HOLDING THE ROPE
Updated: Aug 27
(Playing around with/AI ☝🏼)
We are “hanging in there” in TZ, and are happy to share with you what the Lord has been doing recently! THANK YOU ALL for “holding the rope” for us! When we first left our church back in NC 8.5 years ago for TZ, the phrase “Holding the rope” was used often. The phrase means that as we descend into the world of foreign missions and it’s many challenges, the saints back home are “holding the rope” in prayer.
We have been busy continuing the weekly Bible classes in the government schools, bringing Emmaus courses to the villages along Lake Tanganyika, working on Camp Nuru, and contributing to the work going on at the chapel in Kizenga. Jennifer is working hard on her masters in midwifery online, caring for our young children, and the kids have begun the new school year! Whew! Busy times!
John traveled back to NC August 12 to bring Isaac to Emmaus to begin his first year of college. We are excited for him, and will be holding the rope for him as he adjusts to college life here in Dubuque, Iowa.
Elaina and I left Isaac at Emmaus, and headed back to Raleigh, NC to begin our preparations to travel back to TZ together to join Jennifer and the kids. We are ready to be back together, and to get back into our ministry and school routines.
Before my brief trip to the US to get Isaac to college, and return to TZ with Elaina, Gerald and I made a trip down the lake road with the Emmaus courses. We are encouraged by the steady list of students earning certificates of completion, and also by their spiritual growth from their time in the Word.
We also have local students who pass through the maktaba for their Emmaus courses. Above is one of those students who came to collect his 3 certificates. The maktaba continues to be a crucial part of our work in Ujiji as we not only use it for the Emmaus ministry, but for the eyeglass/Gospel work that goes on daily, the Gospel films that are shown regularly, and it is also our home base for other ministries.
Our little chapel in Kizenga is doing well, and we are thankful for the spiritual growth we are seeing. Jennifer is stepping in more with the Sunday School as our main SS teacher went off to college. He has been greatly missed, but it has given opportunity for another young man to step up. Pray with us for Antony, who will hopefully grow into this role as Sunday School teacher.
The Lord's Supper is a sweet time together each week. Although there are only a few of us gathered together, the believers have really grown to enjoy and appreciate this time of remembrance of our Lorrd Jesus Christ.
At Camp Nuru we are continuing to work on our retaining wall before the dry season ends in early October. We have also been working inside the camp walls to clear trees, and dig out stumps to prepare for the building of the cabins and lodge.
Above is a picture from a camp work day with some of the youth from the chapel in town. We are gearing up for a team which is coming out in early September to do a few projects for the camp. The team will be led by Doug Lindley from Horton Haven Camp in TN, and this team of 8 will be his 3rd! Pray with us that the trip will be a blessing to us both in the Lord.
Justin has been adjusting well, and is teaching Sam how to weld in the picture above. I’m sure Justin and Naomi would appreciate your prayers as they continue to adjust to married life and missionary life all at the same time. Thankful they are doing well, and very involved in the work in various ways.
My favorite part of our ministry is the weekly Bible classes in the 2 government schools. The children are eager to learn, and excited when we come. Above I am passing out a Gospel tract that clearly explains the forgiveness of sins. I was encouraging them to take it home and let the family read through it.
As I write this (very late) blog, I am sitting in an airport in Raleigh waiting for our first flight to begin the journey back to TZ. We do not know when we will return to the US again at this time. Isaac is at Emmaus this year, and Elaina has begun her senior year of high school. Jennifer will complete the classroom part of her masters program in June of 2027, and will need to do her clinicals in a US hospital shortly after. Grace will not be able to migrate to the US to complete the adoption on the US side until 12/2027 or 01/2028. We had been seeking a tourist/visitor visa for her so we could return for a furlough, but that looks unlikely at this point. The Lord knows and will lead us on either delaying Jennifer’s clinicals or speeding up Grace’s process. It would be great to all come back in June/July to get Elaina settled back in the US after graduating high school in May 2027, but we will wait and see which path the Lord opens for us. He knows best and we want His plan!
We leave it all in the Lord’s hands! As the song says, “I raise up my hands, and fall into His plans!” We said our goodbyes to our home assembly and the wonderful saints there, and my sister, Elizabeth, at the airport as we checked in for our first flight. We are encouraged to know that you are “Holding the rope” for us! 😅
Thank you for your prayers and support as we serve the Lord in TZ!
~ The Kinlaws
Prayer Requests:
Please pray for Jennifer as she perseveres in her masters program in midwifery.
Please pray for Isaac as he adjusts to his first year at Emmaus, and for clarity on the Lords will and direction for him.
Please pray for John and Elaina as they travel to TZ from NC leaving Tuesday (today) and arriving this Friday.
Please pray for clarity on future decisions regarding Jennifer’s school and Grace’s visa.
Please pray for our son, Samuel, for salvation.
Please pray for Elaina’s adjustment back to TZ after a summer in the US.
Please pray for the US team coming in September, for a profitable time, safety, and spiritual blessing.
Please pray for Camp Nuru as we prepare for rain season in October, and hopefully build the soccer field before end of year.
THANK YOU
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