LIGHT in the DARKNESS

I had a Tanzanian friend who lives in Ujiji tell me recently, "Ujiji is changing."

He meant that in a good way. He said 10-15 years ago we would have never been able to open a maktaba like this, nor would we have been able to go house to house with the Gospel of Christ without some form of persecution.

Truly, Ujiji is changing.

It was when we were returning from a short 4 month furlough in the US during Covid, August 2020, that the LORD put a fresh burden on our hearts for a youth camp in Tanzania, and even more specifically, UJIJI.

CAMP NURU

(NURU means LIGHT in Swahili)

It made perfect sense because over half of the population of Tanzania is under 21, and there is not an established youth camp on the Western side of the country. We had already discovered an "unreached people group" hidden within the culture - CHILDREN! Children are often neglected and left to themselves. Tanzania is open to the GOSPEL - yes a youth camp made perfect sense! CAMP NURU...

OK let's do this LORD!

After much prayer, we began looking at possible locations and learning about the process of buying land in Tanzania, which is not easy. Land cases fill the courts in TZ as fraud and deception abound. One plot we looked at was eventually stolen because it sat for years with nothing built on it, so another family claimed it as their own. Another plot we investigated became smaller and smaller the more we learned about it! So we prayed and waited on the LORD.

We had to come back to the US in 2021 to walk my mother through her cancer journey, and when we returned, the burden was as fresh and heavy as when HE first gave it. We soon learned of 3 possible plots in Ujiji for this camp. We visited each one, prayed over them, asking the Lord which one HE wanted for the camp, and HE clearly led us to the one we are currently purchasing. After our own investigation we learned there were actually 2 owners & 2 plots, not just one. We definitely need both as one by itself is not big enough. We purchased the first plot and are now finishing the surveying.

Praise the Lord!

The second plot is where we have been met with opposition. The Muslim owner originally said he would sell, but then recently changed his mind. When asked again, he said he would sell, but for 3x the market value!

So what do we do? We know the LORD led us to these 2 plots. One is not big enough for a camp, but combining them together would be plenty. We knew it would not be "a walk in the park" to put a Christian Youth Camp in Muslim Ujiji! Yes, Ujiji is changing, but there is still plenty of opposition to the Gospel!

We don't give up, we don't quit, we don't turn back... we must PRAY. Would you pray with us over this situation? The LORD is using this to strengthen our faith in HIM and HIS great power. We are praying for our great and awesome God to change this man's heart. We are praying and claiming these many promises and invite you to join us in this battle.

Isaiah 26:4

"Trust in the LORD forever, for in the LORD is everlasting strength."

Psalm 62:11

"God has spoken once, and twice I have heard this; that power belongs to God."

Job 9:4

"HE is wise in heart, and mighty in strength; who has hardened himself against HIM and prospered?

Isaiah 43:13

"Indeed before the day was, I AM HE, and there is no one who can deliver out of MY hand; I will work and who will reverse it?"

Jeremiah 32:27

"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for ME?"

Psalm 68:35

"O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is HE who gives strength and power to HIS people."

2 Chronicles 16:9

"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to HIM."

Ephesians 6:10

"Finally my brethren, be strong in the LORD and in the power of His might."

Matthew 6:13

"For YOURS is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, AMEN!"

Ujiji is changing... yes it is.

LIGHT is shining in the DARKNESS.

The LORD is working and will put CAMP NURU in Ujiji for HIS glory! :)

Would you put CAMP NURU on your prayer list?

Thank you all so much, and we will update everyone as we have new information to share.

~ The Kinlaws