Sharing From the Heart

A single mother from one of our supporting churches was here this month visiting our teammate, Lisa Newland. Megan and her son Blake came to experience the ministry here in Tanzania. To see what life is like. Little did we know that she would come to have a great impact on our pastors'/leaders'  wives. 

It was kind of a last minute request of mine to invite Megan to give her testimony at the ladies meeting planned for August. I knew she would be there, and I actually moved the date up so she could attend. However, it wasn't until meeting her that I asked her to share what the Lord has done in her life. (Sorry about that Megan! More notice would have been appreciated, I'm sure.) Lisa told me later that Megan had spent many hours preparing for what she was going to say. She prayed and asked the Lord to give her just the right words to speak into these ladies lives. The Lord answered her request in a special way. 

As Megan began to share of her past and how the Lord saved her it moved all of us there. After she finished speaking there was opportunity for the ladies to share themselves. To be honest, I didn't expect them to say much. They rarely do. However, Megan's transparent testimony stirred the hearts of these ladies. One in particular shared her heart, with her face contorting in pained memories and tears threatening to spill, how her mother had died when she was just a little girl and how her father was an alcoholic and on drugs. He beat her until she finally ran away from home. She lived on the streets for a time but eventually went back home. The people in her village thought she had lost her mind and treated her as such. She wanted to go to church but her father wouldn't allow it. She has suffered much and can come across as being very harsh. Hearing her story helped me to better understand her and have more compassion. It also opened the hearts of the others present. I could see it in their faces as some wiped away tears - tears of empathy, and just maybe tears of understanding as they too have suffered. 

It all started with Megan being willing to open up and share from her heart. What if she had thought her life too messy to share with these women? What if she would have smoothed over the rough places and just talked about our loving, heavenly Father? It sure would have made her look better. But it wouldn't have spoken to the dark and messy places these women have lived. Megan's willingness to be transparent allowed these women to feel they weren't the only ones that had a past. It also didn't point us ladies to herself. No, the forgiveness, mercy, grace, and victory all pointed back to God. It reminded all of us that day who our God is and what His Son Jesus did for us. We were reminded of the mighty power of God to save us and transform our lives.

Juma's Burden For His Village

In the picture above is Juma and his family. They are new members at our church in Mayoka. Since joining the Central Baptist Church of Mayoka, Juma has asked Pastor Pelegrino about the possibility of starting a church in his home village of Kimaga - a village with no church of ANY kind. 

When Pelegrino went to visit this village with the intention of surveying the area for a potential church plant, over 150 people gathered to listen to the Word of God. They had many, many questions about God, the Bible, and salvation. Pele also shared with them he and Juma's burden to start a church in their village. He asked them what they would normally do on a Sunday since there was no church in their village. They told him that some people just stay home while others follow traditional religion and go to the mountain to pray to their dead ancestors. Here is yet ANOTHER Tanzanian village in complete spiritual darkness! What a joy it is to bring the light of the glorious gospel of Christ to places like Kimaga! 

Since that time Pele has been able to return to this village again to preach the gospel to them and ask if there is interest in starting a church there. Pele received an overwhelmingly positive response. We are now in the process of buying some plastic tarps for them to meet under as we begin the initial stages of a new church plant.

Bill & Tammy Brouwer

Tanzania

Sunday School Teachers Training Seminar

We are blessed to have Lisa Newland working with us in Tanzania. Earlier this month she held a Sunday School Teachers Seminar. We are greatly encouraged to hear of Mama Odetta's willingness to be used of the Lord in teaching children! Below is Lisa's blog post about the seminar:

Mama Gervas, Mama Odetta, and Lisa Newland

Mama Odetta

49 years old.  Widow.  Mother of 4.  Saved as a child, though didn’t grow much in the Lord till she joined our church over 10 years ago, and even then her attendance/ growth has been up and down.  Mama Odetta was one of our 11 seminar participants this year.

She shared a testimony at the end of the week:  When I found out that my daughter couldn’t go to the seminar, but that I was invited, I thought, “I don’t know how to teach kids.  I wouldn’t know what to do.”  When I asked my friends they all said, “You should go.  We’ll take care of things at home for you.  Go.”  I felt led to come, but still didn’t think I would be able to do much.  Then in our session on teamwork I learned that if I taught Sunday school, I wouldn’t be alone.  I would be joining a team of teachers, and we could help each other.  That’s when I thought, “Maybe I can do this.”  And now, if my fellow teachers will help me, I want to try to help out as a Sunday school teacher.

AMEN!  We all cheered.  Justa, the pastor’s wife at Mama Odetta’s church and the head Sunday school teacher, said,“We will help you for sure.  We are so happy to have you join us!”

Mama Odetta teaching about the rich man and Lazarus

Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons of the seminar, Justa and I taught a demo class.  We had 15-20 neighbor kids each day.  We sat them down in front of all the seminar attendees and taught an hour-long class (including songs, Bible lesson, review questions, and memory verse).  Then on Thursday we split the 11 seminar attendees into 4 groups, and gave them a Bible lesson and 1 ½ hours to prepare their own 1-hour long class.  I was so blessed to watch Mama Odetta teach those kids.  She got right down on their level and told Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus.   How that living the good life now isn’t that great.  Instead, God is looking for people who will walk by faith.   And this taught by a women who has suffered and struggled and kept her faith in God.  

His name be praised!!!!!

Revival in Fumagira!

It was a busy week for Fumagira. Pastor Pelegrino, Pastor Petro, Pastor Naftary, and Kitabo organized a week long evangelistic meeting that led into a special combined service on Christmas Day. I'm going to let the pictures do most of the talking...

Nightly Evangelistic Meetings

Each evening there was preaching. This is Kitabo preaching.

Of course there was singing. 

This lady in the middle got saved during these meetings. More on her story in another blog.

The Jesus Film or another Gospel film was shown to a large crowd each night.

Christmas Day Combined Service

Fumagira hosted this year's Christmas service. They started in February saving money to decorate. 

Sure looks festive!

Christmas morning people started arriving from each of the six churches. Boy can they pack a truck!

Each of the choirs from the six churches sang specials they have been working on for some months. Many even had matching outfits made!

The most important part of the day is the PREACHING. Here is a 20 second video clip of Pastor Naftary preaching in Kiswahili and then Kitabo translating it into the mother-tongue of most of the people, Kisukuma

This is one of the 57 who were baptized after the service. What a joy to see so many older people who have trusted Christ as their Savior and then followed in believer's baptism!

And of course we train them to be good Baptists by having a meal afterwards.

Casting out demons

Today we heard a commotion just beyond our backyard fence. After listening for a moment we could recognize the all too familiar words of "TOKA, TOKA, KATIKA JINA LA YESU, TOKA!" In English this means "out, out, in the name of Jesus come out!" 

Casting out demons is a huge practice in Tanzania. I'm not saying there isn't demon possession and obsession, especially in a  animistic society like Tanzania. However, it is often screamed over and over again, only to be done the following week because it didn't work.

As we heard the lady crying out and the man shouting toka, Bill decided to take Pastor Pelegrino with him to see what was going on. They found a woman tied up and flailing in the dirt. The man casting out the demon was shouting loudly, with sweat dripping down his forehead. This went on for some time when he finally gave up. 

That is when Bill stepped into the kibanda (little open hut) with his Bible. As soon as he began sharing from the Word of God the woman stopped wailing and flailing in the dirt. They untied her and she sat up in her right mind. She was able to listen and answer questions. Bill proceeded to share the gospel with her. She didn't get saved, but she definitely heard the Truth!

Afterward Bill pulled the man aside who had been trying to cast out the demon. He told him, "Brother, you have no power in yourself to cast out a demon. It is the Word of God that has power! You just saw for yourself the power the Word has."

Now we can't say if this woman really and truly is possessed by a demon. However, we do know that God uses His Word and we'll continue to wield the powerful Sword of the Spirit as we fight against our enemy!

Salvation and a charm bracelet

Witnessing in Tanzania is nothing like in America. When we arrive at someone's hut we are offered the best seat available - usually a roughly made wooden chair. We sit outside and neighbors begin to gather. Yesterday was no exception. As Pastor Musa and I opened God's Word to share the Good News of the Gospel about 15 people gathered around to listen. One man in particular was especially attentive. About an hour later this young man said he wanted to receive Christ as his Savior.  

PRAISE THE LORD!

The next thing that happened has never happened to me personally. This young man, without us even talking about it, pulled off his charm (arm bracelet) and threw it down. He said now he didn't need a charm to ward off evil spirits anymore. Shall we say it again...

PRAISE THE LORD!

Please pray for Simoni to grow in his faith.

Easter Series Part 3

EASTER SUNDAY

We've planned. We've prepared. We've visited. Now the day is here!

Every Easter we have a combined church service for all our churches who are able to attend. It is always a big day with much excitement. This year was no exception!

The women gathered early on Thursday to begin the tedious task of cleaning the 385 pounds of rice to be cooked on Sunday. The men slaughtered the cow Sunday morning at 5:00AM. The women arrived at 6:00AM to begin cooking. They all worked hard to provide a special meal for a HUGE crowd of people.

Now doesn't that look yummy?! That's what the beef looks like after it's been cooked - stomach, cartilage, hoofs, eyes, and all!  At this point I should be honest and  say that we desperately miss potlucks back in America!

People started arriving from  the  villages of Fumagira, Mayoka, Kitongo, Nyamasale, and even Mwanza town. 

It is amazing how many people you can fit into the back of these trucks.

With six choirs, and the children from each of the churches planning to sing and quote Scripture, Pastor Pelegrino tried to keep things moving.

The church was full to capacity with children sitting in the isles to attempt to make room for the adults to sit. However, there were still adults standing in the back. There is no way to know for sure how many were there, but we estimate somewhere around 700. 

Pastor Petro preached a clear message of salvation and 13 people came forward to receive Christ.

After the four-hour service people gathered outside for the baptisms. Due to lack of water we tend to baptize twice a year. Once during the Christmas service, and once at Easter. Sixty-three people were baptized.

To end the day bowls and bowls of rice, beans, and meat were served up. People went away that day with hearts and bellies full!

To read Part 1 click here. To read Part 2 click here.

Easter Series Part 2

PREPARATIONS

There was much work in preparation for our big, combined Easter service.  With plans for baptizing, the youth had to go to a watering hole about 1 1/2 miles away to collect water in jugs and bring it back to the church. It took several trips to fill up the tank.

One of the leaders, Ngamba, is building what will be a temporary cooking hut. The ladies will be cooking a whole cow, rice, and beans for a BIG crowd.

The children also got in on helping to prepare. Here they are bringing corn husks for making the walls of the cooking hut. 

The ladies also came and decorated the church for the special occasion. This section was for the pastors and their wives who came from the various six churches.

Easter Series Part 1

EVANGELISTIC CRUSADE

Easter Sunday is a big day in our village churches. In preparation for the big day, Pastor Pelegrino and other leaders of our churches, decided to have an evangelistic crusade at the host village of Igekemaja. 

The leaders asked our teammate, Lisa Newland, to hold a children's crusade in the afternoons. Lisa and two other pastor's wives organized games and taught the children. Two children made a profession of faith!

In the evenings they showed The Jesus Film in the local tribal language of Kisukuma. People began arriving hours before the film was to show in order to get a seat. We estimate there were about 500+ people there every night! Pastor Pelegrino brought several videos, but the people kept asking for The Jesus Film. Pele would show about 10 minutes of the DVD and then preach for a time. He wanted to be sure they were thoroughly understanding the message. There were 58 people who made a profession of faith during the week of meetings!

The goal and desire of every missionary is to train nationals to do the work of the ministry. Well, that is exactly what they did! These leaders organized and led this meeting all on their own. 

The gift of hearing

clapping...
scuffling rocks...
phone ringing...
door shutting...

These are just a few of the things James got to hear for the first time. James' mother Pendo contracted measles when she was pregnant. They aren't sure, but think his hearing was possibly affected. Then after a severe ear infection, topped off with poor medical care, he became almost deaf in both ears. For years the family tried to get help for their son. James' dad, Constantine, was even given the equivalent of $150.00 to buy a hearing aid. Sadly, the money was taken by a local hospital doctor without them ever getting the promised hearing aid.

Pendo came to work for us a few years ago. Recently I was given a contact for  AIC-CURE Internaltional Children's Hospital of Kenya. This hospital is just down the road from our daughter's boarding school - Rift Valley Academy. We made arrangements with the hospital to bring James and his mother while we picked up Abigail for her end-term break. I couldn't wait to tell Pendo!

Kijabe, Kenya is about 11 hours from Mwanza, Tanzania. This was an exciting adventure for Pendo and James. Both had only traveled as far as Musoma - a three hour drive from Mwanza. It was neat seeing their reactions as we got further away from home, and into another country. We've driven this route many times, but seeing it through their eyes was like seeing it for the first time!

Once we arrived at CURE they tested James to see how much he can hear out of each ear. We were then told that he was a good candidate for a hearing aid. PRAISE THE LORD! The nurse brought in a solar-powered hearing aid and began fitting James. I'll never forget when she turned it on and began talking to him - his face lit up! (Notice his mom's joy in the mirror.)

The nurse was explaining that families in America donate hearing aids (approximately $250.00) so people like James can hear the Word of God, and I was in turn translating for Pendo. It was at that point that it really hit her and she began to cry. What a gift  to give someone - the ability not only to hear, but to hear God's Word!!! 

We are now back home in Tanzania and James is doing GREAT! He is talking up a storm and already doing better in school.  His world has opened up and that can't help but make him smile...

Missionary to midwife???

The Lord woke me up at 3AM on December 30th. My phone that I had been keeping by my bed wasn't there. I had forgotten it in the living room. I immediately went and checked to see if I had missed any calls - there were none. I took the phone back into the bedroom only to be awakened at 4:30AM by Joel. He hurriedly told me his wife, Lauren, was in labor.

IT WAS TIME!

I guess I should go back and explain things... Joel and Lauren are new missionaries to Tanzania. They are starting an agriculture program at the orphanage Mavuno Village. Lauren decided rather than travel all the way to Nairobi, Kenya to have her baby, she would have it here in Mwanza. They found a nice private clinic with good doctors and nurses. However, since they have only been here a few months they do not yet know Swahili. And even though the doctors and nurses speak English, it is a British English and not always easy to understand. I offered to come to the hospital and be a mediator between her and the doctors/nurses. (When I gave birth to Abigail back in 1997 there was a lovely missionary lady who did the same for me.) Joel and Lauren took this as an answer to their prayers and gratefully agreed.

Back to my story...Bill drove me to the hospital where Joel and Lauren had already arrived and she was in a room. Before I had arrived, there had already been an issue with Lauren being allowed to bring her pillow from home into her room. (You have to understand that Africans tend to live in a box. They are taught certain things and that is the way they do them. It is hard to get them to bend protocol.) That having been dealt with, we proceeded to come across other protocol issues. I won't mention here, but I will say that the Lord allowed us to work our way around them. We learn in Proverbs 15:1a - "A soft answer turneth away wrath:" As I spoke kindly to the nurse and asked her to please understand that this woman just arrived in Tanzania and would like to do things according to our customs, she softened right up and smiled graciously as she let us crazy Americans give birth our way.

I've given birth three times. People tend to look at me like I'm crazy when I say I love giving birth! I don't mean that I enjoy the pain of childbirth, but I do enjoy experiencing a miracle of God taking place. And that is exactly what childbirth is - a miracle! This time around I was not the one giving birth, but I can tell you I SAW A MIRACLE! So let me say with Mary,

"My soul doth magnify the Lord,"

Christmas in Kitongo

Christmas 2011 found our family in the village of Kitongo. The Independent Baptist Church of Kitongo was started in October 2010. This church has had its struggles, but has continued to move forward. It was decided that they would host this year's combined Christmas service. They were thrilled to have this privilege and they worked hard over the past few months preparing for this big day. They also decided to have two days of special meetings leading up to the Sunday service. Since this village is over an hour away from our home we were invited by the H Family to stay with them. (They minister in a family-style orphanage there in Kitongo and attend our church.) What a blessing that was!

Friday and Saturday people visited in the village announcing we would be showing the Jesus Film as well as some other Christian cinemas.  It was exciting to see the people as they clapped when Jesus performed miracles, and with rapt attention watched as Jesus was horrifically crucified and then gloriously rose again! We praise the Lord for the six people who professed Christ through these special meetings.

Christmas Day - Sunday, we had a big combined service with churches coming from Fumagira, Igekemaja, and Mayoka. We had been praying for no rain during these meetings because the roads are pretty beat up with one bridge caved in and repaired. Rain could have prevented these other churches from making it out to Kitongo. The Lord answered prayer with three days of dry weather - something we've not seen much of recently. With joy the churches began arriving. They came prepared with special choir music and memory work from the children. It was neat listening to the children quote the books of the Bible and long passages of Scripture by memory. It was truly a service to look back on with much rejoicing!

On a more personal note...we spent Sunday afternoon with our friends, Dave & Becky H and their six children, Lisa Newland, Alicia Hazlett, and Larry and Bev. We opened gifts and ate a big meal, although not really a typical Christmas dinner - enchiladas, salsa, guacamole, broccoli salad, green beans, corn on the cob, and salad. No matter what it was it was, we thoroughly enjoyed it as we celebrated our Savior's birth together as believers!

Hit The Ground Running...

We arrived back in Tanzania on November 5th and hit the ground running! The national pastor we work closely with, Pelegrino, was getting married on December 3rd and we only had weeks to help him plan this big event in his life. We have been praying with Pastor Pelegrino for a godly wife for years. Now those years of praying were finally coming to fruition and we wanted the day to be as special as possible for this new couple.



Right after the wedding Bill taught a counseling class at Lake Victoria Baptist Bible College here in Mwanza. It is always a blessing to meet together with these men and women as they prepare for the ministry. I look forward to teaching a ladies class next term in June.



Next were the holidays and all the special church services in each of the six churches we work directly with. The day found us celebrating with our newest church plant in the village of Kitongo. We also enjoyed a traditional turkey dinner with fellow missionaries Greg and Paige Wagoner and Family.

The New Year has brought some new ministries the Lord has laid on our hearts. This past Wednesday Bill started Bible Institute classes at the Independent Baptist Church of Igekemaja. He is teaching the book of Matthew. We also look forward to the upcoming Family Seminars we'll be teaching at each of the churches in the Mwanza area. Our first being in T-X on January 22. Then on January 28th we will begin hosting a monthly Pastor's Fellowship at our house.

We are excited to see what plans God has for us in 2011!