"Mungu Akipenda"

My little friends in Ujiji :)

"Mungu Akipenda"is the same as saying "If the Lord wills" in English. I hear these words almost every day as plans for tomorrow are discussed or there is a parting of ways, someone usually says, "Mungu Akipenda". Literally it means "If it pleases God" or "If God wishes". James was warning us about assuming the certainty of tomorrow in James 4:15, "Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.'"

Since our last blog update, the world has been turned upside down over the corona virus pandemic. Travel bans, cancellations of various conferences, sporting events, entire seasons, and even the ACC and NCAA Tournament! All of this is a reminder that tomorrow is uncertain at best! Wow, did you notice what that verse said? Lets look at it again...

"If the Lord wills we shall LIVE, and do this or that."

We are not even guaranteed to be alive tomorrow! Perhaps that is why the Lord Jesus says in His Word, "Today is the day of salvation!". HE says, "today", while you have breath, while you still can, believe on Me and you shall have eternal life. "Tomorrow" is the devil's word, just wait and do that tomorrow, but tomorrow the message is the same! There is no guarantee for tomorrow, but today there is a loving offer from a gracious Savior,

"Whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

One day at the maktaba in Ujiji a MSLM neighbor stopped by to greet us. Before she left we invited her to take a free Gideon New Testament, and then Gerald invited her to church. She didn't say no, which is Tanzanian culture, they rarely say no to anything right away, but as she walked out she said, "Mungu Akipenda!" I quickly responded with "Mungu anapenda!" (God does wish this to happen!) She looked surprised, but I explained that we already know that God is not willing that any perish but all come to repentance and for all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth! This is God's will for every person! She laughed it off and went her way, but its true! There is no uncertainty concerning God's love for you!

I had this sign made to advertise the Emmaus Courses on one side, and when we show "The King of Glory" film, we turn it around to the other side. We continue to have Emmaus courses returned each week for grading, and we show Gospel films each afternoon. The neighborhood kids really enjoy watching "The King of Glory" and "The Jesus Film" both in Swahili. Wednesdays and Fridays Gerald and I close the Maktaba for an hour and walk up to the schools to teach the Bible.

I am still amazed that we can teach the Bible in the schools! I'm even more amazed at the hunger these kids have to learn about God and His Word! It is such a joy to teach the Word to them. Pray for the Lord to open their understanding and for them to be saved and grow as we study His Word together! Above, I am teaching on Genesis 3, "The Fall of Man".

Gerald is teaching on Genesis 22, when Abraham was tested by God and offered Isaac as a burnt offering, but was stopped by the angel at the last moment. He did such a good job of explaining the picture of the Gospel given to us in this story. He used a student as an example of Isaac first, and then another student as the ram! The kids loved it and seemed to really understand that this pointed to a coming day when God would not spare His Son (As Abraham was allowed to do), but delivered Him up for us all.

Above, you can see (pictured in the middle) the kids raising their Bibles in the air. They are so thankful to have their own Bibles! Although we are working through the Old Testament to lay a good foundation before we move into the New Testament, they bring their Gideon NT each week. The above lesson was on Genesis 4, Cain and Able, "The 2 Ways of Man".

Above, was the last time I saw many of the street boys. They were rounded up and taken to an orphanage on the outskirts of town and have been there for two weeks now. On the one hand, I am happy for them because they are being fed each day and have a place to sleep. On the other hand, I miss our time playing soccer and sharing the Word with them on Thursday mornings. This week when I arrived for this ministry, we eventually had 3 boys show up who were not originally rounded up with the others. Pray for them all, the Seed has been sown, they have heard the Gospel for over a year now. As we read in Genesis 4 about Cain and Abel, "... in the process of time" they both brought their offerings. After hearing the Gospel from their parents, and a period of time to process the truth, these two eventually responded. I pray these boys will all respond as Abel did, by faith in the Savior.

You are looking at an answer to many prayers! Paula came out to Kigoma February 1, and has been teaching our two youngest, and one other ever since. Sam, Katie, and Lincoln have enjoyed their new class, but not as much as their parents! There is a huge need for teachers on the mission field! Paula has a servant's heart and she has been such a blessing to us! She plans to continue this work on our behalf until we leave for the US in the middle of April (Mungu Akipenda), and she will return to the US a few weeks later. We all appreciate your prayers as we travel during this time of uncertainty.

We have not heard anything regarding our appeal, but remain hopeful that we will be granted our permit eventually, "Mungu Akipenda". Before the corona virus hit, we purchased one way flights to the US, needing to have some concrete plans as our scheduled furlough was coming up fast. As we continue to monitor the situation with the virus and travel restrictions, we are praying the Lord will make a way for us to return on our scheduled flight in mid April, but of course "Mungu Akipenda".

Below is our tentative schedule, although we do not know what things will be like in a month or even tomorrow, we make our plans before the Lord, but He directs our steps.

Everything is "Mungu Akipenda"!

• Arrive RDU 4/16 (very likely our flight will be altered in some way)

• 4/26 @ North Ridge Bible Chapel, Raleigh, NC

• 4/27-5/1 @ North American Week of Prayer, Florida (John)

• 5/3 @ Pittsboro Christian Village (evening)

• 5/6 @ Reidsville Bible Chapel, Reidsville NC

• 5/11-15 @ MTYC Homeschool week 1

• 5/17 @ NRBC (am) Raleigh NC

• 5/17 @ Western Wake Bible Chapel (pm), Apex NC

• 6/7 @ NRBC Raleigh. NC

• 6/28 @ NRBC Raleigh NC

• 7/5 @ NRBC Raleigh NC

• 7/12-18 @ MTYC Senior Teen Week

• 7/19 @ NRBC Raleigh NC

• 7/25-8/2 Family Reunion Colorado

• 8/9 @ Shannon Hills Bible Chapel, Greensboro NC

• 8/16 @ NRBC Raleigh NC