Our ministry in Arusha is consistent but different everyday. We are working with Pastor Norbert and his church, Bethel Family Worship Centre. It is such a joy to be working with him and his loving staff.
Some of the great things about ministry involve walking around just outside of the city along the dusty roads up and down the hills as you listen to the rustle of the leaves in the green trees blowing in the breeze, see the gentle explosion of dust spraying upward from underneath your feet, and hear the distant calling of cattle. We get to experience this most mornings of the week as we go around from house to house, family to family sharing the love and encouragement of Jesus. We each take turns sharing with each family why we are being welcomed into their homes. We inform them about why we left our homes to come talk to them. Then the rest of the team then spends time seeking the Lord asking Him for words of encouragement or other words to speak to them. It is not only a great time for our team to be seeking the Lord, but the time that we spend with each family is more genuine.
We have also practiced our rock star futures by singing at the local secondary school. We have gotten really good at performing “Every Move I Make” and getting the students involved in singing and doing the hand motions for the chorus.
Waves of Mercy, Waves of Grace
Everywhere I look, I see Your Face.
Your love has captured me.
O, my God, this love, how can it be?
I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know, what?
I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know, what?
We get the opportunity to visit the Christian Club and share the gospel and speak words of encouragement once a week. It is really impactful, not just for the students, but for our team as well. There are over 100 students crammed in a schoolroom that are eager for the Word of the Lord. The students start off by singing worship songs and praying to our Father. It is really encouraging to spend time with our fellow Brothers and Sisters in Christ, encouraging them and seeing their love for Jesus and their hunger for the Word.
Other ministries we get to partake in are weekly Bible studies for the church members and the ladies are involved in a Women’s Bible Study once a week. We get to bring life and encouraging words to one another. I really enjoy the Women’s Bible Study because it is a time to get intimate and dig deeper into issues that women deal with.
One of my most favorite ministry opportunities this month is when we visit the Rise Africa Orphanage. The children there have guardians, such as a grandparent, aunt or uncle that can provide a home for them. The children come here for food and support. There are 39 children, all between the ages of 3-5. It is such a treat being able to love on the children and spend time with them, learning from them. Learning how to love better and more purely.
Friday nights we are involved in the Friday Night Prayer services that start at ten. At night. It is quite an experience for my tired body that likes to wake up early in the mornings and go to bed shortly after dinner. It is a powerful time though. It is quite an exciting time in my Spirit, gathering together with other Brothers and Sisters and coming together to speak to our Lord. Our team also shares a few short messages while we are there to help bring more of the Lord’s Word to the Church.
Sundays are filled with lots of worship and dancing. We have found the typical African church service, our third month of being in Africa. The services last a really long time. Not that I am complaining. The first Sunday, singing and dancing the Electric Slide did not end until 2 ½ hours after the service started. It was a lot of fun listening to the Church sing in Swahili, dancing, singing whatever my Spirit was singing to worship the Lord and trying to clap on beat with their African rhythm. We have shared a little bit of our stories with the Church and we take turns sharing a message from the Word.
So our ministry is pretty consistent but different because every morning we get to be involved in door-to-door evangelism and in the afternoons it is something different. It is consistent, but also a variety. A consistent variety.
