Bwana Yesu asifiwe. [Praise the Lord] Greetings to everyone from Tanzania in the wonderful name of Jesus.

Christian Worldview. These two words have been on the lips of many in Imara in 2007. Why are we so passionate about Christian Worldview? We believe that until the Animistic worldview is dealt with in the minds of the people, poverty will continue to prevail here. No matter how much help is brought into this country. Animism leads people to feel there is not much they can do to better their lot. It leads them to treat women as second rate people and believe in the power of the witchdoctor. Christian worldview brings people to realise God has given us great resources to use to give us blessing right now, in this world. It helps us understand that education is a blessing from God and women are not second class citizens. We are passionate that Imara be a vehicle to bring this positive worldview change to the people of Tanzania in all we do.

Here are some fruit that came from our seminar teaching of what a Christ centred way of thinking can do in Tanzania:

• Pastor Marseli from Katesh said "I have been wondering why Africa is poor. Now I have the answer: Africa is not poor. The problem is in our minds. Thanks God for revealing this secret to us. Soon and very soon you will see how God is going to change my people!"
• "I have been hesitating to do business in my life. I thought the business is not for Christians. Praise God for God confirming to me that to do business is a good job!" Pastor Yona from Katesh
• Mererani KLPA Church said "We decided to fill the potholes in the road going to the village from our church to the nearby village. It was so wonderful how the community there responded for what we did!" 
• "We decided to take care of the girl who was pregnant and their family rejected. The girl now has become a Christian and after one month she might have her baby."
• Pastor Karoli  went home excited last year. "Just after the end of the teachings in October 07, I went straight to plant trees in my Church compound. Now you can see some of the fruits of that teachings I feel to teach my congregations the importance of planting trees in their fields. Let us see what will happen by the end of 2008!"
• "We decided to visit those who were affected by HIV/AIDS as one of our discipline of love. It was so great to see how we were received and hope arose from the houses we visited. Committed Church members," Matui Kondoa"

Nearly 200 HIV/AIDS volunteers now
In January the HIV/AIDS team conducted another 3 week training course for 16 volunteers from churches to enable them to do home based care and train people in their own villages. We have wonderful testimonies coming back from our past trainees of how Jesus' love has gone out to many sick giving them hope. Pray with us as Tim Neet comes to help us with the next steps with this ministry.

Two new schools -totalling five!
In January our two new English medium primary schools commenced-- that means all five schools have started! What an opportunity to bring life long change to these kids coming from poverty backgrounds.   One is in the Maasai village of Mairowa and the other is in Mwika, a village on the slopes on Kilimanjaro.  Meagan, Isack and Godsave were very busy in December and January preparing for the openings.
In Mairowa there is Standard 1 and a kindergarten class.  Each class has 30 students. Levina has started a new horticultural project so the kids learn they can grow vegetables at an early age!
At Mwika there are 2 kindergarten classes and another class for younger children which they call the baby class. We have a new project co-ordinator at Mwika called Masaki. We have asked Roger and Ian from Australia to come in April to plan the way forward. There are still many children available for sponsorship if you are interested! Write to Roger Ellem at rellem@aapt.net.au or jennyw@missionoz.com

Pray with us for Likamba school in Maasai land ... we are working on finding a long-term solution for them.  Right are some of the kids studying in the storeroom.

Stop press! Karansi school topped their whole district AGAIN out of around 22 schools. This is the second year in a row! It is such a contrast to where only a handful of the poor kids passed into high school back a few years ago. Thanks Bobby and Co for your invaluable input to these children.

Teams from Overseas
We have had several teams visiting Imara in the last 2 months.  Miriam has been doing a great job organising transport and accommodation for these teams.
One team came from Perimeter church to continue the on going discipleship training for the key pastors and women’s leaders we are working with. They had a breakthrough on what 'life on life' discipleship as Jesus did it really means. 
The team from Scottsdale Bible Church came to visit Mairowa and Kondoa.  Part of the team climbed Mt Kilimanjaro to raise money for two of our schools and Kondoa and Mairowa.   They were all successful even though one member had 2 artificial knees only 9 months ago and another is still feeling the effects of shattering his leg in 2005! Congratulations to Fred and Frank! This is now the third team that have climbed Kili for the sake of the schools they are helping us with.

Darren and Erin plumb came from Bunbury, Western Australia to spy out the land.  They saw that it was good J Maybe they'll come back! See their "Mwika Impressions" at the end of our news. 

At the moment we have a "sister to sister" team here from Newcastle and Quirindi, NSW.  This team is here to help their sisters in Tanzania.  They have been both blessed and a blessing as they have shared at Women’s seminars in Moshi and Arusha and with the Arusha Pastors Prayer Fellowship.  They also visited Mwika to see the school and to present the sewing machines that their churches have donated to the church at Mwika.
Tomorrow Jenny will be arriving from New South Wales.  Mike is very thankful to have someone coming to help him with all the overseas communication. Ya Hoo!

Gabby left us a changed young woman... She found Jesus in a new and unexpected way. I think she might be back as well! Julia and Meagan are doing a great job with us here. [icecream was good!]

Hey, but where are all the guys? We have wonderful dedicated women come working with us....  a young guys dream!  [please excuse my dig]

Mike and Godsave went to USA for 2 weeks in February for an international partners conference and talks at Perimeter  and Scottsdale.  This was a very beneficial time but we are glad to have them back in Tanzania. It was wonderful for them to be able share with Godly men and women from all over the world and hear how God is moving over ALL the earth [though the newspapers tell us little of it!]

Fruit of Unity:

I want to share with you the excitement and fulfilment that I feel from our first western zonal meeting of some of our unity groups. Nine different groups sent 1-2 representatives to Dareda where Gidori, Paul, John and I met with them.

Unity: It was so encouraging to hear how most of the groups have overcome ups and downs to still continue on working together – with a big part due to Imaras mentoring, encouragement and teaching over the past years. Our Imara guys [Gidori, Paul, John and Jones] deserve a huge thankyou for the work they have put into spending long hours with the various groups from time to time helping the guys over hurdles in the different places
More teaching was asked for on how to overcome the pitfalls that come along.
The time together allowed, for the first time, the different unity group leaders to hear from one another. A lot was learnt from each others strengths and weaknesses. I know they all left challenged on how to lift the way they were working together with the leaders in their areas.
I was surprised on how many [I guess 2/3rds] were meeting across ALL denominations. Some, for sure, were just Pentecostal and had little vision beyond that [yet!], but most had taken a greater step and were actively inclusive of all churches in the area.

Discipleship: many testified how the TEAMS program had already given more depth to their people in their churches. At the conclusion of this first 3 year program, we will see a lot of fruit come from the program.

Christian Worldview: We found that there were 7-8 seed projects started that were initiated as a direct result of the Christian Worldview teachings that Gidori and others have been doing in the different areas within the zone. Finally we have a bit of a breakthrough and praise God that the seed that has been sown is bearing some young fruit!

HIV/AIDS: Many shared how the volunteers trained by Imara had won favour in the community and with the government because of the HIV/AIDS work that their churches were now doing as a result of Imara's trainee program. Some, who were not doing this work, were inspired to send representatives to be trained from their own churches as they heard testimony from those that were.

About us:
On a personal note, we have been here now 14 years. Its been a wonderful call. Lyndall has been happily using her new kitchen since the beginning of February and enjoying the view of Mt Meru from her kitchen window. All our children are now living in New Zealand.  Sharon and Peter have been living there since the end of June 2006.  They have both been promoted in their jobs.  Kirsty moved to New Zealand at the end of January and will commence work at the Rotorua Hospital as soon as her nursing registration comes through from Australia.  Joshua is also in NZ and looking for an apprenticeship as an electrician. We hope he will get one soon.

Some have asked if the situation in Kenya has influenced us here.... not really- Tanzania is a very different country.  We pray for peace next door and it looks like the Tz President Kikwete has just helped them take a big step forward.

Thank you for all your prayers and financial support. God is doing great things.  On the other hand, Margie, our Oz treasurer tells us our personal provision has been down for some reason this last 3 months - sorry if we have not communicated enough of what's going on. We'll try and do better. The work God is doing in this country is a privilege to be a part of. Our prayer is that we will be led by His Holy Spirit and that His name will be glorified in everything we do. That we will guide Imara well based on a strong foundation of a close close relationship with Jesus. Pray with us and stand with us as you are able.

Love and blessings from us both,

Mike and Lyndall

Darren and Erins Mwika impressions:

Driving up the mountains to Mwika, I was impressed with the tropical terrain-everything was green, with banana trees, sugar cane, coffee plants plus lots more growing. Little houses were nestled in everywhere just off the rough road. I can only imagine what rain would do to those roads!! When we arrived at the school/orphanage, unlike previous schools, the children immediately ran up to your side and cuddled and touched our hair etc. They were very warm and hospital. The children were having one of their very first classes in a large chapel that doubles as the temporary classroom. At our arrival, the poor teachers lost the attention of the very distracted children, so they instructed them to sing us a few beautiful songs in English before dismissing everyone.

The teachers of various ages shine with commitment and dedication to the children. They appear firm, yet still gentle and caring. The enormity of what these teachers have given up to teach in these schools with little income or life ‘niceties’ really hit me. They could be doing so much better for themselves somewhere else, and yet they’ve followed the call of God on their lives and committed themselves to raising these children in a godly and Christian manner. And yet they were not in anyway acting the martyr…but humble and joyful in their present circumstance.

The new buildings were well on the way when we arrived. The classrooms were nearly finished along with the toilet blocks. What a relief to have a toilet block compared to the single toilet all the children currently share!!! All that is needed is retaining walls to finish the landscaping and create safety for the children. They have done a fantastic job at building everything…the labourers are very skilled and very thorough.

Above all else though, to see these children whose lives could be devastated by being orphaned, sick, poor or lonely, rising up to be thankful for all they have received is a testimony to the work of the team there. Mama Mrina and her husband are fulfilling an amazing godly calling to reach out to the widows and orphans in their area by setting up employment opportunities, fundraising, schooling, accommodation, food, not to mention the most important- love, care and attention. The Spirit of God that lives in us, so obviously lives in them, and it was a privilege to visit with them and bring them whatever encouragement we could.