Back to TZ!

It was an exciting day as Isaac, Sam, Katie, and me (John) left TZ for a one month trip to the US. The last time some of us were in the US was back in the summer of 2022! Jennifer stayed back with Elaina, and Gracie in Kigoma as we persevered through the uncertainty of a needed visa for Grace to come with us to the US.

Silly Grace has asked several times, “Daddy coming home??” The house in Kigoma has been quiet without all of us not there! That is all about to change this week. Tuesday we fly back to TZ, but leave Isaac back in NC with John's sister, Elizabeth.

Isaac graduates high school in May and was planning to enlist in the Army, but the Lord opened up an opportunity to go to Emmaus University in Iowa for a one year Bible degree. We feel like this will be good for him to mature and deepen him spiritually before enlisting.

We not only came back to get Isaac settled, but also for John to speak at the 26 Below missionary conference in NC. The conference went well and it was such a blessing to study God’s Word together, enjoy great fellowship, and even get in some basketball!

We had quite a group that filled 2 vans from North Ridge Bible Chapel in Raleigh. It was such a great conference!

I had the privilege of baptizing Isaac while we in NC! We had been talking about it while we were back in TZ, and while we were in NC , he was ready to obey the Lord in believer’s baptism. Another blessing we enjoyed on this trip!

We had some great family get togethers on both sides of the family. Above is the KINLAW side on Easter Sunday enjoying the afternoon together. So good to see family and friends after so many years away! Below, we also enjoyed the wedding of one of our cousins on the STEENLAND side!

It was a month of much blessing, good food, great fellowship, excellent teaching, and much needed family time. Although it was a great month of blessing, but we have sure missed Jennifer and the girls so much.

We are looking forward to returning to Kigoma, leaving NC Tuesday, and arriving on Thursday morning. It will be so good to be back together again ❤️!

After a brief time together, (2 weeks), Jennifer and Elaina will take their turn and come to the US for a short break. Jennifer is speaking at a ladies missionary conference in Connecticut in early May. We appreciate your prayers as we navigate these challenges, juggling family, ministry, home school, and the adoption/visa for Grace.

Jennifer is continuing on with her masters program in midwifery through Frontier University, and has just begun a new course this week. She will be ready for some help around the house when we arrive home on Thursday!

CAMP NURU UPDATE

Over the month of March, Kigoma has had some very destructive rains which have damaged and enlarged the drainage ditch beside our property!. It has eaten much of the road away and is now threatening to bring down a large section of wall!

PLEASE PRAY

Dry season begins in mid May which means the rain will literally cease until October! If we can make it to mid May, we will have the summer to do some major repairs and reinforcement to this area. Until the government brings the new road all the way down to the camp, and installs proper drainage ditches on both sides of the road, we will have to do all we can to protect our property.

BRETHREN PRAY FOR US!

We thank you for your prayers and support! Thank you all so much for keeping up with our journey as we follow the Lord Jesus in this dark world!

~ The Kinlaws

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Please pray for Sam, Katie and I (John) as we begin our journey back to TZ on a KLM flight.

• Please pray for Isaac as he finishes high school, gets his drivers license, and prepares for Emmaus in August.

• Please pray for Jennifer and Elaina as they prepare for their one month break in the US, and for Jennifer as she prepares for the missionary conference in Connecticut.

• Please pray for a visa for Grace in the Lord’s time. (We will be eligible to bring her to the US for citizenship after Dec 12 2027, but are seeking a visitor visa whenever one is available.)

Thank you all so much for your prayers!

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼