New Beginnings

The most exciting life anyone could live, is a life of constant surrender to the Lord Jesus and letting Him live His life through you! He takes you places you would never go on your own, and brings you into experiences that you could only dream of. As we began this new year, we found ourselves entering into a season of many new beginnings. A season of the Lord fulfilling desires He had planted in our hearts many years ago. The key is surrender. We must give Him the keys and move over! It can be scary sometimes at the paths He chooses to take and His timing on things, but the old saying proves to be true, "Hind-sight is 20-20"! He knows what He is doing, and in the end you will be glad you gave Him control!

Jennifer started working in the hospital here in Kigoma in January in the labor and delivery department. After completing the long process of clinicals, permits, and visas, she is seeing the Lord fulfill this desire in her life :-) This picture above is of her delivering babies on her birthday who will share the same special day together - how cool is that!

The plan is for her to work a few half days in the hospital each week. The hospital she will be working in has over 300 babies born a month, and in her first week she assisted in several births. The hospital is often short staffed as well, so they are very happy to have extra help! Please pray for her as she learns the ropes in a 3rd world hospital.

Another new beginning and something we have all been praying about is Camp Nuru ("light" in Swahili). The Lord made it very clear to me at the beginning of this year that I need to go ahead and start building. We were holding off in order to get the property next to us, but we have a green light from the Lord to get started and we are excited 😄 !

This picture above was taken from one corner of the camp property. While the building plans are being made for a club house, cabins, and sports areas, we are bringing a concrete form out here to begin making our own blocks for building the wall and later the buildings.

Over half the population of Tanzania is under the age of 20! That statistic is accurately represented here, as children and youth are everywhere! This camp will be a great tool for reaching these children with the Gospel of Jesus Christ ❤️!

Please pray for this great work!

A new year of school began in January here in Tanzania. Their school year runs from January to the end of November with a one month break in June and another one month break in December. We are glad to be back in the two elementary schools to continue our weekly Bible classes.

We normally start the school year with some clear Gospel messages, especially for the new students coming in. This year I brought the paint board to better illustrate the Gospel for them. They loved this new method of teaching the Gospel step by step while also illustrating it w/paint!

I especially enjoy the beginning of the school year as we have so many students! They are all so eager to learn and they pay attention really well to the Bible lessons.

Mbano Primary School (above)

Karuta Primary School (below)

As a new year began, we got back to our weekly house to house evangelism in Kizenga. This type of ministry is much different out here in Africa, especially in the village. It involves jumping creeks and navigating long trails to get to a cluster of houses. Goats, sheep, and chickens are pretty much everywhere.

There is one man that I go visit every week because I know one week I will go and he will not be there anymore. He is in his 90s and doesn't have much longer to live. We call him. "Babu" which means grandfather.

Please pray for Babu to receive Christ as Savior before it is too late.

Back in Ujiji at the Maktaba, I was visited by one of our students at Karuta primary school who was supposed to begin Secondary school, but did not have the uniform nor notebooks, pens etc required to start. Instead of buying these items for him, we talked about the faithfulness of God and how He loves to answer prayer and meet our needs. We prayed together and brought these needs before the Lord by faith. I told Abeli to come back and let me know when the Lord answered our prayer. Two days later, he showed up with a big smile on his face, and was still in shock that God had provided all of his needs to start school! God is faithful!

Abeli is beginning his journey of faith as he learns to trust and walk with the living God who faithfully hears our prayers and works in our lives in many ways! We serve an amazing God! Abeli finished his first week of school, and Friday was in the Maktaba reading his Bible :)

I just received seven more certificates of completion for our Emmaus students. Each certificate represents seven completed courses, and these students will be happy to receive their certificates this coming week! Emmaus is a real source of encouragement to me because each time I receive the certificates, it reminds me that Tanzanians are studying God's word! Out here in Tanzania, evangelism is easy, but spiritual growth and discipleship is extremely difficult. We need all the encouragement we can get :-)

January has been full of new beginnings, excitement, answers to prayer, and encouragement, but not without its challenges :-)

Our children are all doing well, and staying healthy, for which we thank the Lord! Again we are so thankful for all of you, for your prayers and support in so many ways. It means so much to us to know that so many are praying and interested in what the Lord is doing out here in Tanzania!

~ The Kinlaws

PS: Below are a few misc. pictures