REJOICING
- John Kinlaw
- 11 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Hello Everyone! It is time once again to catch you up on what has been going on out here in the Kigoma area. As we reflect over the past several weeks, the word that comes to mind is “REJOICING!”, because we have much to REJOICE about! The Lord is definitely working in many ways out here in our area!
One of the highlights of the past several weeks was when Jennifer returned to Tanzania! The kids and I (John) met her in Dar Es Salaam for a few days together to rest and reacclimate before we returned to Kigoma together. It was a wonderful reunion!
We needed to catch up on some much needed dental appointments while in Dar Es Salaam. Sam and Katie were so nervous, as you can see above! We were all REJOICING when all of us were cavity free! 😅
In our small village church in Kizenga, we had our first baptism in the Kaseke River about a 45 minute walk from the chapel. We were REJOICING as three young men in our meeting, who have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, expressed the desire to obey the Lord in believers’s baptism.
I just love baptisms! My eyes “sweat” at every baptism I attend. This one was special, and an amazing experience. As we left the chapel on foot, we walked through the village of Kizenga, singing hymns and REJOICING along the way.
These are the three young men (above) who were baptized, between myself and the elder of the chapel on the right.
They were lots of bystanders watching the baptism, several were Muslims, and there were tons of little kids! I’m not exactly sure how deep the water is there, but definitely not over my head (6’1”)! They jumped anyway 🤩!
Another thing we are REJOICING over is the number of students who are finishing the Emmaus program! Gerald and I traveled down the lake road to the different villages this past Friday to bring new courses, graded exams, and certificates of completion.
There is a lot of preparation and organization that goes into these trips. It is such a joy to meet with the believers in each village who are so hungry for God’s Word. Many other villages are asking for someone to come and bring them these Bible studies on a regular basis. Truly, the need is so great, but the laborers are few! . 🙏🏼
Here are a few of the students who have completed all 36 courses, and received their final certificates.
The ministry at the maktaba is going well. People come in daily for reading glasses, but leave with the Gospel! We have Emmaus students who live locally and come to the maktaba for new courses. The King of Glory, and other Gospel films are running continuously while the maktaba is open. Others come in because of curiosity or with questions. I like to say that the maktaba is a “slow drip” of the Gospel. The Lord brings them in as He desires, and day by day for 7 years this little place has been open and slowly but consistently bearing fruit.
Justin Wallace and I have been working with the security guards at Camp Nuru to cut the high grass inside the camp walls. The dry season has begun, and we will not have any rain whatsoever until October. We are almost done cutting all of the grass.
Our big project this summer is to build a retaining wall outside the camp property to protect from future erosion during the upcoming rainy season. We have to go through the government office, get permits again, and plans prepared for this big job.
This huge gully was a small, hand-dug ditch to guide rainwater runoff away from the camp. Today you can drive a bus through it! We had some huge rains at the end of March that were so powerful, and dumped so much water, that within a few weeks that little ditch was turned into this massive gully.
The map above kind of gives you an idea of where this big gully (in blue) is in regards to the camp property. We also would like to build the workshop first, and move our tools and supplies into that building, which would free up the soccer field for ministry purposes.
Prayerfully, we would love to be able to subcontract the retaining wall to a contractor, and work on building the shop inside the camp. Please continue praying with us over this huge project, for the Lord’s provision and protection. REJOICING!
Jennifer is persevering through her masters program in Midwifery at Frontier University! Through all of her travels, she had to keep up a rigorous study schedule, and she continues to do very well! I made this AI picture for her as a joke, but she has had a pretty intense exam once a week for quite a while now, and this pretty much looks like exam day for her!
Let’s just say Grace and I bonded quite a bit during the four weeks Jennifer was gone! Grace is doing very well, thriving, singing, and very much enjoying having her mother back! I am reminded daily that I am in my 50s, and have a two year-old 😅! Lord help us (and He is).
In other family news, Isaac has officially graduated high school and has applied to Emmaus University. We’re still waiting for the final confirmation of his acceptance into the school, but Lord willing he will begin this August at Emmaus. We are so proud of Isaac, and are excited about the direction the Lord is leading him.
Elaina is staying in North Carolina until August, when I, (John), will come back to the US to move Isaac up to Emmaus. Once Isaac is all settled, Elaina and I will fly back together to Tanzania.
She is enjoying time with friends and family, our home assembly (NRBC), and will be serving at Mountain Top Youth Camp for 2 weeks.
Sam and Katie are doing great. They are both missing their older siblings, but they are keeping busy by working on school, and enjoying time outside with friends.
Lot’s to REJOICE about :)
We thank you all so much for your prayers and support!
The Lord is ALWAYS good!
A verse I’ve been meditating on recently is in Hebrews 11:6:
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who DILIGENTLY seek Him.”
I think far too often I CASUALLY seek Him, but the reward is for those who DILIGENTLY seek Him! What a challenge it has been to look up the meaning of that word, meditate on it, and ask myself if I seek the Lord like that! Let us seek Him DILIGENTLY, and we will discover that the reward is actually His presence ❤️.
REJOICING!
~ The Kinlaws
Prayer Requests:
Please pray for the three young men who were recently baptized to go on strong for the Lord.
Please pray for the many Emmaus students for spiritual growth and fruit that remains.
Please pray for the many seeds sown through the ministry at the Maktaba. Saving of souls.
Please pray for the Lord to open up a door for Grace to get a tourist visa before 2028.
Please pray for Jennifer as she continues in her studies, and for the Lord to reveal in His time, how He wants her to use this for His glory.
Please pray for the camp, and the big projects that will be going on this summer. We are praying for the Lord‘s protection over the work.
Please pray for John as he heals from an injury while working out at camp. He most likely strained his rotator cuff on his right shoulder.
Please pray with us for our children that they would all come to know the Lord Jesus and go on strong for the Lord ❤️. (3 are on target, 2 more to go!)
Thank you again!
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