Jottings from the preacher's desk

New Blog

2012-03-30T08:51:00.002+03:00

As you can tell, I have not posted anything on this blog for a long time. One of the main reasons for that is I have a new blog:

Tanzanian Jottings

Click on this link to get there.

Evan's baptism

2011-10-30T18:47:00.000+03:00

Last Thursday I headed out to Sombetini to assit the preacher there, Dominic Owaga. We had arranged the previous week to begin our studies at a little school house where one of the members from Sombetini, Assiri, works.

When we had got there we found that the children, on hearing that we were coming, did not want to go home. We were waiting for one of the people we were going to study with, so we enjoyed being here and talking with the kids.

It was after this study that the day became very interesting. I hope you enjoy this video.

Mike and Clint's safari to Tanzania

2011-10-10T10:58:00.000+03:00

Well, the dust has settled and we have all recovered. Mike Criswell and Clint De France have returned to their homes and life here in Arusha has returned to normal.

We enjoyed Mike and Clint's stay so much. They were such good house guests - we had a lot of laughs and a lot of Bible studies. The brethren here really appreciated them and gained a lot from their visit.

I have made a short video of their visit. I hope you enjoy it.

Leadership Study

2011-09-30T02:26:00.000+03:00

We had a wonderful Leadership Study this month starting on the 14th September. Mike Criswell and Clint De France were our speakers and they did a wonderful job.

We had members come from all over Tanzania and even Kenya for this event. The brethren from Mbeya even had a 19 hour bus trip to get here!

This is a short video of the Meeting

Studying God's Word

2011-09-24T09:41:00.000+03:00

While Mike and Clint have been here in Tanzania we have had a many great studies. We have studied with members of the church and non-members too.

On Wednesday, we went to Mererani to assist the teacher there, Fredson John, and to conduct studies with him. Allen Mkita was sick, so we enlisted the help of Mbise from Nkoaranga.

Mererani is about a 2 hour drive from Arusha along dusty roads and with the air-conditioner not working in the truck yet it was very dusty! We made it in good time though and met Fred (Fredson) at the marvellously named Kangaroo Hotel! I am sure it is the only kangaroo in Tanzania!

We shared some cokes and discussed the work before heading out of a study with the family of one of the members there.

We had a great study, answering a question on why there were so many churches. The Bible clearly tells us that Christ built only one church.

“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it." Matt. 16:18

That one church was not to be built on a mere man (as some say), but on the rock that is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The many churches we see today have been built by men a long time after Christ built His church.

We had a really good response with great questions following. You learn here very quickly that these people are very intelligent. They may not benefit from a great education, but they are plenty smart!

After this we went on to study with a sister who was having trouble with what the Bible teaches about singing in the assembly. Mike did an excellent job showing that the New Testament commands us to sing, and the instrument we are to use is our lips and heart.

"speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;" Eph. 5:19

We are no longer under the Old Covenant and its commands, but we are blessed with the New. There were several non-memebers present and the Q & A afterwards was again wonderful.

We had to leave early in the afternoon so as to get back to Arusha for Wednesday night services. On the way we stopped under a fig tree and a stream, for a picnic lunch. There were some herders there with their sheep, goats and cattle. They came on over to us and we started a conversation. After a bit we were teaching them the hymn, "Happy Day" in Swahili. It was a wonderful time. We ended with a prayer and headed for Arusha.

On Thursday we had arranged a study with Christopher's wife. Christopher is a faithful member at the Philips congregations and his wife is a member of a pentecostal church. We had another wonderful study and Mama Christopher told us she would come with her husband to worship in Sunday.

Then we went with Allen, who was feeling better and was translating for us, to a man he knew who worked close to the church building. This man, Anderson, is a carpenter and we had a great study with him and his work mates at their work place.

It is so good to be able to study with people almost anywhere and feel welcomed each time.

Keep reading for future exciting updates on this work here in Tanzania.

The Spirit of Exploration Continues in Tanzania

2011-09-22T18:02:00.001+03:00

On Tuesday we took some time off from our busy schedule and went on Safari to Arusha National Park.

This park is one of the forgotten gems of Tanzania. It is only about 1/2 hour out of Arusha, but not many tourists make the trip, preferring to go to the better know parks like Serengeti and Lake Minyara national parks, where there is a chance of seeing the "Big 5". Arusha does not promise Rhino or lion, but it promises a wide variety of environments and stunning scenery.

We left about 8 o'clock and after battling the Arusha traffic we were on the open highway and headed to Usa River. From there it was a short drive north up the mountain and we were in the National Park. It only took a short while to do the paper work and we were on our way. Within minutes of leaving the park gate we were on to our first game - zebra, warthogs and water buck. We were in little Serengeti. There is so much difference seeing these wild animal in their natural environment, rather than seeing them in a zoo!

The Explorers!

We then went up the mountain, across a new bridge to a part of the park we had not seen before and were stunned by the beauty of what we saw. We stopped for a break at a viewing point and had a drink and some cake. We were high up on the mountain and could see most of the park. We could see where they filmed the 1960's film Hartari! We could see over to the Momella Lakes. We could even seen where Mt. Kilimanjaro was, even is she was modestly hiding behind her clouds.

How you get a car through a tree!

We went on from there and drove through a tree! A strangler fig had attached itself to a host tree and the result was stunning. We could have gone further up the mountain, but we only had one day! So turned around and headed downwards. We soon meet a party of climbers headed to the summit which is 4,566 metres high (14,980 ft) and a three day climb! I can tell you we were traveling a lot easier than these people.

Once we had crossed the bridge again we headed off to the Momella lakes (those who remember the Hatari! movie will remember the elephants bathing in the lakes). We had lunch there and were able to see hippos in the lake around an island in the middle. There are several lakes all with different soda levels. One of them is just right for flamingos and their pink plumage is stunning in the afternoon sun.

We made our way around the lakes and thought we had seen all they had to offer when we came around a corner and a huge giraffe was idling the day away on the road, in the shade of a tree .

We waited for him (we called him Gerald the giraffe) for about 1/2 an hour before he remembered something he had to do and calmly walked past our car.

I had my window down and could have touched him if I wanted to. This is not something that happens everyday!

Leaving Gerald behind we headed to the Ngurdoto crater. This is a stunning caldera with wonderful viewing places around the rim.

We went to the other side to where were have been before and after a long and tricky climb with many switch backs and the vehicle in 4x4 low we were rewarded with a breath taking scene. Even Mt. Kilimanjaro came to the party and showed herself! We could see here on our right and Mt. Meru in all her glory on our left. We could see right down into the crater and even over to Arusha town.

Our time had come to an end, but we all agreed it was a wonderful safari. There were few people and many animals. We were even privileged to see the very shy columbus monkeys at very close quarters. All around it was a great day.

Leadership Study

2011-09-16T07:33:00.000+03:00

Our leadership study has begun and we are now two day into it. Mike and Clint are doing a great job with the teaching. The brothers are doing wonderful with great concentration levels and wonderful questions. The sisters are working so hard with the refreshments. Everything is coming together so well!

I will write more about the study shortly, but for now here is a short photo essay.

Mike and Allen with the first topic

These two brothers work together very well - even the hand gestures are the same

Deep concentration!

At rest between the studies

Enjoying one another's company

Clint and brother Mwakasungula

Safari Njema

2011-09-14T07:34:00.000+03:00

Yesterday Mike, Clint and I went on a safari. In Swahili the word safari means "journey" and we had to go out of town to buy some sleeping mat for the men that are coming to town for the Leadership Study.

We left early and picked up Brother Msuya on the way. Msuya knew where we could get these mat at a reasonable price (in town they were very expensive). So with his local knowledge we were on our way.

Our destination was a village about 2 hours drive east of Arusha. On the way we were able to show our guests a bit more of the country side here in Tanzania. Our trip took us down Mount Meru, through the banana groves and coffee plantations to the flat volcanic plain between Mt. Meru and Mt. Kilimanjaro. We then started ascending again as we climbed the foot hills of Africa's largest mountain and the tallest free standing mountain in the world. Kilimanjaro was hiding this morning behind its veil of clouds, as it often does this time of year.

Baoba Tree

As we left Kilimanjaro behind we started heading towards the Pare Mountains - a rugged volcanic range and quite beautiful. The landscape is dry and arid and we started seeing the wonderful Baoba trees. Msuya told us these trees are planted up-side-down! And with their bear branches this time of year it sure looks like it. These trees look a lot like what we call Boab trees in Australia. The MUST be the same tree!

Just a little further on and we came to the markets Msuya had told us about. Now, when a white person - a Mazungu - comes along you can be sure the price will go up a lot. So we left Msuya to do the purchasing and Mike and I went looking at the rest of the market.

They sell all sorts of things there from fruits and vegetable to fish, both fresh and dried. Mike and Clint were approached by an enterprising youngster to purchase a small fish for 100 Shillings - the brothers declined!

Anyone for fish?

After a while Msuya phoned me up and we joined him in the section of the market where they sold the mats, baskets and other woven goods. He had managed to buy 3 mats - we needed 20!

He had met a man who told him he knew where he could get more at the next village down the road, so with this guy we jumped into the car once more and headed off. I have to say there was a pronounced odour of fish that was now accompanying us!

The next village was not far down the road and our new friend told me to stop at the side of the road and he and Msuya disappeared. So, there we were, Mike, Clint and myself sitting in the car in this village not knowing quite what was happening and if we were going to be able to get the sleeping mats we needed - after all 3 out of 20 is pretty awful!

These kids thought we we so funny!

While we were waiting there were a group of children that started to gather and they were fascinated in Clint. He was making the laugh so much as we sat in the car. When we called them over the dashed off in hysterics.

After a while the got really brave and came a little bit closer and were playing around us. Clint had the bright idea of teaching them the song "Jesus Love You". I had my swahili song book in the car so the 3 of us Mazugus entertained the kids with a couple of verses of this song in Swahili. They thought this was wonderful - laughing at us and dancing too, what they obviously thought was a good rendition of the old song in their language.

After some time Msuya started arriving back with more mat. First 4 more then they were able to locate more and more. Finally they arrived with a large bundle of these mats and Msuya announce that we now had the all! 20 out of 20 is really great! Just as we were about to put them in the back of the truck, Msuya noticed something in the middle of the rolled up mats. There was as kitten hiding in there! Lucky he saw it. I sure would not want a cat in the car on our long trip back.

Brothers on a safari

So, now with our mission accomplished, all we had to do was head back home. It was a great trip, very enjoyable - good friends and a lot of laughs. We stopped on the way hope and assessed our day with the help of a cold Coke and Clint entertained the people at the Cafe with his renditions of Gilbert and Sullivan.

Dr. Clint and Dr. Mike at rest

Msuya enjoying a rest

The Adventure Continues

2011-09-12T20:06:00.000+03:00

After a busy day today including studies, purchasing Bibles and various jobs that had to be done, we finished up at the church building for a study with the men on leadership.

Clint did an excellent job on teaching about the Lord's Supper. The brothers got a lot out of his delivery and there followed a lively question and answer session. We are starting our Leadership Study on Wednesday and the brothers were given a good taste of what is to come.

A day of study at Nkoaranga

2011-09-10T20:45:00.002+03:00

On Friday afternoons I head out of Arusha and go to the little village of Nkoaranga. This is about 1/2's drive out of town up on the slopes of Mount Meru. The area is very lush and green up there, the air is cooler and the fields are filled with banana trees and coffee bushes.

There are a lot of people living there, not in one big village, but it seems that most people live on their small farms where they make their livings.

Yesterday I met up with the preacher there, Mbise, at his house and after exchanging greeting with him and his wife, we headed off for some "house to house" studied. Mama Mbise and their daughter would see us latter at the church building were we would finish the afternoon with a large study.

I really love it up in Nkoaranga, the little tracks between peoples farm are really beautiful and you often get glimpses of stunning views down the mountain to the surrounding areas.

Our first stop was a study arranged last week with a man we met at the church building. He lives quite a way up the mountain and the Land Cruiser I have just purchased proved its work ability on the steep grades and the fine dusty volcanic soil.

After we had driven up about as high as we could go we left the truck and walked the rest of the way. When we got to the man's house his sons told us he wasn't there - not an unusual situation, we can often find that thing don't work out as planned here. However, this is not a big problem here in Tanzania. We went to the next house and asked them if they wanted to study the Bible.

There was three generations represented and after they got chairs for the visitors and the grand-father we started to study. We we studying from Matthew 18 and the church Christ said he was going to build. We studied how we could become members of the one church. It was a very good study with some great questions. This interest in God's word is one of the reasons that I love it here in Tanzania, being able to go out to people's homes, to see their hospitality and to share God's word with them is a real blessing.

We spent about a hour studying with this dear family and then it was time to go down the hill a bit to study with another family. Mbise tells me Ishmali is one of the best coffee growers around and looking at his fields and the coffee beans drying, I can believe it. We had another great study with this man and his two daughter under their Bougainvillea arbour. When we finished, Ishmali and his daughters hopped into the truck and came down with us to the church building for the study there.

The church building in Nkoaranga is small - well really, it is tiny. But the brethren are so thankful to have it and they fill it up. We had sixteen people come to this study, about half of them member and the rest, either wives of members or present for the first time. The brethren there LOVE singing and so we had to have some songs before we started to study.

I taught on salvation - How do you know you are saved? I was very pleased with the level of interest and the concentration that the people were showing. This is a great area for the gospel and I can really see a great future for the Lord's work.

Passing it on

2011-09-07T21:05:00.001+03:00

One of my main focuses in the work here in Arusha, Tanzania has been working with men and helping them take on a leadership role. We are taught in 2 Timothy 2:2 how the church will continue to grow and how to train our teachers.

And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (2 2:2 NKJV)

Tonight in our mid-week service we had Brother Shaban teach us. This was the first time he has taught and he was a bit nervous, but he did a great job teaching on the 5 steps of salvation. A great topic as we had 2 non-members present and some of the member's children.

Next week we are planning a Leadership Study with Mike Criswell and Clint De France. We have invited men from all over Tanzania. I think we are going to see more men stepping up just like brother Shaban.

-- Post From My iPhone

Sakoine - The Market

2011-09-06T20:59:00.000+03:00

Things are getting really busy here in Arusha. We are looking forward to the visit on Mike Criswell and Clint De France who arrive later this week. Next week we are planning a Leadership Study and have invited numerous brethren from all over Tanzania and even some from Nairobi, Kenya.

The sisters have been busy working out how they are going to feed these men and have done a really good job. This being the first time we have done anything like this there are a lot of things that have to be bought. Today I went with Allen and his wife Hossiana to the market to buy the non perishable items. Things like buckets, plastic plates and cups, charcoal cooking stoves and the such like.

Hossiana did a great job taking us around the central market. It was fascinating looking at all the items on sale. From all the spices of Zanzibar to cheap plastic from China. You see in the photo the two cooking stoves we bought (one on top of the other) and the cooking spoons (I suggested after we have finished cooking we could use them as paddles!)

In the market you don't just take the price they give you. It is an inflated price that they would be happy to take, but don't really expect. When there is a Mazungu (white fella) the price is even higher. I had to use all the skills I learnt on my mother's knee (she was an expert bargainer from her time in Zambia) to get the prices down. It was a fun experience and you always know when you have gone down too far when they let you walk away and don't case you. If there is further room for bargaining they will come after you and give you a counter offer. It is all done in good spirits and every one ends up happy. I tell Anne, if they don't want to sell it to you at such and such a price, they wont.

We finished our purchases and had a number of men offering to assist us to carry the items to the car. I selected a man who I later found out was called Simba (Lion in Swahili). He kind of pushed the others away who said they would help him (and share his tip!) and hoisted the cookers on his head. I followed him out of the maze that is the markets and along the streets to where we had left the car. There is not a lot of parking around the markets.

You really know that we live in a global village when you you see fashions gaining popularity where ever you go. One of the most unfortunate fashions at the moment is for young men to wear pants that are too big in the waist. Simba is a follower of that fashion and I am sorry to say that he has taken it too far. As I was following him he was averaging 10 steps before he had to take a hand off the cookers and pull up his pants before they fell down to his ankles and tripped him.

We got everything safely to the car and from there to the church building. Next week we will get the perishable stuff - another adventure awaiting me!

Life in Tanzania

2011-09-05T10:40:00.001+03:00

Living in Tanzania is an adventure. When you leave the house you never know what is going to happen. It may be simple things like cars hurtling towards you at break neck speed - on the wrong side of the road. It may be that there in no fuel in the country, or some other such trifle. It is a adventure living with extreeme electricity rationing (one day on, one day off). However it is all good fun.

The latest adventure I am involved in is purchasing a vehicle for my work. After advertising on-line, finding a suitable truck, all I have to do now is pay for it - 14.5 million shillings. (btw, want to know how it feels to be a millionaire? I can tell you it is overrated!). Anyway, when I tell you that the largest note here is 10,000 shillings (about $7) you can workout you kind of need a wheel barrow to carry it all. I had wanted to transfer the amount straight from my US bank to the sellers account. He wanted it Tanzanian shillings! That's ok, I just transferred it to my local account. Well that was 7 days ago and we have not seen the money. In a Grisham novel you read of money getting transferred in and out of 10 or so off-sea accounts in a matter of minutes! Note: they never send the money through Tanzania! The good news is that I had a deposit of 4 million into my account - don't know who from, no one knows that account number. May be it is just a gift! (to be fair we know that banking errors happen anywhere - hey! they even happen in Monopoly!

Anyway , I guess that sort of thing is what makes Tanzania the 128th hardest place to do business in the world!

-- Post From My iPhone

He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved

2011-08-29T08:44:00.000+03:00

I am happy to announce another baptism on Thursday. Every Thursday afternoon I go to the Sombertini area of Arusha and work with the preacher there, Dominic Owaga. We have studied with his brother in-law, Joseph, several times on the subject salvation.

Like so many, Joseph was confused by the many different and varied doctrines churches teach on Salvation. You hear people saying you are saved by faith only. Others say you are saved by obeying the 10 commandments. Still others say that you are saved if you pray the sinners pray. These divergent teachings are confusing and are WORNG!

Jesus put it as plainly as possible as is recorded in Mark 16:16

“He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”

So on Thursday Joseph, through his belief was baptised for his salvation.

Dominic and Joseph

We had to dam the stream to make it deep enough.

Winnie, Joseph and Pruity

After our study, as we were about to leave, Joseph told us he had to be baptised "now!" Dominic knew of a little river close by, so that was where we went. Joseph's wife (a Christian) and baby came along too.

We were all so happy by this new birth into Christ. Please pray for this little Christian family

‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’

Acts 22:16

The Congregations at Nkoaranga and Sombertini

2011-08-26T13:08:00.000+03:00

Here is a short video showing two resent visits with the congregations at Nkoaranga and Sombertini.

The Bible is the Word of God

2011-08-03T13:18:00.000+03:00

There are many good books that have been written, but one book stands above them all. It is the book in which God speaks to mankind – it is the Bible. Other books have been written by very clever men and women, but the Bible is different, the author of the Bible is God.

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”

Hebrews 1:1-2

In the Old Testament God spoke long ago and in many ways through the prophets. He spoke to Adam as he walked with God in the garden. He spoke to Moses through the burning bush. He spoke to Daniel through dreams; he even spoke to the sinning prophet Balaam through a donkey! God does not speak to us in those ways now – that was how he spoke “long ago”.

“In these last day” God speaks to us through His son, Jesus Christ. The way he does this is through the New Testament. Notice what we read in John chapter 16. In this chapter we read of Jesus speaking to his apostles the night before He was killed. He had many things to tell them, but they were not be able to remember all of them, so he told them he was sending a helper, the Holy Spirit,

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.” .

John 16:13-14

Jesus told His apostles that the Holy Spirit would guide them into ALL truth. This is a very important point. They would not be guided into “some truth”; they would not be guided into “most of the truth”. They would be guided into “all truth”. The Holy Spirit would take the words of Jesus, he would give them to the apostles and then they, the apostles would have all truth given from God.

So, what did the apostles do with this “truth” they were given? The apostle Paul tells us very clearly in Ephesians chapter 3.

“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles — if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;”

Ephesians 3:1-5

Paul tells us that by revelation he received a mystery. This is what Jesus had promised the apostles – all truth. What did Paul do with this revelation? He wrote it down. Paul wrote to the churches (including the church at Ephesus) by revelation. Today we can find these writings in the New Testament. We can now read it when we read the New Testament and we can understand the mysteries.

Just as Jesus promised, “all truth” was reveled to the apostles and prophets through the Holy Spirit. We now have the ability to read and understand them today. Today God speaks through His son Jesus. Jesus used the Holy Spirit to give these words to the apostles. The apostles wrote these words down and we now read in the New Testament the Word of God.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. “

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Paul in writing to his student and fellow preacher, Timothy, tells us in the passage above that all scripture (the Bible) is inspired by God. From the original Greek that this passage was written in, we understand that scripture is “God breathed” – it comes from the mouth of God. We understand it is the Word of God. This is what we have studied so far. We also learn that it equips us for “every good work”. Think about that. There is no good work that is not in the Bible. We can understand this when we remember what Jesus said in John 16:13, the apostles were told the Holy Spirit would “guide you into all the truth”. All truth prepares us for every good work.

When we read the Bible we must understand that it is not like any other book we might read. We might read books for school, for college, for work or for pleasure. The Bible is very different though. It is not the words of men – it is the Word of God.

For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

1 Thessalonians 2:13

God speaks to us today. He does not do it in various ways, He speaks to us through His Son, through His word – the Bible

Ezekiel's Baptism

2011-05-19T06:20:00.001+03:00

We we so happy to witness the baptism of Ezekiel into Christ. Jesus said, "He that believes and is baptised shall be saved." mark 16:16. We rejoice with the Angels in Heaven

It Is Well With My Soul

2010-01-31T10:37:00.001+03:00

New Year's camp

2009-12-30T11:22:00.001+03:00

We are having a lovely time down south (where's it's cooler) with a number of the brethren. We spent an hour last night singing totaly from memory wonderful.

-- Post From My iPhone

The work done

2009-12-29T06:58:00.001+03:00

As I write this I am home from Arusha, Tanzania. It has been a very good trip - a different trip. While we have not accomplished yet all we desired to do, but we have done all we can and we now await the Tanzanian Government to do their part.

Allen Mkita has been a wonderful co-worker and he is more than capable of completing what is now lacking. I feel very fortunate to have been able to have worked with him.

During this trip we have accomplshed a lot of "organisational" things. We have made two trips to Dar es Salaam (and I have learnt a lot about travel in Tanzania). We have studied with many people and we have witnessed two souls being born again in the waters of baptism.

I would like to thank all those who have assisted me in this endeavour and also all who have been praying for me and the work. I do not believe that anything could have been accomplished without your prayers.

-- Post From My iPhone

A New Birth

2009-12-22T16:34:00.002+03:00

This Sunday in Arusha was another wonderful day. Not only did we worship with the brethren, but two new souls were added to the church.

The day started well when Allen received a call from a man we had studied with quite a bit. He had also been coming to church a lot. Charles wanted to tell Allen that both he and his wife wanted to be baptised for the forgiveness of their sins that day. What a way to start!

We had a wonderful service. I am sure the singing get better and better every week. The brethren asked me to teach again and I taught on the “new birth”. It is so encouraging seeing the very good attention the brethren show. You can really tell how much the brethren want to learn the Word.

After services we headed to the river. I took 2 car loads of people - a lot wanted to witness this baptism and the rest rode on a mini bus (or Dala dala, as the are called here). As we were waiting or Allen and the rest of the brethren to arrive to rain started - lightly at first, but then a full blown tropical down pour. We only had the lee of a shed to stand under. We were all lined up standing on a wall to keep out of the rain. It really looked like we were ALL going to get fully wet.

After about ½ hour the rain stopped and we were able to cross the river and head up to the baptism spot. By the time we got there, the character of the river had changed completely! While is was running fairly well, it was now a chocolate brown roaring torrent!

I tried to tell Allen that perhaps it be better to station men down stream so there would not be any accidents but he wouldn’t hear of it. In he went right is and baptised both Charles and his wife Mary. Afterwards we had a prayer and I had a few words. I told them them that their faith was an example to all. It would have been easy for them to say the they did not want to be baptised that day, but they were totally unhesitant!

We are so thankful to have witnessed the New Birth of these two wonderful people. God is so gracious.

A Trip to Kondeni Village

2009-12-09T14:17:00.004+03:00

Allen and I decided on Tuesday to visit a brother, Ibrahim, who had started a congregation in his village. This is a brother we had studied with before and who understood the true worship - we wanted to go and encourage him in his work.

When Allen spoke to Ibrahim on the phone, he was told that it was just past Himo town. We looked on the map and saw that it was about an hour and a half away. We decided to give the trip 2 hours and headed off about 9 a.m. to get there about 11.

It was a very good drive to Himo. Arusha is on Mt. Meru and very green. To get to Hemo you drive east down the mountain to the Massai Steep. It is a lot drier here and the landscape is covered in volcanic rock that have been spewed out of the mountains. You leave the Steep and head up to the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro (the highest mountain in Africa). To get to Himo you drive around the foot of Kilimanjaro past the large town of Moshi, the drive is really beautiful.

When we got to Himo, Allen asked directions and found that we had to leave the main road, and the tarmac and head north, on a dirt road. Now, the car that I have hired is a 4 cylinder Toyota sedan. The designers in Japan had never thought that their cars would go anywhere like they go in Tanzania. This road started out bad! The volcanic rocks that we had seen before were back and they we strewn all over the road. It was a very slow journey, easing over the largest bumps, trying desperately not to hit the sump or any other vulnerable part of the car. In reality, a 2 wheel drive can go a lot of places that you might not think it could. All you have to do is pick your line and drive very slowly. There is no point rushing when there are big rocks trying to stop you!

Allen was in contact with Ibrahim on the phone and he was told, “it is just a little way down the road”. We passed a convent and Allen again phoned up and was told, “a little further!” We went for another ten minutes and again Allen phone, “you will get there in about 15 minutes”. About this time, thankfully the rocks stopped and the track got better. We were heading up the mountain and Allen and I joked that we would climb Kilimanjaro in the car if we kept going - and kept going we did. Each time we phoned Ibrahim he told us that it was not far!

Eventually we called again and Allen described the shop we had stopped in front of and Ibrahim told us we had gone, “way too far!” It seems he was not at the road yet, so had missed us as we passed. This left us a little wary. How far off this track did we have to go?

We finally found him and we had a very warm reunion - Ibraham is a great guy who loves the Lord. He also speak quite good English, which is good for me! I told him that if the track got too bad we would have to walk. “Ok” he said, “it is not far” (what exactly he meant by that, we did not know!) Any way the track turned out to be not too bad and we made it a fair way before I had to stop and park the car. It was not a very long walk before we came to his house.

Ibrahim had gathered a number of Christians and some of the people he had been studying with and wanted me to teach them.

I was very pleased with how well he had organised things. We sang a couple of songs, had a prayer and then Ibrahim asked me to teach. Ibrahim started translating for me and did a VERY good job! This is important for me to know so that Allen does not have to do all of my translating.

I taught on the church, using Matthew 16:13-19 as my text. I then opened up the study to questions and the men gathered had some very good ones. I could tell they had paid good attention and understood about the one church that Christ built. There were questions about entry into the church and how we worship. These questions opened up good opportunities for further teaching. I could tell that Ibrahim was very pleased with how things were going. The study lasted for about and hour and a half and Ibrahim did the lion’s share of the translating, but it is very hard work and he asked Allen to take over towards the end. Allen Mkita does such a good job of translating and makes it seem so easy that sometime you forget how much mental gymnastics they are doing.

After the study Ibraham’s neighbor wanted us to go over there and pray for her mother and then we headed off down the mountain.

Both Allen and I were very pleased with this trip. It was an important one to help and encourage Ibrahim. While it was a difficult trip in a sedan, but with a different vehicle it will be easy and very pleasant.

Working with Ibrahim and studying with these people really reenforces my desire to work with these people. The gospel is spreading here and there is a lot of work for us to do.

Sunday Worship in Arusha

2009-12-07T17:39:00.001+03:00

We had a good day at worship yesterday. The brethren were all very happy to gather together, and while we did not have as many as last week, the number were still good. We also had a number of visitors too.

One man asked me before services about his baptism in the Pentecostal church. We talked briefly and after services he said he saw he had to be baptised again, but wanted to talk with his wife (who was in attendance also) as he wanted them to be together in this. Allen and I will study with them more this week.

I am so happy with how things are going with this church. The brethren are really interested in doing what the Lord commands and are very happy to hear his word.

Please pray for these brethren.

From Dar

2009-12-05T16:07:00.001+03:00

We had to be at the bus station by 8 a.m. on Friday morning and the taxi driver told me it would take an hour to get there, with the traffic. It was arranged that he would pick me up at 7a.m.

In order to finalize my bill, I was down stairs by 6.30 (far too early for breakfast - the restaurant opened at 7 a.m.) The taxi driver was there already so we headed out right away. The traffic… well there wasn’t any - we got to the bus station by 6.45 for a 8.30 departure! I knew I had a wait. Fortunately Allen was there early also, so we at least had each other for company.

I had read on the internet that Scandinavian Line was the best service, but started having my doubts when busses started arriving. Allen assured me that these busses were going elsewhere, but the Arusha bus would be better. We spent the time watching literally hundreds of busses departing for all over the country, and other countries as well!

The time was progressing. 8.30 arrived and passed with no bus for Arusha. However, I was ready for this. You just have to “chill out”. There is nothing to be gained by getting excited. At about 9 a.m. The bus turned into the yard and we left by about 9.15 - only 45 minutes late, so that was not too bad.

Regardless of Allen’s claims, I could not see that this bus was ANY better than the others I saw, but it was comfortable and with all the windows open, it was not too hot. Apparently the air conditioning stopped working many years ago.

We are doing pretty good for about an hour and a half when the driver stopped to check the vehicle. He announced that there was a puncher, so there would be a short delay. Most of us got off the bus to see the free entertainment and after a while the offending wheel was off. So too were half the studs (the bolts that hold the wheel in place). This was not just a flat, if we continued we would be in real danger of loosing a wheel! Phone calls were made to headquarters, but to no avail.

Finally it was decided to remove one of the other back wheels, take off some of their studs and put them on the offending wheel. This they did with the willing help of a number of young men and the free advice of most of those who had gathered to watch. We were in a small village and entertainment of this sort does not come by that often.

After about 2 hours the studs were swapped and the wheel replaced. The driver did not look too happy, but we headed off anyway. Apparently there was a mechanic headed our way, so we would have help if we needed it.

We drove on for about an hour or so when the driver stopped to check the wheel. He announced that it was getting very hot because of friction and we were in danger of loosing the rest of the studs. The wheel was the wrong sort and the nuts would no tighten up as they should. We were in REAL trouble.

I had an idea that they could swap the offending wheel for in inner wheel on the back of the bus. This would save the friction problem as the outside wheel would hold it firm. I was sure they did not want advice for a muzungu (white man) so I left them to work it out.

Eventually that is just what they did and after another 2 hour wait we were on our way. The mechanic did turn up eventually with the wrong studs, so he was not much help really, though he was able to do some of the heavy work and save the driver and his conductor.

We were finally off again and we had no other mechanical problems. Unfortunately we were still only about half away to Arusha.

It was about 6 hours of hard driving to go through some beautiful country, but also through some torrential rain. I would like to be driving! About 11.30 p.m. We finally arrived in Arusha. The bus dropped me at the apartments and I was ready to drop into bed!

Everyday in Tanzania is an adventure and I thank God for his care and goodness.

In Dar

2009-12-05T16:01:00.003+03:00

I stayed in Dar es Salaam in a budget hotel and Allen said he wasted to stay in an “African” hotel. He had contacted his relatives in Dar, but there was no room for him to stay with them.

As arranged we met early the next morning and had a short Taxi ride to the Department of Home affairs. Allen disappeared to find out where we had to go and came back about ½ and hour latter. In the mean time I was entertained by Abraham the Bishop. This was a “street preacher” who was not a member of any church (but wore a Seven Day Adventist's chair shirt). All those who were sitting around me found him very funny and he was a nice person, even if his doctrine was rather way out.

Allen returned and announced that it was all done! They wanted some of our paper work to “check it out” by their legal team. They would let us know when we could come back - they did not tell us how long. Allen phoned them up later that day and will continue to do so until they are ready for the rest of the paper work. In real terms, a fax and a phone call could have done all that we did, but the personal contact is very important and at least we are making headway - even if it is a bit frustrating.

There was not much left for us to do. I told Allen I wanted to see the ocean and he wanted to see an aunt that lives in the center of the city.

Dar is a big city. It is hot and humid. As we walked around, pretty soon we were dripping with sweat. We saw the sea (the Indian Ocean looking East, back home we look westward over the Indian Ocean) then we bought our bus tickets for the return to Arusha on Friday. We were not going to fly back!

The best thing about the hotel where I was staying was the air conditioner! The worst - well, I will not go into all those. Needless to say I will NOT be staying there next time!