Miracles

The days here in Dodoma have been wonderful. We have seen the hand of God in the lives of the friends here, and we have been deeply impressed by the light of the Kingdom of God.

From TZ09 Trip

Miracle 1: Water in the desert

Our team got a chance to visit the sand dam project in the dry outskirts of Dodoma. The project is a partnership between the Mennonite church of Dodoma and MCC. This area is really dry, but there are times in the year when flash floods will whip down dry riverbeds. Using a really creative technology, the teams here have put large dams every 200 meters of the riverbed. Then when the rains come, the riverbed fills with sand, and the water sinks deep up to the rock. The people then can have year-round water by digging shallow holes in the sand. Amazing! The people here were so happy - everyone wanted to tell their story.

The surrounding village was so grateful that they asked the Mennonite church to start a new church in their village. Jim got a chance to preach at the new church, and we saw the life that the river was giving, and the life that the church was giving. 

From TZ09 Trip

From TZ09 Trip

Miracle 2: Generosity in Poverty

I keep being struck by the realization that the richer we humans become, the stingier we get. And those in poverty keep surprising me with their generosity. I was doing a home-stay with a child named Eliya the other night. No one knew exactly how many people lived at his home - but I estimated that there could have been 30 people. There were few providing for the needs of the huge quasi-orphanage. One mama made about $8.50 a month tending chickens.

From TZ09 Trip

We arrived and were served a very modest meal of Ugali and greens. The 5 selected members all ate from the same serving plate. The others said they would eat separately and later. We soon found out that they had given us their entire store of food, and had not a cent more for the rest of the family.

Pastor Manase and I were shocked, grateful, and heartbroken. Manase gave some money and they were able to buy bread. When the bread was served we observed a feeding frenzy. The kids grabbed the bread as quick as they could. 

It was amazing to us to realize this family with no money, in terrible health, and existing in extreme poverty would share their last meager amounts of food for their guests. I had to look at my own heart and was ashamed at how stingy I am with my resources.

From TZ09 Trip

Miracle 3: Hope and Salvation for the children

We spent a wonderful afternoon with the kids in the Lahash sponsorship program yesterday. There are now 70 kids in the program. These kids meet every Friday for a time of Bible lessons, a meal, and games with their friends.

The kids also get uniforms for school, medical advice and treatment, school fees paid, and home visits from the staff. It's truly an incredible program. (Email Leisha if you'd like to sponsor a kid)

The kids yesterday read a letter of thanks. I felt so emotional hearing their stories and seeing their gratefulness. The children are growing in their understanding of God, are doing well in school, are healthy, and were so hospitable. In several interviews kids and staff told us without the program many of the kids would be dead! Many have had HIV passed on to them from their parents. I was filled with hope in seeing the kids sing songs to God for what he had done in their lives. 

From TZ09 Trip