I want to apologize for not updating my blog this month. I had decided to fast from the internet this month, and unfortunately, my netbook picked up a nasty virus that has left me in the hands of internet cafes and community computers. My digital camera also picked up this virus so pictures and videos from this point on will have to be from my teammates. 
This was it. Tanzania: Our last month in Africa, the final destination before the last leg of our journey, a 4-month trek through India, Nepal, and Eastern Europe. The 48 hours in Dar es Salaam ended up being some of the most difficult of the Race, and the bus ride to our location this month (which was supposed to be a 9-hour trip) ended up being 16 of the most gruesome hours of my life; it was by-far the worst day of my Race.
Ministry this month was, well, bleak. We spent 85% of our time in ministry sitting in church services of Swahili, not understanding a word around us. Communication was frustrating beyond belief. Plans changed, hours were wasted waiting, ministry got forgotten about, and we were left with 3 weeks of very little “hands-on” work.
With that being said, I want to praise God for the great things of this month.
The overall theme for The S.E.E.D.S. this month was unity through struggle. Early on in the first days we gathered as a team, and took the first steps in coming together to get through these tough weeks. I have never relied on my team like I did this month; I am so thankful for their companionship, their friendship, their prayers, and support. We truly rallied as a team, and I praise God for that.
The highlight of my stay in Tanzania was the 5 days we spent in a remote village a couple of hours from the city we were based in for the month. Once again, for 5 hours a day we sat in a church listening to a service in a foreign language. But it was what happened outside of those walls that made an impact in my week. One night after Ryan preached about our Authority over sickness and negative things from the Evil one, the pastor of the village invited anyone who needed it, to come back to his house (where we were staying) for prayers.
I didn’t think much of it, and a few minutes after we got back to the house, we fired up the kerosine lantern and burst out the Monopoly Deal cards. We were interrupted by the news that we had a group of people outside wanting us to pray for them. So, one-by-one, they walked in, and we would pray for them corporately. The first 4 visitors walked away with no obvious sign of healing, just adding to what I had seen all Race long. Then came the 5th lady…
She was an elderly woman who complained about pain in her neck, her arms and her chest. When she spoke her words were barely audible because the chest pain had caused her to be almost mute for several years. We began praying. She told us the pain had left her arms. Then the pain was absent from her neck. Still, her voice soft and raspy, and the chest pain lingering. We didn’t accept that, and in the next few minutes of prayers the Spirit came down in a huge way. You could feel Her saturate the atmosphere in that room.
When we had finished we asked her to speak. Her words were amplified slightly, but nothing I’d call a miracle. Then our translator and my friend, Joyce told her, “shout my name!” ….. “JOYCEY!” again… “JOYCEY!”… it was getting louder and louder…again…”JOYCEY!!!” 6 times that woman shouted out her name, each stronger than before. I thank God for healing that woman in our sight!
For the first time in these 6 months, I felt like I was really on the Race. Something about walking through the African Jungle, going to a waterfall, then walking back, picking fresh oranges off a tree, and eating them on the spot… couldn’t have felt any more “African.” 
I mentioned Joyce in the story above. God brought her back to Mbeya (the city we stayed in) just 4 months ago, after spending 8 years in Dar, and there’s no doubt in my mind it was to meet us, befriend us, and help us out in an incredible way. Joyce is 24, and lives with her family nearby the church. Her parents had us over for lunch yesterday, and it was wonderful eating a meal and spending time with them. Joyce was so invaluable to our team this month. She speaks English, so she was, by title, our translator, although she’s become a close friend to all of us. I thank God for her friendship and how she has helped us out through these last few weeks; she really made a lot of tough situations much easier on us.
We are headed back to Dar tomorrow on the train; it’s supposed to be a beautiful view through the mountains, and it’s a 24-hour trip in a sleeper car. (we all vowed to never get on an African bus again).
We’re planning on spending 3 days in Zanzibar at a resort on the beach. It will be our farewell vacation to Africa, and much-needed rest and relaxation.
It’s crazy to think we’ll be at the beach Friday, and flying over Mt. Everest on Tuesday. Nepal here we come!
