Bwana Asifiwe!

Bwana Asifiwe! ("Praise the LORD" in Swahili) This is a phrase that is used many times during a church service here, and also the phrase is used as a greeting for Christians. The picture above was taken on a village trip last Sunday after the church meeting. We praise the LORD that the Gospel was clearly preached and there was much joy among the Christians there.

Perhaps we should say these words more often?

We have many reasons to praise the LORD!

As the psalmist said in Psalm 116:12:

"What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me?"

It has only been a few weeks since our last update, but so much has happened I felt I should send out another one! We are all doing well here in Kigoma Tanzania as we serve our great and Awesome God, and for that we give thanks. We have not yet heard anything on our visa situation, but are trusting the LORD to work in this situation to enable us to continue serving Him here in this place. However we are thankful that while we wait an answer we are able to continue in our work here.

We see some interesting creatures occasionally down here in Tanzania. One of our favorites is the chameleon. This guy was pretty big, and he didn't get too upset while we all checked him out. Chameleons turn a dark color when they get angry, but he stayed green until we let him go back up the tree.

The ministry among the street boys of Kigoma is continuing to go well. I praise the LORD for the help of my friend Emineli, who is also our mechanic, a deacon in the assembly, and a brother who loves the LORD. He suggested we also add some different games to our mornings occasionally, so this week I brought a rope for a big game of "tug-o-war"!

This was a lot of fun and helped the guys get warmed up for our game of soccer which followed. We have been having large numbers of boys the last few weeks, for which we praise the LORD! Last week we had 34 boys, and this week we had close to 30! That means more of these guys are hearing the truth of the Gospel, and many for the first time. We are also excited when one comes to us asking for help to go home.

The life that these boys live is rough, and it just breaks your heart to see so many suffering. This past week another boy came to me and asked me if I would be willing to help him go home to his mom and brother. He was tired of the streets, and was ready to go home. At least he had a home to go to, as many of these boys have nowhere to go. Emaneli and I were happy to buy his bus ticket, and help him return home.

We praise the LORD for the time we had with our dear friend, and trust he now knows the truth that God loves him, and sent His only Son Jesus Christ to suffer and die for him, so he could be saved and forgiven! I pray that the truths of the Gospel will eventually go from his head to his heart, and will keep praying for him. Praise the LORD!

Meanwhile in Ujiji, I have been discussing with the elders at our chapel about moving the EMMAUS Correspondence office and courses from the office at the chapel to the reading room in Ujiji. This idea was first mentioned to me by Harry Johnson, and after some time praying about it, it seemed to be the will of the Lord to add this ministry to the work in Ujiji.

Praise the LORD! This ministry will provide a much needed discipleship tool, and even evangelistic tool to the ongoing work there among muslims. Right now there are already 2 students who have enrolled in these courses in Ujiji, and another who said they would be ready to start this upcoming week. I have seen all of this interest even before we have moved the courses out there! For this I praise the LORD!

Below is one of the new students ready to get started on the first course!

We appreciate your prayers for these two ongoing outreaches among the street boys of Kigoma and among the muslim community in Ujiji.

We visited a village church this past Sunday with Harry Johnson. The village is called Kinasi. We met in the back yard of one of the elders houses while the new church building is being built. Although there is no building yet, the church was very much alive and doing great! We were encouraged by this sweet group of believers. I gave a Gospel message from the book of Romans which was well received. Praise the LORD!

So we have much to praise the LORD for as we continue to serve Him here in Kigoma, TZ. We covet your prayers for our visa situation, that we would be approved very soon and be able to continue our Gospel work here. We began this post with that verse, and I thought it would be good to look at it again:

Psalm 116:12

"What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me?"

As a Christian, you have every reason to praise the LORD! If you have received Christ as your Savior: your sins are forgiven (past-present-future!), you have eternal life, death has lost its sting, you have been given the righteousness of God as a gift, you have the Holy Spirit, you have a hope that never fades away, you KNOW the LORD, you KNOW true peace, and true joy, and true life! I could go on and on... Bwana Asifiwe!

Picture of the week! Now that's a Lizard! (monitor lizard)