Easter Blessings

Easter is a significant day on our calendar because it represents the most significant event in human history - the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. All religious leaders are in the grave, except Jesus Christ. He is alive, alive in me, and countless others who have come to Him by faith. We are are still discovering the blessings of Easter as we walk with Him each day :)

Another kind of blessing we enjoy this time of year are beautiful sunsets as pictured above! February to May we get the best sunsets.

It was a blessing having Jennifer's mother, Patti Steenland, visit us for 3 weeks! She did amazing adjusting to a different time zone and culture, and had some amazing experiences. She came with me one day to Ujiji to see the maktaba and meet Gerald.

After visiting the maktaba and meeting Gerald, we went to the schools to teach the children. Patti greeted the children in both classes and Gerald and I brought the Bible lessons. It was a blessing for us all!

We also drove her about 1/4 mile from the maktaba to see the memorial of David Livingstone when Henry Stanley found him under the mango tree and uttered those famous words, "Livingstone I presume?" The tree is no longer there, but the memorial stands at the place where the tree

once was.

Unfortunately, we had to say good bye to "Grandma Patti" so she could get back home just before Easter. She had a great visit and it was such a blessing to have her join us for those 3 weeks! Lots of great experiences, lots of fun, love, and what a blessing!

Another blessing was Isaac made it home in time to spend a few days with Grandma before she had to leave :) It's been such a blessing to have Isaac back for his one month break!

After saying our goodbyes to Grandma, we began our 12 hour journey by car to Dodoma for an Easter conference with fellow missionaries from Germany serving in other parts of the country.

We had a good conference with great fellowship and studied the 7 sayings of Jesus from the cross. Easter Sunday was especially encouraging as we were reminded that we are all "weak Christians" but we have an omnipotent Savior!

Although we enjoyed the conference, we were glad when we arrived safely to our home in Kigoma. As the maktaba opened after Easter, with the TZ schools closed this week, we had lots of kids come to read and color :)

Children are a blessing! We are thankful they feel so welcome at the maktaba, and also enjoy the Gospel films and coloring pictures as most Tanzanians do not have crayons nor paper for coloring :)

Speaking of children, we are especially interested in one little girl who was abandoned at birth and taken to a local orphanage while Jennifer was working in the hospital next door. Adoption has always been on our hearts in the Lord's time. As we learned about this little one, it became evident that He was leading us to take care of her.

We are currently in the process and have filled out every form, sent every document, and checked every box! We are fighting for this little one we are calling "Grace" through prayer and hopefully within the next week or two we will be able to receive her into our home, first to foster and later to adopt if no family can be located. We appreciate your prayers for her as we anxiously wait for the process to be completed.

We are thankful for ALL of these blessings, but the greatest blessing of all is the Risen Christ! He is real and He is alive in us! We appreciate your prayers for the work and especially for little "Grace". Also as we continue to move forward with Camp Nuru, we have someone in the US putting together the building plans while we wait for the final land deed. Please pray with us that we would be given this final deed so that the work can begin. For now we are waiting, praying, and believing that this will all work out in the Lord's time.