• The Philippine Bible Christian Church, Manila, is teaching the VOICE Curriculum to street dwellers.

  
  
  

• In Negros, VOICE champions, Pastor Joel & Irma, are teaching godly Values to those working in community gardens. (The second picture shows the gardeners assembled for the Biblical Values class where other non-gardeners join them.) They also are planning to train community leaders how to teach godly Values in a ministry called “Shechem Care.”

  
  
  
  
  
  

• In addition, the two above veteran VOICE leaders serve as life coaches to twelve policemen/women. They shared that their church in Bayawan City continues to welcome former students from their Values Classes both in Sunday School and their Worship Services.

• Another church, Kaytaas Alliance, Bulacan, fairly quickly picked up their teaching of Biblical values by reconnecting with their students on line; that’s been happening for at least three months now.

Let us praise God for His amazing work through His people and pray for perseverance and that God will raise up many more to shine His light in these difficult days.

VOICES From Uganda Youth

 Although the times are strange, God has enabled VOICE Africa, a program of Scripture Union Uganda, to keep engaging children and youth regarding godly values. From the recently completed “Self-Control” on-line Module we received the following testimonies:

• “ I thank the Lord me, my brother and sister joined this class. It changed our lives completely.” Audrey

• ”Am pleased to inform you that my attendance of self-control class was beneficial and it changed me for good. I have started controlling myself than ever before. Recently my friend annoyed me but instead of firing back I was able to keep quiet.” Joab

• “Thanks teachers, I mostly liked the story of Samson. I learnt to avoid places, things and people that make me lose my self-control for example during this break when my little brothers disturb me, I move away and not beat them up.” Emmanuel

• “I have learnt to control my anger and I no longer fight my siblings, thank you very much for the class.” Christina

• “This verse Proverbs 25:28 encourages me whenever I lose my cool. Thanks teachers Lyn, Hilda and Dennis.” Lisa

• “It has changed my life whereby I am advising my friends all about self-control and to give their life to Jesus.” Jeremiah

• “Thank you for teaching us. I enjoyed the stories and the verses, can’t wait for the first lesson about Purity.” Erica

• “Sarah has become better. Thank you for the Self-Control classes.” Sarah’ mother

• “My daughter now controls herself when she is angry.” E’s parent

Praise God with us and pray for the “Purity” Module now being taught.

In light of current needs in East Africa including national workers allowances shortages we ask you to continue praying and consider giving to one of the two projects below:

1. VOICE Africa Ministry

2. Swahili Values Printing

Donations clearly designated can be mailed to:

SEND International of Canada

RR# 5, 1-22423 Jefferies Road

Komoka, ON N0L 1R0

Phone: 1-888-918-5036

Email: info@sendcanada.org

Or

SEND International USA

PO Box 513

Farmington, MI 48332

Phone: 1-800-736-3808

Email: info@send.org

There are also on-line opportunities to give:

for SEND Canada - https://send.org/canada/give

for SEND US - https://SEND.org/give

Strawberry Fields

Farming is hard work...period! And sometimes one doesn’t see as much result as one wishes, despite pouring hours of labor into an agriculture project. But what rejoicing when the harvest is visible and abundant. That’s the case this year with my brother’s strawberry fields. His “Dad Bonney’s U-Pick” has seen many eager (and seemingly satisfied) customers over the past three weeks. Before my father entered eternity, he expressed great joy to see one of his sons take steps toward using the family farm land for blessing others in the production of food; it has also brought delight to the rest of the family.

I’ve had the privilege of manning “the shack”--looking after payments, answering questions, sometimes providing a hat or bottle of water to sweating pickers, helping pick berries to fill outside orders, and when needed, showing new arrivals where to pick. Since many of the pickers are known to me/my family, there has also been plenty of chatting in the shade/coolness of “the shack.” During the occasional lulls, I’ve enjoyed the setting/scene/quietness to spend time with God in His Word; He has personally challenged me as I’ve pondered the similarities and differences of spiritual fruit/harvest.

Yesterday, as the berry season was winding down for this season, I had a beautiful opportunity to listen to a frequent customer and eventually share Christ! Another family expressed interest in the copies of “God’s Offer” tract that were lying on the counter...and took three copies home with them. God is encouraging me that, although cultures differ, people need the Lord just as they do across the oceans. Praise God that, unlike physical farming, God’s Word will always bear fruit according to His good pleasure—Isaiah 55:5. “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Let’s all be willing to work hard in God’s spiritual fields while remaining alert to opportunities to share His Word, the Truth, with assurance that there will be an abundant harvest in God’s time.

Ministry Continues!

Virtually everyone has been affected by the ongoing pandemic; Christian ministries are certainly no exception. But God is not affected and His kingdom continues triumphant over the kingdom of darkness!

As is true in our nations, almost all schools have been closed in East Africa. As you know, the VOICE ministry of teaching Biblical Values is specifically designed for classrooms. But God has led and enabled the VOICE Teams in both Uganda and Tanzania to find other avenues of ministry to children...radio and Internet!

A couple of weeks ago, we learned that Jackson, one of the four Scripture Union Tanzanian staff that, earlier this year, we helped to equip, accepted an invitation to share the Forgiveness lessons via radio. Last week, Beth passed on news that Jackson has "many testimonies" of changed lives including the following:

• Sarah, a secondary school girl, used to live with her Aunt and Uncle. When she was 9 years old, her uncle began sexually abusing her. His wife refused to do anything about it and eventually Sarah ran away as a bitter and resentful girl. Her life deteriorated and before long, she was living an immoral life. When she heard the Forgiveness lessons on the radio, she chose to forgive her uncle/aunt and release her revenge to God...and her life has been transformed!
•  A Pastor's life was in turmoil. He told Jackson that as a result of hearing the lessons on the radio, his life is changed and he wants Jackson to come and teach the Forgiveness lessons in his are.

Praise God with us for His ongoing and amazing work...seeking and saving those who are lost, despite the pandemic!

Next week, Scripture Union Uganda plans to teach the Biblical values of Purity and Self-Control using Zoom and Google Classroom to those who respond to their invitation. They are offering it on all three age levels. Pray that God will mightily use this effort for His glory.

Christ’s Abundance

After sharing last month about my personal areas of scarcity, I found my mind turning to the opposite truth—the abundance we have in Christ! There are no scarcities in all that He offers to us as His children...only overwhelming quantity. What a comfort!

Extravagant Invitation

I have always enjoyed Isaiah 55 where we are invited to come and delight in God’s abundance (vs. 1-2). God promises abundant pardon to all who come in repentance (vs. 6-7). That invitation is ultimately fulfilled in Christ and all that He did through His death and resurrection. He continues to invite the spiritually thirsty and hungry to come to Him for eternal life (John 7:37,38), full/complete life (John 10:10), and entrance into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9,10). We, the unworthy, are invited to received God’s rich mercy (Ephesians 2:4)!

Christ’s invitation is also for those who are stressed or anxious (Matthew 11:28-30). Who has not felt this during these unusual days? He promises to exchange our burdens for soul rest and His personal care as we release our burdens to Him (1 Peter 5:6,7).

Amazing Transformation

Spring is a time of transformation when the earth bursts into vivid color with the longer hours of sunlight. Isaiah 55:10,11 remind us that as the rain and snow (both seen by many of us this month of May!) are used by the Creator to bring new life and harvest, so God’s Word will accomplish what He has purposed, resulting in much fruit as we abide in Him/His Word (John 15:5). God even goes as far as to say that those who are in Christ are a “new creation”--totally transformed (2 Cor. 5:17)! God’s Spirit uses His precious Word so that we are “transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory...” (2 Cor. 3:18).

We all love to hear stories of transformation; I heard one recently from VOICE Philippines. A student in a large Manila High School attended an after-school Values Class and her life was changed. She began attending a youth group as well as a cell group in one of the churches that sponsored the class.

As some of us look back on many years, we can testify that it is the living God who has been so faithful and allowed us to “flourish”, even bearing fruit in old age (Psalm 92:12-15). A recent testimony from a puppeteer in Uganda revealed transformation of his own life and those to whom he now ministers via puppets. That and a few other things prompted me to use ventriloquism again and encourage others to reach out with this tool producing video clips during lock-down time.

Inseparable Love

Who has not felt for those who have lost loved ones during these days of covid-19 and other situations that have taken lives, some violently! Our hearts ache as we hear of grief and hardship including job losses globally. People in some nations are faced with food shortages forcing some families to eat only one meal a day—scarcity! But, for those who belong to Christ, there is the absolute assurance of Romans 8:35-39: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors (abundance!) through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, not any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” What abundant security in these uncertain times! No wonder Paul spoke of Christ as the “unspeakable/indescribable gift” (1 Cor. 9:15).

Precious Prayer

Have you ever been struck with the amazing breadth of some of Jesus’ promises about prayer—“...Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. (Luke 11:9),” “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it (John 14:14),” “the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name, (John 15:16b),” to name a few—certainly no scarcity/limitations in those promises! But that's not all prayer does. As the Lion of the Tribe of Judah triumphs in Revelation 5, golden bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the saints, are presented to Him (v.8). Prayer is such a privilege and so important.

Recently I listened to a radio sermon from a faithful supporting church, and the reference of Romans 8:26 so touched me, “…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to prayer for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that word cannot express.” The Spirit of God prays for us. Further, the living Christ intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25). What truth for our soul’s scarcity… comfort unspeakable!

Of all topics to be recently requested to do ventriloquism, it was prayer. I chose Philippians 4:6 to share with the children, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything...present your requests to God.” Are these days not a call to believing prayer, whether it is prayer individually and corporately, whether by phone, Skype, zoom, What’s App, etc.? We can be totally confident in God’s overwhelming love, care, and ability to answer.

Jubilant Celebration

Recently I was listening to a CD of Handel’s Messiah that belonged to my late Aunt. In these days of pessimistic news overload from the media, how wonderful to get perspective through hymns and spiritual songs. What abundance in Handel’s Messiah music, and the lyrics from the Scriptures. Indeed God will have the last word, and “He shall reign forever and ever”! There is a day of great joy coming when God completes His salvation and the earth will be freed of its curse (Isa. 55:12)—all scarcity left behind! Even so come, Lord Jesus (Rev. 22:20).

Soul Scarcity

During these days of social distancing and “lock-down” some of us have had a forced time for rest and reflection. For most of us, Easter has been an unforgettable time that has NOT been the “business as usual” --travel, church, food preparation and family reunions. I don’t recall when I have listened to “The Messiah” in one setting and it happened this Easter! God has allowed the world to “stop” and is surely challenging us to “be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10.

Memories of our East African visit are still fresh on my mind. One word that describes situations in East Africa is “scarcity”. Unlike North America, (with the temporary exception of toilet tissue, etc.) there is scarcity of food, water, electricity, shelter, basic needs, transportation, steady jobs, medical care, school fees, etc. We were inspired again during our visit to see the resiliency of the African people, their creativity and ability to make do. Since returning to Canada, I have reflected on my own scarcities.

1. Lack of Thanksgiving. I can identify with the 9 lepers Jesus inquired about in Luke 17:17,18 who forgot to return and thank Jesus for His amazing work in their lives. I have counted my own blessings more these days, appreciating God for Who He is and His good gifts. I suspect I have done less complaining and even worry. Recalling some of the sights and experiences in Africa just two months ago has given perspective how much we have to be thankful for.
2. Lack of Love. John 21 reminds me how our risen Saviour meets us in our routines and schedules and has us stop and experience His love afresh and hear His truth to our hearts. How easy it is to be caught up in good things even exciting ministry outcomes! Jesus' questions to Peter, John 21:15-17, caused a rekindling of love and fresh obedience to the Saviour.
3. Lack of Faith. Joshua 14:8,9 spotlights Caleb (and Joshua’s) example of whole-heartedly following God. They rejected peer pressure and the majority who saw giants and so many obstacles, Numbers 13,14. Adjusting to retirement and Canadian culture while continuing to feel heart passion for the people and works we have left in Africa and the Philippines continues to stretch my faith.
4. Lack of Consulting God. Even called and gifted Joshua relied on his own insight and strategy rather than asking God about the Gibeonites, Joshua 9:14. It’s possible to get so caught up in ministry and pressing things before us, we become presumptuous and even familiar with God. This results in failure to pray and lay our situation before the Lord. These days of staying home have opened up new possibilities of prayer.
5. Lack of Focus/Worship. Revelation 4 and 5 is a favorite passage that reminds us of the day coming when the whole universe will worship and praise Jesus the Lamb of God. It is from the Rev. 5 passage that we named our Blog “Lion Sightings.” With events of the last couple of months, it does seem that the world stage is being set for Christ’s Return. Oh to be prepared and watching for that Day!

Indeed, God is using these days of restraint from our usual routines and freedoms to cause us to pause and be still before Him, to look to Him, to listen to Him, to find renewal and fresh hope in our risen and victorious and soon-coming Lord Jesus. A song that has blessed me this week is the Chris Tomlin video arrangement found on You Tube, “He is Worthy”. Indeed, praise Him!

Is It Worth It?

Last week while Ruth and I worked on categorizing two months worth of financial receipts from East Africa, dealing with six currencies, and began to organize our pictures, we allowed ourselves to ask the question, “is the outcome worth the investment of energy and finances?” As we reviewed our time in East Africa and discussed what we experienced, we, of course, came to the conclusion that indeed, it was worth it. Among others, these four stand out:

• Obeying God’s Great Commission work is always worth it! The Saviour is so worthy of our all. Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) words come to mind, “I go out [to serve] with two propositions in mind, first everyone ought to give his life to Christ, second, whether or not anyone gives his life, I will give Him mine.”
• We were allowed, as only God could arrange it, to witness first-hand fruit from ministry back in early 2018. It was then while we were training Christian South Sudanese refugees to use the module on Purity as an outreach to their own people in the camps, that several men started weeping with conviction over their own personal failure to be legally married, including one of the leaders. On Feb.22 that leader, Peter and Hellen, officially were married and Beth and Laura were there among the guests!
• During the Arusha, Tanzania, training, one of the participants, a pastor, shared that he had arrived at the training with much bitterness toward another pastor who had mistreated him. But during the training, he chose to obey God’s Word, and do what he was being trained to teach others to do, by forgiving that pastor and releasing the injustice to God. During the closing of that training, he offered Scripture Union Tanzania free office space in a building he is connected to in Western Tanzania. Stellah, the National Director for Scripture Union Tanzania, later told us that she and her Scripture Union board had been praying for an opportunity to expand into that area of their nation. Just a couple of days ago, we heard that indeed those plans are moving ahead and that region is opening up to Scripture Union!
• After working closely with several Scripture Union Tanzanian staff and volunteers and walking with them through two 3-day VOICE Trainings, we left for Kenya. However, what had got started continues...the Scripture Union Swahili Training Team have already conducted, on their own, two more trainings for volunteers with plans that in June those who have been trained will begin teaching Values Classes in schools in the Tanzania Lake and Western Zones.

There’s more that we could list, but praise God with us for what He, the Lord of the Harvest, is doing. It’s marvelous that He chooses to use us, His imperfect servants, to work with Him. THANK YOU for going with us back to East Africa these last two months through your faithful prayer and financial support...the results are also attributed to your eternal accounts!

Training Tanzanian Trainers

As you may remember, we mentioned that one of the purposes of this trip was to help Scripture Union Tanzania train some of their staff/full-time volunteers so that they would then be able to conduct trainings for Christians who want to teach the newly published Swahili Biblical values curriculum in school classrooms, churches, and/or communities. In response to that statement, one of our supporters asked us to describe how we plan to go about doing such a training of trainers. Our response was simple...not sure how that was going to happen but was requested by our Ugandan colleague, Beth.  During our second week in Uganda (please see photos in the previous blog regarding the first week), the three of us (Beth, Laura and Ruth), spent several days discussing logistics and strategies mixed with a lot of prayer. Although a huge dose of flexibility was demanded after those plans, the process began to come together as only God could do it.

Upon our arrival Jan.18 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, we met Stellah, the Scripture Union Tanzania National Director and, with joy, saw and held the first copies of the Swahili Forgiveness and Purity Modules in our hands! Stellah asked us to pour our efforts during the next four days into five of her key staff/volunteers whom she felt were capable of training others to teach this newly translated and published curriculum. All of them had taught at least a couple of lessons of the English curriculum in a school. During the first two days, we traveled about 1 ½ hours one way (some of the way over washed out roads!) to a Primary School and observed the SU Team teaching the brand new Swahili curriculum on Forgiveness in three classrooms simultaneously. Although we do not understand Swahili, we had the English Teachers Manual in our hands and followed as best we could. (Language was no barrier when it came to comprehending how much the students and their teachers were enjoying the Swahili lessons.) Following their classes, we met together for lunch and discussed our observations, giving affirmation and suggestions. Together they worked on learning the songs in Swahili and deciding on appropriate actions. The last two days were spent at the Scripture Union office watching them demonstrate the rest of the lessons in front of each other and giving mutual encouragement and suggestions. Stellah then selected four of them to become the Training Team for the first ever Swahili VOICE Training to be held on the island of Zanzibar the next week.

All of us traveled to Zanzibar via ferry and the 3-day training, focused on Forgiveness, began on Tuesday, Jan. 28…in straight Swahili! The Training Team bonded quickly with the 22 participants and learned the songs, actions, definitions, etc. effortlessly. Beth marveled at the speed and delight—there was no comparison with trainings she had done in the past with her English being translated into Swahili! On the third day, the participants then demonstrated some of the lessons with the Swahili Training Team leading the evaluation. The three of us merely observed and coached a bit from the sidelines. As we stood in a circle holding hands during the closing, all praised God for the training and the newly printed Swahili curriculum, and entered into fervent prayer that God would use the newly trained teachers to make an eternal difference as they determined to teach the curriculum to children and youth of that island. Of course, there were challenges and obstacles to overcome, but by God’s grace all went ahead and God’s name was lifted up. For Laura, unexpected news came on the morning of the first day of training that her 97 year-old Aunt had slipped into eternity. The day following the training, Beth and Ruth joined Laura in taking time to stop, reflect on, and remember Aunt Doris as Laura’s family members gathered in Canada for the funeral.

A couple of days later, Tuesday, Feb. 4, the same training was repeated in Arusha, Tanzania, for about 46 participants. One of the original four was unable to join us, but the remaining three did a great job. Upon our return to Dar es Salaam, we gave a glowing report to Stellah as we encouraged her to engage them in other training opportunities as soon as possible so as to not lose momentum.

As we write this, we are in Nairobi, Kenya, for several purposes, one of which is to sort out the printing bill for the Swahili VOICE curriculum…which is proving to be quite a challenge, but our trust is in God; prayer is appreciated.

Praise God for His plans, His amazing work of bringing this tool in Swahili to Tanzania, and how He put together the initial Swahili Training Team!

Sorry...no blog this time

There have been MANY Lion Sightings--seeing God at work--since we've been here. BUT, both time and internet are limited; we haven't been able to write a proper blog. Please check the Prayer Zone for some updates.