Summer 2007 Recap

It has been a whirlwind “summer” here with many visitors and projects. June, July and August are actually “winter” in the Southern Hemisphere and it is the coolest time of the year for us. Temperatures are in the 80s instead of the 90/100s. This is of course the time of the year when most short term mission teams come to work. We hosted or facilitated several work groups. For the entire month of June 2 college-age interns lived with us, Sarah Laughlin and Merideth Laurence of Lincoln, Illinois. They participated in every aspect of missionary life, witnessed what God is doing here in Tanzania and sought his guidance for their future work.

Photo: Foot washing at Haven of Peace

An excerpt from the article Sarah wrote upon her return to the USA—
“There are so many things that I brought back from the trip, but there are definitely things that stick out. The smells, sights, and language are all things I will never forget, but more than that are the faces—faces of people who I have left part of my heart with. The Buckners, who do an amazing job working with the Tanzanian people, have left me with the impression that missions is hard work, but it is fulfilling in the greatest sense by the smallest successes. The children’s faces will stay with me forever. Though they were very young there was a seriousness about them that was almost unnerving. Most of them have not had remotely the kind of childhood that I was so fortunate to have. But under the seriousness is a child whose eyes long for love, the love that only knowing God can bring. That is exactly what the Buckners are doing. They are spreading love and the Word while also helping to provide for the peoples’ needs as well. [One thing I learned was that] Satan is very real and very apparent in Africa. Prayer for the Buckners and other missionaries who work in Africa is so needed, as it is everywhere. There is an air of desperation around the city, with people begging for money and doing what they can to get by, but somehow they manage. [The trip] changed me in many ways, and probably in ways I don’t understand yet. All I know is that God directed me into a country where I saw poverty, hunger, and a need for Jesus, but I also saw joy, hope, and the mysterious workings of God’s hands.” Photo: Sara & Meri teaching

Immediately after we said goodbye to Sarah and Meri at the airport, we went to the other side of the building to receive a second work team. Teen Mission USA sent a group of 7 people to work at Haven of Peace Christian Church in a teaching capacity. They held several seminars – leadership training, marriage, women’s ministry, and a kids’ VBS. One particularly special ministry occurred at the end of the women’s ministry seminar when the “rich, and white guests” knelt down and washed the feet of all the Tanzanian women in attendance. It was a powerful demonstration of our sisterhood in Christ and our ministry of service to one another. It was met with very surprised objections from the Tanzanians, but was graciously and emotionally accepted after we insisted it was the right thing to do in Christian love.

This team from Teen Mission USA also provided additional funding for the construction of the church’s public restrooms, and installation of the electricity for the church and pastor’s house. We previously thought the electricity was entirely provided for, however “this is Africa”. We often say here that things are always much harder, and take much longer than expected. This is another example. After the original process of physically installing the wiring and fixtures was completed, several complications arose with the electric company. We are happy to report that the electric problem has been taken care of thanks to several members of Hillview Christian Church. We now have electricity! Photo: new restrooms at Haven of Peace