Team Tanzania
The flight was on time – customs clearance went without a hitch. We got a text from our daughter that they were waiting for us at arrivals at Jomo Kenyatta airport and it was only 20 minutes after ETA… were we really in Africa? Fortunately the Nairobi traffic was kind to us that early Sunday morning and it wasn’t long before we were together.
Thus started a wonderful, event-filled ten days.
We had already picked up Zac from boarding school for Easter holidays the day before, and traveled down with our two kids to Arusha in our car, following the bus with the team.
7 people for 10 days experiencing for the first time African missions. The team was led by Rick Flatt and consisted of Sarah, Daniel, Rebecca, Heather, Michael and of course, our lovely daughter, Celeste.
After arrival in Arusha, where the team experience relief that they were sleeping in a western style house with flushing tiolets they spent one night before our adventure into the bush. Here there were no flushing tiolets, electricity or running water. However there was rain and mud and lots of very excited faces on our arrival.
After fording a river and getting stuck in mud, being pushed by 20 masai we arrived to a feast of goats liver and kidneys to honour the visitors from England.
Then there was a tour of the auto mechanics college, preschool, carpentry and metal work school as well as visiting with the beading ladies from Emboret.
The masai women from emboret had also killed a she goat to welcome the visitors but the roads were so bad we weren't able to visit the boma to partake. We did however, have a delicious afternoon tea of mandazis, eggs, chai and peanuts.
Later that night we were treated to another meal of goat meat. This was our staple for the following 2 days.
Pastor Rick and the team did an excellent job of the devotions at the college for masai students. Daniel was called on to lead worship spontaneously more than a few times and he didn't even flinch.
Next the team did a seminar for the preschool where they sang "Allelu, Allelu, Allelu, Alleluya, Bwana Safiwe" with actions and participation. There were colourful games with a parachute, balloon twisting and a bible story. Each of the team exhibited God's love and generosity to the village Loiborsoit and the children there.
Pastor Elijah and his wife, Violet and their family were so blessed and encouraged by a visit from the team.
Our return to Arusha was as eventful as our trip out to Masailand with our car getting stuck in mud and then having to help a truck, and a landrover out of the mud as well.
Back in Arusha the team met with missionaries and church planters.
Sunday saw the Vineyard team ministering to Arusha Vineyard and many were touched by the worship, teaching and ministry time. We received many messages from the congregation thanking the team for their ministry.
Daniel also encouraged the worship team during practice and shared some of his own journey in worship leading with them.
Easter Saturday we celebrated a Christian passover linking the items on the seder plate to Jesus - the ultimate Lamb that was killed for our deliverance from death.
On almost a nightly basis we experienced the presence of God's spirit as we worshipped and prayed together. We sensed God calling each of us into a more radical obedience for Jesus.
Mama Simon was another highlight for the team. She is a woman who worked behind our house at a local quarry smashing rocks with her hammer. She has recently begun a new business of making aprons made of african fabric and selling them. The team bought some of her very first samples and she is so thankful for this new venture and God's provision for her.
Thank you to St. Albans Vineyard, to the Burn Church and to the team who came for generously giving your hearts to Tanzania and God's work here.
Thanks to God for His encouragement in our labour of love.
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