We hope you enjoy this post as it should help to catch us up on everything from the end of our expedition season, to the retreat we just hosted for our team of pastors, and what's in store for us here in Tanzania!
Now!
The 2014 Annual Village Pastor's Retreat just ended. This year's title: "Building What Will Last." It was awesome. Take a look:
Worshiping in the presence of God was one of the central themes of the week.
This is our gang of village changers!
Local church leaders and our village pastors were together for Saturday's seminar.
Janet (far left in white) awaits her time to preach at MMPT Kibrizi Church.
Pastor Daniel with Sadok (pictured left to right) who just received the guitar we were able to bless him with after her led us in worship.
Janet and Nikki taking a stroll next to Lake Tanganyika.
Now that the retreat is over, here's what we're up to:
- The local seminar on Paul's Epistle to the Romans kicks off teaching and training season. Currently John and Nikki are preparing for teaching over the course of the next 5 months which begins with staff and team members, and reaches local schools, village pastors, and beyond. Subjects include Biblical studies, medical training, and vocational training.
- Ibrahim's farm will have 3 hectares developed and planted for this rain season.
- Mzee Josiah is about to finish his first semester of Bible school!
- Steve and Javen are getting treatment and rest while itinerating back in the USA, as they were the victims of a village roof collapse.
Soon To Come.
Ministry plans for the next 6 months, the prospect of digging some wells, and a teaching base!?
...So in the video we forgot to mention the wells! In short, we have an opportunity to dig a well in one of our staff member's villages and are in the process of looking for a well driller who can handle the job. If it comes together "well" (no pun intended), we might be able to follow it up with several more...so we will let you know how it goes!
In Review...
Expedition season started fast and ended faster! A month before we planned on ending expeditions, a roof collapsed while being installed on the church in Kamabwensofu, with Steve, Javen, and a fellow missionary dropping with it. They are now home and recovering well in the USA. But up to that point, we touched 7 different villages in ministry this year, and began sustained ministry programs in 5 of them. It was also another year of establishing solid foundations which have now set the stage for a real push into discipleship work that is beginning with teaching and training now in this rain season and will continue through 2015. Here are a few photo highlights...
It was incredible to introduce Ibrahim to his new motorcycle.
Getting to participate in CFaN's massive gospel crusade in Bujumbura with Ibrahim was a special time that has stretched our vision.
River passages were the common theme of this year's early expedition season, as our new set of recovery gear got us through places we couldn't previously pass.
In Missanga we were able to cultivate a deeper relationship with the village and believers there; and for the first time Pastor Daniel (center, in the white and green) was a part of our Annual Village Pastor's Retreat.
Back in August we began investing in a savings match program for Ibrahim to develop some farmland and generate a means of sustainable income for his family's future.
20 students through Section 1 of our Village First Response and First Aid Course this year.
Nikki, the kids, and Tryphone (far left) with a family we were able to support after their father died with tuition grants in exchange for bringing our medical seminar to their son's school!
Overall, it has been a very productive year. Although we always feel that there is room for more, and opportunities to get more effective and efficient, we have seen the hand of God touch many and open more doors this year that will help to continue and grow the work of the gospel in Tanzania.
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