News from Tanzania

Dear friends

We have just had the launch of Kanisa Mlimani (Church on the Hill). This is the church planted by Martin Ubwe, up at his home in Pugu Hills just outside of Dar es Salaam. It is a work that God started in Martin the day he simply made himself available to share the Good News with two neighbours. That led to them being saved and he started meeting with them daily, teaching foundations. This soon led to other neighbours asking to join and so the Lord added ... we have seen so many people getting saved through that little group - muslims, animists, religious ...

One story I have to tell you is the day two muslim ladies that had travelled from Kawe (over 2 hours away by daladala) pitched up at his door, looking for the catholic priest who prays for people. Martin said he didn't know who that was, but they insisted that they had heard from down in Kawe that there was someone who could help them up here in Pugu and that everyone had pointed them to his place and told them that that is the house they need to go to. "Well", Martin told them "I'm not a catholic priest, but yes we do pray for people here". They pleaded that he would pray for them as they had been afflicted and tormented by demons for some time and their imam was not able to help. Martin called some of the folk from their group to minister with him and they prayed for them. After some time they were both delivered and afterwards gave their lives to Jesus. Martin gave them the contact details of a pastor friend living in Kawe and they left rejoicing!

Martin was ordained into eldership at Lighthouse Church in February 2009, after which we had a massive celebration up in Pugu. It was amazing to see the turnout of friends and family that gathered together to witness and celebrate this event.

So all of this culminated in the 25 October where we officially launched (or formally recognised or whatever..) the church plant. I have to say without bias that it was the most joyful day I have experienced here in Dar. And that is really not because the days here have been dark and gloomy at all! We have had incredible times here, fun times and lots of joy ... but that Sunday was like diving into the cool ocean on a hot, steamy day ... like dancing in the rain and splashing through the puddles. This was the day that the Lord had made ... and we rejoiced and were glad in it!

So that has been the sweet side of life here, but there is also a bitter. We had opportunity to discuss with Alan and Marcus, (the two team guys from New Covenant Ministries International that speak into our lives) the season that we were in and what lies ahead. This included looking at the state of our family, our finances, the church and projecting that into the next season. The outcome of our discussions and deliberations was that we would return to SA by the end of this year, Meg will start grade 11 in SA and Jess will be starting at Tukkies. We had no idea of where we would be going although we have received wonderful offers of accomodation from all over (Jesus said you'd have no shortage of housing!). However after allowing for a time of processing, we have felt that to return to Nelspruit/White River would be the correct move for us - from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.

Although it is impossible to describe the emotions involved in the deliberation, this was not a decision made lightly and carried incredible pain. Because the core of the church was either leaving to SA (Mike & Lydia also moving back to SA) or transferring to Pugu, the decision also meant closing down Lighthouse Church in Masaki and for me this carried the most pain as there still remains those who will have to find another church. I myself have criticised those shepherds who have (seemingly) so easily left the flock to fend for themselves ... another lesson learned - don't criticise until you've walked a few miles in his shoes, check. It is hard to describe the heartbreak I experienced, but as I read Jeremiah the following morning God echoed it for me:

"A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping,

Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted,

because her children are no more."

I couldn't wrap my head around it... but I knew God was in it. I couldn't understand it ... but I received the peace that passes understanding. God spoke: "in days to come you will understand this" and that was enough for me. Whether Lighthouse was a Rachel giving birth to Benjamin, a Moses giving way to Joshua, a David not building but Solomon ... many pictures of new beginnings, whatever it may be that God is purposing, it will be purposed .. His word will not return to Him without accomplishing that for which He has purposed it. We are most grateful to the people who have been part of our lives here in Dar es Salaam and know that a part of our hearts has been removed and planted here. The passage above goes on to say:

"Restrain your voice from weeping
and your eyes from tears,
for your work will be rewarded,"
declares the LORD.
"They will return from the land of the enemy.
So there is hope for your future,"
declares the LORD.
"Your children will return to their own land."

Much love

Andrew