First day in Dodoma

We've arrived back in Dodoma! It's great to be here with the brothers and sisters of Grace and Healing Ministry. Last night we joined Pastor Amos and Esther at their home for some delicious food, and gave them a preview of the banner from Vibrant Church in Portland.

For several trips we've found Emirates Airlines to be our cheapest option for flying. We also love the service that they provide - and their kindness to little Asher was a huge help to Casey and Abbe. They gave puppets, played with him, and even took him for a walk down the aisle. 

It's definitely not the easiest thing to travel with a little 17 month old boy. But Asher has been super so far. He's been enjoying the new sights and sounds of East Africa.

During our flight through Dubai, I caught this image outside of our window of the world's tallest building. This is the Burj Dubai. It basically dwarfs the other skyscrapers at the height of 2,600 feet.

I'm about to cut up some fresh pineapple and mangos for our team before we go to church. The Mennonite church of Dodoma is a very lively and charismatic community of people that love Jesus and their neighbors. Jim Anderson is slated to give the sermon.

We've really felt the hospitality already of the Muhagachis. Amos and Esther greeted us with huge hugs as we arrived yesterday.

From TZ09 Trip

Tanzania team arrive safe in Dar Es Salaam

From TZ09 Trip

It is muggy here in Dar Es Salaam! I'm writing a blog update while the rest of the team are ordering some greasy fries and meat.

We arrived safely and all of our luggage arrived. Thanks to each of you for your prayers during travel. Manase met us at the airport with big hugs and a huge welcome from everyone back at the church.

We'll be heading out early tomorrow for our bus ride to Dodoma. Once there we'll have more pictures. For now, let me share the nice sunset that was outside my window.

From TZ09 Trip

Ready for Tanzania!

In just about 12 hours I'll be heading to the airport to fly out to Tanzania. I'm really excited about this trip. One super-cool aspect is that I'll be traveling with my friend and coworker Casey Schilperoort. Together we'll be working on a documentary that will come out sometime in the next 1-2 years. We've recently purchased an HD camera from Canon - but still need funds to help with the purchase. Right now we've received $1100 of the $2500 needed. If you'd like to help out - you can head on over to the online donation page and get us closer to our goal!

Our team will also include Jim and Annette Anderson. Jim and Annette were marriage mentors to my wife Erin and I, and they are dear friends. The Andersons will be bringing 990 Malaria test strips to give to the community in Dodoma.

We'd love your prayers over us as we travel. We have a long flight ahead of us (with a 17 month old baby) and then some intense weeks in Tanzania. We would appreciate your prayers for our team safety, unity, and humility. Pray that the good news and hope of Jesus will surround our lives and interactions with the brothers and sisters in Dodoma.

From TZ09 Trip

The last little tidbit is that we'll be bringing over $1000 of shoes from Nike to give to the kids in the Lahash sponsorship program. These are new cleats that I'm sure the kids will love.

Thanks to all of you for the presents and letters for the friends in Dodoma, and for the encouragement as we head out!

TENDERFEET GETS NEW UNIFORMS

Most people were greatly involved with the Christmas Giving project that was primarily for our partners in Uganda, Sudan, Kenya and Tanzania. Each partner had different needs that needed to be covered for with the money that was donated. Today we look into Tenderfeet where over $ 430 was donated for the school uniforms. They will no longer use shorts but long pants. Soon they will be getting new pullovers and Shirts. Thanks to all that contributed.You have put a smile on the children face and we believe they have got a great future.


On Saturday we got some visitors from London-The Nish family who donated 65 pairs of new shoes for the children that cost $ 1250.


This week, Dan and his team will be traveling to Tanzania for two weeks. Please pray for them and the work they are going to do. Pray for Dan as he leads the team.

Tanzania Documentary Team preparing

Yesterday evening we had a gathering of the crew that will be heading out on the 25th of this month. Casey and Abbe Schilperoort (and their son Asher), Jim and Annette Anderson, and me (Dan Holcomb) will be heading to Tanzania.

We appreciate your prayers as we finish up the last minute details here in Portland!

From TZ09 Trip

Berean Baptist Video Online

Berean Baptist church visited our Sudanese partners in late 2008. This is a summary of their trip!

Prime Minister of Tanzania visits the Sand Dams

Our partners in Tanzania recently hosted the Prime Minster of Tanzania and the minister of water and irrigation at their Sand Dam project. The government then gave $6,000 to the church for their work in the area.

From Dodoma in 2009

Dax finishes up his visit in Kenya

The past two weeks Dax has been Kenya. I got to ask him some few questions like how his trip has been. It seems that he had a great time despite the fact that he had long meetings here and there but he did not mind. In the picture above you can see Dax and the Tenderfeet Board members. A lot was discussed at the meeting and he was much satisfied with the answers that he was given by the board though he felt like he offended them with the questions he was asking but again they didn’t mind at
all.

He has also been working hard getting more information about the children at Tenderfeet.
During his time here, they went to Eldoret and Nyahururu with Margaret visiting different people in the community. Some of them were displaced after the post election Violence that happened in Kenya late December 2007 and early January 2008. One of them a Widower-Gitonga who is living with HIV/AIDS and not able to provide for his five children. Dax and Margaret decided to bring his three children to Nairobi for good education and good care now that they are staying with Margaret. In the picture below is Margaret Wamuhu one of the three, she is now at Tenderfeet education center and the other two are in different school because there education level is higher. They all seem to be very happy being in a new environment and making new friends.We believe that they will have a bright future.

Dax left yesterday back to the states; please pray for safe travels and for his family as they come together again.