We have had a young man here for the last 2 months from South Africa that has been helping out here. He has driven Janet's big truck to fetch bricks, gravel, and sand from either on campus to job site or from off campus to our job site. He has also helped construct ceiling trusses for our houses using the one-day-church parts. He has been a great help with the labor force but spiritually also. For the last month he has preached 4 sermons at church, which means they were in English and I was able to go to church for this past month. Baraza translated for him into Swahili so we were all truly blessed. It was good to go to church and listen to a sermon instead of watching a DVD on computer.
He will be going back home and letting the Lord lead him as to where he will go next. He has left the work force a couple of years ago and really feeling the Lord leading him into the mission field. He is a relatively new Adventist being baptized 4 years ago. He is open to the Lord's leading and is trusting in His direction. He says he has been humbled by working here and prays the Lord never to let him forget his experience here.
We have started bricks on our girl's dorm. We put in the plumbing under the floor for a legitimate bathhouse. We have 3 shower drains installed for 3 actual "running water" showers, 3 squat toilets and one sink all feeding into a septic that is being dug. It is exciting to see progress in this area. Now to see it in our own house, we have yet to see. Janet says it would be a shame for them to get one before us. We have contacted a plumber who says he will come and install ours. Janet has his number – we'll see, it does seem to be closer now than what it has been…. The footer has been poured for our fourth building this year which is another staff house besides the girl's dorm. So, this year, we have a boy's dorm and staff house down at the school campus and up the hill next to the church and across the walking path on our newly purchased property is the girl's dorm with another staff house. None of the buildings are quite done, but we hope to have them done by December. Down by the waterfalls Janet wants to build another staff house. I don't know if that will be this year or not; depends on money and time.
Last night (Saturday night, 8/7) we, Barry, Janet and I went over a schedule that we would like to incorporate here when the dorms gets occupied. We do not want a lot of idle time on the kid's hands. We are planning classes two nights a week, vespers Friday and Sabbath evenings, prayer meeting, game night, and campfire night. We would like to incorporate the young people in the sermons and prayer meeting nights and in some of the other meetings so that they can witness to other young people and also gain experience at leading out at church. It is getting close to the time that this will be put into action. Praise the Lord!
Our Advanced Sewing class starts tomorrow in one of our new classrooms; and Janet would like to move the carpentry class on campus by September/October. There will be a lot of activity going on here soon and we hope that the Lord will be seen on campus. Please continue to pray for us and the work that is being done here. Also pray that the people will see Jesus in us.
As I have been reading the Bible and also Jere Franklin's book about survival in the time of trouble, the quote that says something along the line of: "We have nothing to fear accept when we forget how He has led us in our past…" keeps coming to my mind when I look at my life in the last 10-15 years and can see how our Heavenly Father is leading in my life. That quote that I quoted last blog from Mount of Blessings also keeps coming to my mind and I can say without a doubt that even though at times I did my own thing and even at times strayed from the Lord, He has been faithful to not give up on me and to continue to work in my life. I praise the Lord for His ever loving patience with me, His guidance, and as I continue to grow I praise the Lord as He works with me day by day. I also pray for you and that you will gain an experience that will draw you even closer to the Lord. May His will be done in each of our lives.
That is all for now…
Signing off in Mago, Tanzania
Deniece
You may have entertained an angel unaware. We are praying that God will continue His work for and in you an Janet and your team. The signs of His coming continue to mount. Terrible record heat related fires in Russia claiming 1600 lives. The worst floods in Pakistan in memory taking now more than 2000 lives. In China the death toll from the massive mudslides in the early hours of Sunday had risen to 1,117, with 627 still missing as of Wednesday. A new bacteria that has emerged in India — dubbed NDM-1 and which is resistant to even the strongest antibiotics — is quickly spreading worldwide. This is all recent news.
ReplyDeletePress on in the strength of the Lord. His work must go on, time is getting shorter - we love you!
"The message will be carried not so much by argument as by the deep conviction of the Spirit of God. The arguments have been presented. The seed has been sown, and now it will spring up and bear fruit. The publications distributed by missionary workers have exerted their influence, yet many whose minds were impressed have been prevented from fully comprehending the truth or from yielding obedience. Now the rays of light penetrate everywhere, the truth is seen in its clearness, and the honest children of God sever the bands which have held them. Family connections, church relations, are powerless to stay them now. Truth is more precious than all besides. Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth, a large number take their stand upon the Lord's side."
GC 612