Greetings from Tanzania,
I must apologise for it being so long since I sent out an email update but anyway, here goes! Widows and orphans, pastors seminars, AIDS awareness, film evangelism - so much is happening! Schools [looks like we will have 4 soon], new widows projects, unity meetings, visitors teams fromoverseas .... I  thank God we have a strong team at Imara to be able to bless the church in Tanzania with all these. You will see how well the team is working together from some of our recent work ......

Dongobesh leaders’ seminar and open air meeting [from Jones]

Very early this month we left Arusha to Dongobesh, this is after the long time preparation. The trip had a lot of struggling and a lot of prayer. We had a good trip to the area, which are 266 Km (167 miles) from Arusha Town

The Seminar was intended to be for leaders but the Church member came in, due to the spiritual hunger no one could hinder them. So we had to make two Seminars; one for leaders and another one for church members.

Instead of doing three ministries we had to do four: Leaders’ seminar (70 Leaders), church members’ seminar (More than 300 persons), open air meeting (average of 2,000 people everyday) and cinema show during night (more than 3,000 People). We saw the mighty power of god moving. The physical healing and inner healing was obvious.

We left people were hungry and thirst of God’s Word. As normal when someone is hungry and get delicious food he will need more food! These people need more of this kind of teaching, prayers and preaching.

 

54% Christian.....

Did you know...... statistics show that when we came here in the early 90's Tz population was 25 million with about 33% Christians. Did you know that now, in the population of 35 million, there are 54% say they are Christian! The increase has mainly been in the Evangelical and Pentecostal churches. That means from 8 million in the 90's we now have 18million say they are Christian!  The fields are truly white and the peoples hearts are open.... they now need His Word so they can grow.

 

Leguruki leaders’ seminar [from Jones]

The Leguruki leaders seminar was of its own kind, we expected to have Mike with us but he could not are make it. God gave us favor and acceptance in this people hearts, we did speak the word of God with great freedom. They were listening to us like we could not believe. I remember that night we were discussing during bed time, how God has been good for us, how he gave us that great wisdom before these 200 great and mighty men and women of God.

Mererani Tanzaniate miners and HIV/AIDS [from Esther]

Mererani is about 70kms from Arusha town. This area is highly affected with HIV/AIDS. It is an area where tanzanite gems are mined. This is where most of the young people are fighting to get much money from the mines. AIDS is a single plague, which has made more, orphans and widows than any war ever in Africa. We found it difficult to minister inthis area because the devil knows what we are going to do. I know the devil think that it is possible to rule that area, but it is too late. God is already there. I believe because the word of God says, Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, us I said unto Moses. (Joshua 1:3). 

HIV/AIDS team + two pastors at Mererani

 

We went to visit mining area and shared the word of hope with youth fighting to be rich.

 

Lyndall and Esther in action during Mererani Seminar.

Mererani area is in need. Out of ten patients going to the hospital seven of them are HIV+. We went to world Vision offices and they showed us the same data. We visited several places with John and Candace, visitors from America. We visited one hospital and the World Vision office. We met several patients in hospital and took few minutes to explain how AIDS is spread very fast in Tanzania especially in our own areas.

Candace shared the word of God to encourage them. Many of them were women who came for clinic routine. Some of them were pregnant and others brought children to the clinic. We took time to explain how it is very important to do blood test before deciding to have another baby.

Watching film video at night

We did seminar in three churches for three days. About 3 people received Jesus as savior during home visits. In the World vision office 2 people received Jesus and in open air teaching 6 people surrendered their lives to God.

We visited one lady who is an AIDS victim and she told us how her relatives ran away after knowing that she was an AIDS victim. She said stigma is a main problem in her life of living with AIDS. She said,  “I am very sick, I have become weak day by day and no one is here to care for me. My relatives ran away from me since my husband died and worse still after they realized that I am an AIDS victim. Since morning this food is the only I have eaten; my neighbour has a problem like me but he is stronger than me, he is the one who brought me this food. I believe God loves me, that is why you arehere. The World Vision counselled me, that is why I am still strong. Please don’t run away like my relatives.” She said.

We prayed and we counselled her with the word of God. Two neighbours received Jesus as saviour in that house.

They are careful listen what we teach.

 

John and Candace praying over a list of about 1500 HIV/AIDS victims at World Vision.

Many churches and its leaders have been afraid to deal with such a prominent problem and many of their parishioners have suffered the consequences.

“Imara Ministry presented an eloquent and needed presentation about the prevention, spread, and the truths about this disease to this town”(Candace said).

 “IMARA Ministry, not only presents the wonderful message of the gospel of Christ, but also is bringing about the much-needed message about HIV/AIDS and what it is doing to African communities.”

Your mercy giving......

Karanse is going well and here you can see many families lining up for mosquito nets for their families. 

 

 

The children are really enjoying the new swings and playground gear......

 

Billy  Goat ..... He has great genes for milk production!

 

 

Widows are being helped with housing.........

 

 

 

And finally the pastors work continues to be encouraging!

 

Will you pray with us? Pray for....

• New mercy ministry and leadership partnerships that are coming up. Three new schools is a lot to take on but we are excited about being able to teach the 'next generation' and bring many to Christ because of it! [note 57% of the Tz population are under 19 years of age!! We need to support the Pastors desire to build these schools!]
   

• Imara will continue to grow strong to be able to meet the ministry expansion that we seem to be blessed with. Jabez comes to mind here! [We are so thankful to be able to have our own office now. It is the house we have lived in for the past 10 years so we are a bit sad to need to need to leave and rent elsewhere. But it will be wonderful to have as an office facility- Imara badly needs it. Afmin will also join us and I believe other Imara staff will come on board soon as well]
   

• Gidori would like to go to the US for 6 months study with YMAM. Pray for provision for him and for Gods will. Also Lyimo desires to do some overseas studies - pray the same for him.
   

• Mike and Lyndall and family:

  • the children are in the middle of exams. Josh wants to work after this semester, Sharon will be coming here for a few weeks, Kirsty is getting over a major sickness that stopped her from completing some work this semester.

  • While the Imara ministry has grown, M & L personal provision has reduced  a bit for some reason.
     

May the Lord be with you all

Mike & Lyndall and all at Imara.