Before coming to Tanzania, we decided on simple community living this month – as cheap as possible, and sharing resources. We also decided to trust God in providing and caring for us. Little did we know how much of a reality these two statements would be…
In the early hours of the morning of 2 September our plane landed on Kenyan soil. We waited excitedly for our luggage, so that we could walk under the African sun yet again (Egypt felt more like Middle East) and meet the people who would tell us what God is doing in the African church, and how we could serve them. Our fellow airplane passengers came with empty trolleys and went away happily with their bags. And we waited. And the conveyorbelt became empty. And we waited. And the sign changed to read another flight number. And we waited. Only three of the 12 World Racers going to Tanzania received their bags. The other nine bags? Probably somewhere between Iceland and Gordonia by now.
At the Lost Baggage counter we were told our bags could be here maybe tomorrow, maybe in 4 days, maby later. So we decided to go on ahead to Arusha, Tanzania, to start our ministry, and then let them send our bags to the airport closest to Arusha.
That meant that Estee, Clara, Anna Marie, Jessica S, Kim L, Sarah R, Lana and I have to live out of Lana’s bag for an unknown period of time. Lloyd and Stefan have to share all their belongings with Dude and Jacques. (thus we are forced into simple community living). The airlinealso gave money for every person missing a bag, so that they can buy what they need to live on. (thus God provided)!
Later that day we met up with Piniel, a Swahili brother in Christ. We were then taken to a church in Arusha – our home and ministry base for the next three weeks. The next morning, Sunday morning, all 8 girls were dressed in Lana’s clothes, ready for church.
The church service was filled with emotion as Africans sang, dances and laughed because of God’s joy; and wept because of their sins. We sang to them a few of our English songs. They replied with a Swahili worship song as their choir danced to the beat.
We also visited the Bible school at a nearby village. Their course is 6 months long, and teaches students everything from Bible knowledge to church planting. At 3 am every morning they wake up for 3 hours of prayer before their teachings begin. 5000 people have already been trained here, all in Swahili.
Luckily we received our bags on Monday night, and through this we came closer to one another and really experienced community living where if one person finds a useful item in their daybag, everyone rejoices and uses it. God is faithful!
Our main goal here in Arusha will be helping the local church, a very young church, in growing, evangelizing and serving the community. The last few days we have gone door-to-door sharing the gospel and encouraging believers.
Please pray for our time here, that we may walk in the will of God, and hear His voice. Also for our protection and health.
Greetings in Christ
