Last night Peggy and I had the opportunity to share at our church, Calvary Christian Fellowship, about our trip to Mwanza.  In preparing to share we were again overwhelmed with thanksgiving to our Lord for the way he used this trip to change our lives.  He has drawn us closer to himself through this experience as we have drawn closer to him.  We refuse to return to our daily lives unchanged.  Our God is great and mighty, He is a refuge and a strength.  He is the God of many nations.  We went to serve and be a blessing and encouragement.  In return we were greatly blessed and encouraged as well! Thank you to everyone who supported this trip financially and thru prayer, may you be blessed!

Back in the States

Well, Peggy and I made it back to the US last night.  We fly out of New York this afternoon and should be back in Colorado tonight.  We were so blessed with great travel this trip.  We've been delayed a few times but it has all worked out beautifully.

The reality that we are back is sinking in rapidly and we are trying to figure out how to best describe our time in Tanzania.  How do you put so much into words? I don't know that we will ever be able to accurately describe what we've seen and been a part of, or begin to explain how we have felt during this trip.  What a blessing it has been to have shared this experience with one another and with you, our blog family.

As difficult as it is to sum up this experience, it is very easy to look back on our time in Tanzania and see God's hand.  His great majesty is declared in the beauty of His creation.  His love and compassion are displayed in His people. His voice is clearly spoken through His word and Spirit.  From sunrise to sunset God met every genuine need, provided protection and went with us.  What an amazing God we are privileged to serve!

Blessings!

Liko Lango Moja Wazi

Today we spent most of the day shoe shopping for the children.  We returned to find everyone busy preparing a gathering for us.  We felt very honored and loved.  It was humbling to hear of the ways the Lord has used us during our time here and we give thanks to God for bringing us here.  There was fellowshipping, singing, delicious food and sweet sentiments shared.  The children also surprised us by singing our favorite Swahili hymn (it's also the only one we know), Liko Lango Moja Wazi.  It is translated "The Gate Ajar For Me".   We were presented with letters from the children, cards from the staff, and dresses handmade by our friend Leah.  We were able to share our appreciation for everyone here and for the work the Lord has done. We were also able to pass out the shoes to the children.  A good time was had by all.  Please join us in prayer for thanksgiving and blessing for the Lord's work here and lift us up in prayer regarding our travels back to Colorado as we begin the journey home tomorrow.

Acts 20:35

Back in Colorado, our church family generously donated funds for our mission trip and Peggy and I have been seeking the Lord's guidance on how we could use these funds to bless the community here.  Well, yesterday Peggy and I went shopping in town for Bibles and towels for the boys and girls that were orphaned or abandoned, who are now part of the Christ's Hope family.  We got to pass out these Bibles and towels yesterday.  Oh it was so sweet to see these children loving cradle God's word!  Each child was so overjoyed and wanted us to send their thanks back to Colorado.



Thank you to all who generously supported this trip.  What a blessing it has been to share God's word with his children!  God bless you!

Tears and Laughter

A few of the boys are now on holiday from school and shared morning devotions with the staff and us today.  It was a time filled with tears and laughter.   The impact the Lord is having on these boys' lives through this ministry is amazing.  Please take a moment to lift up the staff in prayer as they continue to minister to and care for these young men.  May they keep their hearts focused on the Lord and his work here.  May they be protected from the enemy and may he have no footholds here.

Each morning we spend two hours with the little guys playing games and working on academics.  This is a great time for us to let these little ones know they are loved and we look forward to spending time with them each day.  When we first started they were very reserved, now they welcome us with hugs and snuggle close while we are working together.  It is going to be very difficult to leave these little ones.

This afternoon we helped prepare a traditional Tanzania meal for the CarePoints, ugali and small fish.  This one is probably not a recipe we will be sharing at home because the small fish were still looking at us as we ate! All joking aside though, it was a great experience to spend time with our dear friends cooking.

This was our last day at the Mabatini CarePoint Center.  The group of kids there are all between the ages of 11 and 15 and are as goofy as any other group of middle schoolers would be.  They love to joke around and have a good time.   We kept our lesson fun and did an art project today.  All of the kids we have had the chance to work with here in Mwanza have enjoyed making crafts and are very creative!


  

Peggy and her new BFFs

Today started out with a special Saturday morning devotion with the staff and boys.  It was so neat to have everyone all together.   After the devotion the boys gathered under the mango tree to see how many mangos they could knock on each other's heads.  It was very entertaining!

Then we headed to the boys house to make friendship bracelets.  We brought some from our home church that the kids made and the boys from Tanzania made bracelets that we will bring with us back to Colorado.  It was amazing to see the boys spend two full hours laughing, chatting, and braiding!  What special young men they are!  

The boys making bracelets

The rest of the day Peggy and I sorted through donations for the children and community.  We were able to take over clothing and sheets for all the boys and have a quite a few boxes to deliver to  local orphanages this next week.  When we delivered the donations to the big boy's house we were able to join them for nightly devotions.  The boys led worship, a time in the word, and prayer.  Once again we were blown away with spiritual maturity and close fellowship of these young men!

Praise Reports

• The Lord is doing a great work here in Tanzania thru Christ's Hope
• The children here are safe, cared for and loved

Prayer Requests

• We are looking into purchasing shoes, Bibles, socks and towels for the children here.  Please pray that we find favor with a retailer and are wise regarding these purchases.
•  We are beginning to realize that our time here in Mwanza is coming to a close and we want to utilize the time we have left to the utmost.  Please pray that we are hearing and following the Spirit's leading in this area. 

Safari

Tanzania is an amazing country!  Peggy and I had the opportunity to go on a safari in the Serengeti.  Words cannot describe the beauty of God’s creation.  We saw baboons, buffalos, lions, cheetahs, elephants, crocodiles, hippos, gazelles, impalas, giraffes, ostriches, monkeys, wildebeasts, zebras, hyenas, rabbits, and many birds.  We’d love to post a picture to sum up this experience but we have about four hundred pictures to choose from.   Here's a few of our favorites! 

It was a great experience, one we’ll never forget! 

It was very evident that we serve a mighty, ingenious, and intelligent creator!  As wonderful as our safari was it was a long two days away from our new friends here and we were so glad to return.  What a blessing it is to be a part of God’s family here in Tanzania!      

Today Peggy spent the morning with the little children at the boys’ home up the road.  She learned that the children were not familiar with balloons popping.  One little guy was quite traumatized by the experience.  I went to town to figure out some banking issues.  Each time we go to town it is an experience like no other.  Thankfully the issues have been resolved, praise the Lord! This afternoon we went to the CarePoint centers.  We had a wonderful time with the children and learned that using white glue for the first time is very exciting! 

Praise Reports

·    safe travels to and from Serengeti

·    sweet fellowship with our Tanzanian family

Prayer Requests 

·    prayers for the staff and leadership of Christ’s Hope

·    sponsorship for the children

Bwana Yesu Asifiwe! Praise the Lord!

Warning: We are learning more Swahili words and phrases but have noticed that our English is taking a turn for the worse as a result. Please excuse broken English sentences, we trying but is hard to make corrections.      

Yesterday Peggy and I had the opportunity to attend an African church service.  It was so beautiful to join our brothers and sisters in praise, worship, and study of God's word.  Once again we were warmly welcomed into the church family and saw many of our new friends from the widow's ministry and the care point children at the service.

The past two days the Lord has put a burden on both of our hearts to make the most of the time we have left here with the staff, volunteers, and children.  Just this weekend three people connected with Christ's Hope's ministry here in Mwanza passed away and we are continuing to see symptoms of infection with the children and people we are ministering with and too.  There are still so many children in Mwanza that don't have a place to go at night and sleep on the streets.  Jesus said in John chapter 9, "As long as it is day, I must do the work of Him who sent me.  Night is coming, when no one can work."  Christ had a sense of urgency in his ministry and so must his children.  

Peggy and I can't even begin to express our thanks for your continued support in prayer.  

Praise Report

• we got to visit another care point center today and had a great time sharing the word
• the boys who live just up the road are continuing to come for English tutoring and are such eager learners
• the staff and volunteers here were able to help out with all the funeral arrangements and services today

Prayer Requests

• for the Lord's work in Mwanza with the care point children, the boys, and the widow's ministry    
• for the local teachers and school staff and that Christ's Hope would continue to find favor with them to meet the needs of the children
• pray for strength and protection regarding spiritual warfare

A Glimpse of True Religion

In preparing for this trip the verse that kept coming up in our training was James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts are pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."  Today we got a wonderful look at the meaning of this verse in action.

Peggy and I had planned to meet with the boys today to do some tutoring, a Bible lesson, craft and sing some silly songs.  But first thing in the morning we got a call from the national director letting us know that we had a special invitation to celebrate with a local widow's group in Mwanza today.  So Peggy and I ventured into town with our friends John Samuel, Mapesa, Bebe Esther, and Joyce to meet with a group of widows.  When we arrived the ladies were busy cooking up a feast!  We shared a wonderful meal then took time to give thanks in praise and prayer.  The group consists of ten widows who gather regularly to share what they are going through, share encouragement and find support.   They are supported by a local church and Christ's Hope Ministry.  The women have been so blessed by this group that they are planning on expanding to meet the needs of the community in the year to come.

Some of these women have been widowed for many, many years and some just fairly recently.  The ten widows, all their children (nine in all), and six of us guests gathered together today to celebrate the year anniversary of the group and to give thanks to the Lord for meeting their needs, providing strength and comfort.  Please keep these wonderful women and their children in your prayers tonight.  

Toothbrushes!

This morning Peggy and I were able to share our knowledge of reading and computer programs with the staff.  This evening Peggy and I were able to spend time with the boys up the road.  They are mighty young men of God!  We worshiped and Peggy taught the Bible lesson today.   Then everybody acted out the story playing the parts of God's creation.  One boy played "God" and had a flashlight, another was the sun, another the moon and so on and so forth.  The boys were quick to volunteer one another and we all laughed as each person acted out their part.  What a fun time in God's word!



We then were able to pass out toothbrushes and toothpaste donated by Dr. Adair in Gyspum, Colorado.  The boys were so excited and thankful for these gifts.  

Praises:

• Peggy and I have not had any difficulties adjusting to the time change and heat
• We have been protected every step of the way
• We haven't hungered or thirst while in Tanzania

Prayer Requests:

• Continued good health and safety 
• The children- their sponsorship, well being, growth in the word, provision

Meeting the Kids!

Today we got to share a Bible Story and craft with the children at the GoGo CarePoint center!  We also went to meet the kids at the Sahara CarePoint center and will be returning on Friday to work on academics and do a craft project.  What a blessed day!

First Few Days

We are in Tanzania!!!  Peggy and I were blessed with great flights all the way to Mwanza. We’ve toured the city, been to a market and the bank, and eaten dinner on the coast of Lake Victoria.

We have spent most of our time here with the staff and volunteers for Christ’s Hope so far as we adjust to the time change and new climate.  They have showed us how to cook, clean, sew, and other day-to-day routines that take about 100% more effort than in the states. For example, every meal is cooked outside over coals, fabric is ironed with a coal filled, flat iron, and sweeping the compound with a two-foot long broom of dried grasses takes over two hours.  Everyone is such a cheerful servant of the Lord.  What a blessed place! 

Tonight we got to go visit a group home for former street boys.  The night began with worship, which brought us to tears.  Their blended voices and heartfelt praise to our King was definitely a joyful noise!  We got to share a Bible story with these boys and shared dinner with our new friends.   

Tomorrow we will be leading a song at morning devotions, continuing English lessons with the volunteers (which is also an opportunity for us to learn Swahili), and we will also be going to a care point center to meet the kids we will be working with and doing a small lesson. 

Please join us for praise for:

·    safe travels

·    being so welcomed here

·    the Lord’s protection and safety through the efforts of the staff and volunteers

Please join us in praying for:

·    tomorrow’s activities

·    the Lord’s continued guidance

·    that we would be of one heart and mind with the staff and volunteers here in accordance with God’s will

·    that our poor communication would not hinder the Spirit’s work 

Meet The Team

Peggy

Maggie

     Yesterday at a church send off party someone asked Peggy and I how we met and became friends.  We looked at each other with puzzled expressions and replied, "The Lord!"

      Truly, we met at church and have gotten to know each other at the women's Bible studies and other church events for the past year or so.  Now we are planning on traveling over 8,000 miles across the globe to serve orphaned and vulnerable children in Mwanza, Tanzania!

      Peggy is an office coordinator for our town and I am an elementary school teacher.  In Tanzania we will be working with Christ's Hope International to provide intensive academic tutoring to a group of about 30 children, who's ages range from 8 to 13 years old.  We're going with hearts to serve and are excited to see what the Lord will do with this trip.