CLEAR VISION

Who would've known that eye glssses would be an effective way to build a bridge to reach Muslims for Christ? That's exactly what we are seeing the Lord do through the Maktaba in Ujiji. The above picture was drawn by our son, Sam, and he would kill me if he knew I used it in a Blog! He loves to draw, and especially loves to draw eyes.

Our eyes are very important!

As many of you know from experience, when we age our eyes fail us. Jennifer came back from the US last month and brought with her almost 200 pairs of reading glasses in various strengths to replenish our depleted supply. Since reading glasses are hard to get out here, Gerald and I offer them as a free service to help the many Muslims in Ujiji to be able to see clearly and READ!

We're thankful for the many who donated these glasses from our local church, North Ridge Bible Chapel. It's another way for us to partner together in the work of the Lord with other believers! They donated the glasses, Jennifer transported them out here, Gerald and I make them available, and the Lord goes to work!

Most of the men, if not all of them who have come into the Maktaba to receive glasses over the last month, have wanted to come in and talk to us to learn about what we are doing and why we are there, but were afraid of the backlash and opposition of friends and neighbors. Persecution is very real here, but more so for the local Muslims because of their network of friends and family.

Many times we have seen Muslims, when leaving the maktaba after a visit, asked why they were there! The free reading glasses give them a non-religious reason for being in the Maktaba. It has been amazing and eye-opening to see that when they come in, the first question is not about eyeglasses! They want to talk about the books that we offer, they ask for a Bible, they gather many free Gospel tracts, and any free literature on the Gospel BEFORE addressing their need for reading glasses.

Over the past month, the majority of those who have come in have been older men in their 50s, 60s, and 70s. These men are leaders in their mosques and communities, and will pay a price for turning to the Lord Jesus as their Savior. We need to pray for these men! This is what we call "soul thirst"! This world is a dry and dusty land where there is no water; meaning nothing this world has to offer, even a complex religion like Islam, cannot satisfy the soul which was created for the true and living God. The Lord Jesus is the fountain of living waters, and HE is the only ONE who can satisfy our thirsty souls!

Each week they continue to trickle in, one by one, being drawn by the loving hand of God to the well of Living Water. They come for reading glasses, but they leave with so much more!

Pray with us over each pair of glasses, and over these precious souls that need a Savior. My prayer is that the Lord would open the spiritual eyes of each one to see their true condition before God, and their tremendous need of forgiveness which cannot be found anywhere, in any religion, but only in the Lord Jesus!

Over the past few weeks we have been continuing our door to door or house to house ministry in Kizenga. We recently sat at one house for an hour and a half discussing who the Lord Jesus was with a Muslim family. The Lord gave much grace as we answered many of their questions. We also went to the market in Kizenga where I did a paint board Gospel message. We had a decent crowd and many listened from a distance. We were able to go through the Gospel step by step, and then gave out tracts to many afterward.

We appreciate your prayers and support in many ways as we labor in the harvest fields here in Tanzania! We pray that the Lord would open many eyes to the truth, and give CLEAR SPIRITUAL VISION to many thirsty souls!

Acts 26:18

"(Paul was sent to the Gentiles) to open their eyes in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins..."