Another Day, Another Soul

The days begin to run together and our time seems short, but it is fun--very fun. I don't know that Tanzanians know what to think of us North Texans. We must look like a crazy bunch!

The first day we saw nearly 500 professions of faith in Christ. We rejoice in the work, and know it is only the beginning. The distance between our two cultures almost guarantees that many of those professions are incomplete. There must be follow-up to preserve the harvest so that is why we plant churches! There is no better place to grow in Christ than a church and for many of these people, there is not a church withing walking distance, so they have zero opportunity to be discipled. Bibles are more precious than fresh water, and fresh water is plenty dear.


Tanzanians are very receptive to our bunch. In many ways they are amazed we would take the time to come to them. In the bush (countryside) where we are working, they know they are poor and don't understand why we would even be interested. So they are touched when we tell them the love of Christ made us come. They are very open, but the culture gap couldn't be wider. Our best strategy is to mentor and encourage leaders, for it will be they who really connect with the Tanzanians and disciple them to maturity.

It is our last full day of field ministry before we close this part of our trip. Tomorrow, we will revisit Fonelisco and celebrate the work with a closing rally at a nearby church. The pastors in each of the eight areas will be there with many of their people. The celebration will be packed and we will try to get pictures enough to give you the feeling of the event. There will be choirs and music and preaching and food and everyone will have a great time in the Lord. He is good!



I went out with Donna this morning. We haven't done that together for four years. She is a joy to work with. Her love for Christ really shows and the Tanzanians catch it. It reminds me that none of us could do this work without each other. Thanks for those who are supporting us financially and with prayers.

For the Harvest,
Phil

In The Thick Of It

Our trip here was rather uneventful, although some others lost their bags. Although we don't look like it in the picture, we are quite exhausted already and trying to stay awake in London so we can get our sleep schedules coordinated to Africa time.

This is us in front of Buckingham Palace (minus Scott and Phil) We arrived in Mwanza Saturday morning ready for a full day of ministry, which we did.

After checking into the hotel, we made our way to the opening rally, where we heard some choirs and experienced some great worship. We met our translators for the week there, and did some last minute training.


The next day was Sunday. After worshipping in each of the churches, (each team went to their respective sites. See Donna with new friend.) we ate lunch and then went to Fonelisco.


Words cannot describe the experience we had there. These street kids performed for us by singing and dancing some tribal dances. The orphanage has very little, but they love these kids and it shows. And the kids know it.


Scott was able to record some really great audio of it which I'm sure we will use in some kind of video soon.

Monday was the first day of real evangelism. I went out with Steve and Jessica, who both did terrific. We stumbled upon four guys sawing logs with a giant ripsaw. After we tried our hand at it (and were even more thankful for POWER tools at home) Steve settled in and shared the gospel with them.


It turns out that the main guy in the group was a witch doctor. He told us that he had been thinking about becoming a Christian and hoping someone would tell him about Christ. Steve led him to recieve Christ sitting on the log. It was a phenominal experience which don't think any of us will ever forget.

Much more to share but that's all we have time for today.

Blessings,
Phil

Ready to Pray?

Our team is hours from lifting off. In fact, some already have. We are coming from all parts of the U.S. and will converge on Mwanza, Tanzania for a week of evangelism, training, orphan ministry, and all around fun.

Will you pray for us? We are trusting the Lord for His help and strength in this work He has called us to. And we pray He moves and gets the glory.

Check back often and we'll try to keep you posted regularly. Perhaps you will feel like a genuine part of the trip. If you are praying, you will certainly be part of the results.

We're counting on you.

Phil

The Last Conference

This morning we wrapped up our final conference. Actually I was the guest speaker at a pastor's conference already scheduled, and instead of my usual church planting training, I taught a series on Ecclesiastes, which I recently taught at The Mill. We had a great time with the men and there were a lot of good questions.

Dar is hot this time of year, and the heat is accompanied by humidity which surrounds you like an electric blanket in a sauna. But we did manage to get a couple of games of squash while I was here. It was good to get some exercise since I haven't been running for nearly three weeks.


Almost everything is set to go for the journey home. It has been a fruitful trip, but I will be glad to be home. I miss The Mill and if you asked me right now, I wish I hadn't scheduled someone to preach on Sunday, but I know I will feel very differently by the time Sunday rolls around.


I may make one or two more posts when I get home depending on how I feel and what happens on the way home. Please pray for me as you have been. It has kept me healthy and productive.

For the Harvest,
Phil

Morogoro

Once I landed in Dar, Dave and Bonnie were there to greet me. We had some Cokes together(because there was no Dr. Pepper) and then I was off to Morogoro in the truck they let me borrow.

Morogoro is 2-3 hours from the coast of Tanzania and although the town isn't elevated that much, it sits next to some beautiful mountains which are rugged and seemed like they were carved out just yesterday.

The trip to Morogoro was a breeze because it is one of the few good highways in Tanzania. Once there, I checked into the Hotel Oasis, met David Masalu to talk about the conference the next day, and crashed. I was exhausted from the trip.


The next morning I got ready and met about 70 pastors on the top of the Roof Garden Hotel. (It was on a roof of a hotel, but we're still looking for the garden.) I shared with them for about two hours the vision for church planting and a ministry of multiplication. They asked questions and wanted to know when we could come back with a team. Please pray that God would give us wisdom to know whether to bring on here or to simply send trainers.

That night I had dinner with some veteran IMB missionaries Ralph and Vivian Boyle, who have served in Tanzania for 23 years. We laughed and shared stories and I learned a lot from their experiences. Pray for them and their ministry here in Morogoro.

The next morning I was up early to return to Dar for church services. More on that to come.

For the Harvest,
Phil

The Return Trip from Mugumu

I am a few days late on my blog so I am telling you of things that happened that much time ago. But I can’t miss telling and showing you this stuff because it interests me and therefore I think it might interest you too.

I had hoped the trip back from Mugumu would be easier than the trip there; and on the way back I purposed to take pictures of the mud holes. Well the trip wasn’t any quicker, and I didn’t get pictures of many of the mud holes, but I did get a couple of the big one. Mud holes are deceiving. Sometimes they look uncross able and turn out easy. Other times they look easy and then watch out . . .


I’ve heard of worse—water over the hood of the car and such (have you seen the pipe that goes up the side of the land rover from the hood? That’s so that the engine can get air when the car is submerged (!)). But on the way back we crossed swollen streams that I thought would have the potential to carry us away. I guess our Land Cruiser was better than I expected. (Though I wasn’t sure about our driver.) Some mud holes were easier for smaller vehicles, but large ones had a lot of trouble. Such was the case at this crossing. What the picture does not show was the ten or more other large trucks that were waiting to cross, had crossed, or stuck in the mud. I never saw this one get out although I’m sure they figured something out.


We took breaks on the journey as well and stopped again in Ikizu, where we were entertained by a group of school children just freed from their studies. It’s rare that foreigners go through this town, much less white ones so we were quite the attraction. Sheila made herself at home and tried to teach some of the kids English and Math. We’ll never know what affect she had on the students, but it was fun to watch!

Once we were back in Mwanza it was pizza for the night at the local pizzeria and then a good night’s rest before we were off to the airport. Two went to the ‘States; three spent a day in Nairobi and then off to the ‘States; and I was off to Dar to meet Dave and Bonnie Jones, who would let me borrow their truck for my trip to Morogoro. More on that later.

For the Harvest,
Phil

In the Hard Place

Mugumu means “hard place” in Swahili and it is appropriately named. The town is very poor and the farmers are at the mercy of the land and the weather, which is too wet this year. They live a hard life, yet the believers here love the Lord and are eager to learn.

We held a conference for about 125 pastors, mostly Mennonite. They seemed to enjoy it although they asked fewer questions than those in Mwanza. Perhaps because they are more reserved being from the countryside. Nevertheless, they showed their enthusiasm in the singing and in their comments after the sessions.


After the conference, the attendees went into the neighborhoods to do some evangelism. There were 162 professions of faith. Hallelujah!


One of the bright spots was meeting Samuel Ongong’a, pictured here between Paul Buhwahwa (left) and Michael Omega (right). Samuel went to a First Steps conference just like this one last October in Mwanza, then moved here and started a church which now runs about 25 members. We were excited to hear his testimony.

We call the conference “First Steps” because it lays out very simply how to start a church. The material is really easy to learn and remember and has been used to start thousands of churches around the world.

The way back to Mugumu was just as adventurous as the trip there. More on that in the next post.

For the Harvest,
Phil

Water of Life

On our way to Mugumu, we stopped by the town of Bunda where we caught up with Charles and Nancy Wiggins, independent Methodist missionaries who teach water hygiene and who have brought a very useful invention to Tanzania.

They call their mission “Maisha ya Maji” or loosely translated “living water” and what they are producing will bring fresh water to thousands of Tanzanians. It’s a filter that can be made with readily available and natural materials-a little copper tubing, concrete, gravel and sand. The cost for the filter runs about $50. U.S., which is far too expensive for most individual households in Tanzania, but very affordable for schools and orphanages and the like.


It stands about 3 ½ feet high, 1 foot square and the walls are 1 inch thick. Without the sand it weighs about 160 lbs. The filter is a completely natural process, using common washed sand that develops bacteria suitable for purifying the water. The bacteria comes from the water itself and develops enough after about 3 weeks to purify the water to 98% which is very drinkable for Tanzanians. Another few drops of bleach and the water is 100% clean.

It is so useful here because water-borne diseases are so common. One is being purchased for Fonelisco and will be delivered shortly.

Our stop in Bunda lasted an hour or so and then we were off to Mugumu. More on the conference next post.

For the Harvest,
Phil

The Trip to Mugumu

The drive to Mugumu was about 2 hours on a paved road, and another 5 hours off-road, and I do mean off road! Hopefully tomorrow I will share some pictures of some mud-holes.

But all in all the trip was an adventure. We saw a lot of villages along the way and the weather was good for most of it, but it did rain a little during the journey. Rainy season is like that. It rains every day, but usually no more than an hour. But when it rains, it creates big streams in the country-side that washes out roads and bridges. (See a previous post)


Our main rest stop in the middle of our off-road adventure was in a village called Ikizu, where we sat on the porch of the Urafiki guest house and shared cokes and stories. What a time!

When we arrived at the Giraffe Garden Hotel the fun was only beginning. Did I mention they had no air conditioning and no hot water? I know for you hard-core guys it might sound like a sissy complaint, but no air conditioning means you sleep under mosquito nets and they should be in good condition. Were ours in good condition? Hardly. I'll let you know if I get Malaria. Pray for me:-)

More fun when we took showers in the morning. But is was refreshing. I'll wait till next blog to tell you about the actual conference. Thanks again for your prayers.

For the Harvest,
Phil

Back to Mwanza

Lord willing, this blog will be replaced in the next few hours. I don't have pictures or time, but I wanted to post to say we are back from Mugumu and it was incredible. The conference was great and the travel was challenging at times.

Check back again for some pictures and a story or two from our trip.

I love you, Donna!

For the Harvest,
Phil

The First Conference

Saturday we finished the first conference with nearly 70 pastors from the Mwanza area. They were very engaged and asked a lot of questions. Some of the pasters were among those we have already worked with and could give testimony to what God has done in their ministry because of our work together.

At the end of the evangelism training, we went out into the nearby neighborhoods and saw more than 40 people pray to recieve Christ. Some of the pastors had never done this and were very excited to see God use them like that. We pray that will translate to their churches.


One of the greatest blessings of working with these guys is meeting the next generation of leaders. Among them is Billy Brown and James Kulokea. We call Billy "Billy Graham" He is probably one of the best interpreters I have ever used. Tanzania has a bright future with young men like him. He is pictured above on the left.

Thanks for your prayers. They mean more than anything. Pray for safety as we travel to Mugumu. I do not know what we will find there as I have never been. But there is another group of pastors waiting to be trained, so we go.

For the Harvest,
Phil

FONELISCO

Fonelisco is an orphanage founded by Joseph Mabinga in 1997, pictured here with his fiancée Maria. He was a Catholic seminary student with a heart to help children.

Without waiting, he began to minister to street kids while he was still in school. He also worked part-time as an interpreter for some exchange students while they were here. It would be those students who gave Joseph his first real shot at his vision by loaning him $600.

Fonelisco is almost an acronym and stands for the FOundation of NEw LIfe for Street Children and Orphans.


Since 1997, they have moved from their first location and now lease a five bedroom house with plenty of classroom space on the first floor. It also has a guest house with three additional bedrooms. They house the children, feed them, teach them basic skills such as reading and writing, and give them chores that keep up the grounds. The older children are provided a bicycle so they can ride to secondary school.

They are currently working on the purchase of 13 acres by the lake (Victoria) to develop crops and animals to sustain the orphanage and teach the children life-skills.

Joseph allows for both Christian and Islamic services to be held at the orphanage as many of the kids come from either background.

I have thought a lot about Joseph's story and how it might be duplicated, only with an emphasis on reaching those children with the gospel. Lord willing, tomorrow I will tell you of another approach to reaching homeless children being done by a group of churches on the west side of Lake Victoria.

For the Harvest,
Phil

Wednesday Evening 1-24-07

Just when I think of complaining about roads in the 'States . . . Here is a picture of a new culvert washed out by the recent rains. Last year this road was being built and the ground was not firm enough to withstand the pressure of the water during the rainy times.

I spent the day with Elias pouring over maps and visiting villiages we have worked in before, taking notes along the way. God is bringing these works along very well. The people are faithful and working hard.

Today we concieved the idea of a large conference in Dar es Salaam, which is the main city and on the coast. The idea is to bring together key leaders from each region of the country in order to train them as trainers of the Evangecube and use them as key contacts for future church-planting campaigns. Currently, we are planning to do this in January of '08.

We also met some Methodist missionaries who live a couple of hours from here who specialize in health training--particularly with water. They are also producing a natural water purifier which weighs about 200 pounds and sells for about $55 US, but can produce 60 liters of water per hour. (almost 16 gallons). This is invaluable for villages that are ravaged by water-borne diseases. In a few days I will tell you how a water well opened the door for the gospel in a village near the Serengeti.

Thanks again for your prayers.

For the Harvest,
Phil

Wednesday Morning 1-24-07

I feel MUCH better after a good night's sleep. Mwanza is a growing city and will soon have an international airport, or so they say. The air is already warm and you welcome whatever breeze comes.

Today we'll be meeting with Elias who is the former head of the Tanzania Baptist Convention. He is a nice man and very humble. We will talk strategy for the whole nation and I will pick his brain regarding his experiences in Tanzania. I'll bring maps and we'll try to get specific. More to come on that.

Mwanza is also known for good Tilapia because of it's location on the shores of Lake Victoria; which supplies Tilapia for many countries in Africa. This is a fishing town, where you find all kinds of fishermen. There were even guys fishing with poles from a rock outcropping across from a restaurant we were eating at last night. When they catch fish, they try to sell it to the restaurant.

I've never been to Galilee, but I often think of it when I come to Mwanza. Jesus' parables and word pictures fit perfectly here.

The roads are mostly horrible, unless you are on a main thoroughfare. The rains ensure that all dirt roads will have plenty of potholes and the going is slow. Foreigners from India and Europe are abundant, as well as American tourists. It is not at all uncommon to meet Americans here doing mission work.

On the Ground

Made it safely. Thanks for your prayers. It's been a long two days--from Dallas to London 8.5 hrs., 10 hour layover, London to Dar 9.5 hrs., 4 hour layover, Dar to Mwanza, 2.5 hrs. A good nights sleep--priceless.

I was able to spend some time with Peter who is our main contact in Mwanza and who helps us prepare logistically for the teams we bring. We kicked around some ideas for small businesses that would help the ministry here. The city is growing and the economy is as well. There are plenty of opportunities to give a pastor to earn a living while he preaches the gospel; especially if his church cannot afford to support him fully.

Much to do, but my time at the cafe is running out. I will write more after I've had some rest.

signed, Sleepless in Mwanza,
Phil

Why I Go

Everyone has a reason for doing mission work. Hopefully the main reason is to reach people for Christ and glorify God. This is true for me, but there are other reasons in addition for me.

Believe it or not, some go because it gives them a feeling of superiority. I feel exactly the opposite. Its humbling. I have to face my own struggle with prosperity, my own culture. Brennan Manning wrote a book called "The Ragamuffin Gospel" and I have been working through it for several months now. I recently came across this observation:

"We get so preoccupied with ourselves, the words we speak, the plans and projects we conceive that we become immune to the glory of creation. We barely notice the cloud passing over the moon or the dewdrops clinging to the rose leaves . . . We avoid the cold and the heat. We refrigerate ourselves in summer and entomb ourselves in plastic in winter. We rake up every leaf as fast as it falls. We are so accustomed to buying prepackaged meats and fish and fowl in supermarkets we never think and blink about the bounty of God's creation. We grow complacent and lead practical lives."

So when I work with and among those who have the tiniest fraction of creature comforts I take for granted, and hear them laugh from their bellies and smile from their eyes, I am confronted with the fact that not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions. Once again I must separate the American definition of success from the gospel. In other words, I don't just tell people about Christ because they are unhappy. Many of them are quite content though they have far less than our poorest. I tell them because Christ commanded me to, and their eternal soul depends on hearing the gospel.

So I also go because it keeps me grounded. It helps me to put in perspective all God *has* given me.

For the Harvest,
Phil

Believing in Miracles

Welcome to the Habari Safari Web Log. This is a blog I can update from the field and hopefully I will be able to do so. Sometimes I don't know when I can eat, much less dodge into an internet cafe and update the ole' blog. But I can try. I know many are praying for this trip and I want you to be able to see what God is doing as it happens.

There is also an opportunity to share my musings while I am on the field. I think and dream about reaching the world a lot and really intensively when I am on a trip. It is non-stop and I have to pinch myself to prove I'm not dreaming. Can God really be doing these things? Yes!

I also plan to share prayer requests so you can pray for us in real-time. Hopefully the pictures will keep coming as I plan to actually carry my camera, which I almost never do. It gets in the way and I really dislike stopping down and snapping a shot. But I will get over it if it means you will pray more for us. Deal? Deal!

For the Harvest,
Phil