Greetings from Waama Bible College!!

Thanks to the prayers of so many, the trip here to Mbulu from Arusha on our motorcycles was uneventful and even enjoyable. We continue to relish our new found mobility and efficiency.

I recently had the inspiration to occasionally include information on other ministries that we become acquainted with here in Tanzania. This thought came to me as Ben and I were visiting with two elderly Norwegian ladies who have been working here in the Mbulu area for decades. Their ministry is known as the “Iraqw Language and Culture Trust” and is the organization primarily responsible for the recent completion of the entire Bible in the Iraqw language. (Iraqw is main people group in the Mbulu region.) Having completed the translation of the Bible, the people of ILCT (these two women along with their national assistants) are now focusing on literacy training for village people whose primary language is Iraqw and who otherwise would not have the opportunity to receive any formal education (since all formal education is done in either English or Swahili). Of course, their ultimate goal is to help as many people as possible be able to read (especially the Bible) for themselves.

Needless to say, we have been very challenged and encouraged by the dedication of these two Norwegian women. They have also been overjoyed to hear of our work not only showing the Jesus Film all around this region (in Iraqw!) but also providing Bibles free of charge to those that need them (both in Iraqw and Swahili). It is just a good reminder that God is accomplishing His work…even in obscure places and often through unassuming people. What is your role?

Moving on…

As far as news with regards to Waama, it has recently been decided by the church leaders that, with the goal of making more use of the Bible School campus, a number of short courses will be offered in addition to the normal courses this year, especially for people who either are not able to commit to a whole year of study or who may have interest in a specific area. As a result, this past Wednesday marked the completion of the first of such courses for the year - Child Evangelism Fellowship, Level 1. As will be the case with most of these short courses, special instructors were brought in for the 2-week period. We were so excited to see this training being offered here in Tanzania. The instructors were also thrilled to hear that I was already familiar with C.E.F. and that many people from my home church participate in C.E.F. training and outreach on a regular basis each year. Again, it is fun to see some of the bigger picture of how God is accomplishing his work throughout the world. Please keep the attendees of this recent course in your prayers as many of them will now go on to the “practical” part of their training (hosting “Five-Day Clubs” for the children in their villages).

By way of another praise, after church this past Sunday, the dean of Waama, Pastor Massawe, shared some exciting news with Ben and me. Let me back up to say that, as Ben and I have served here, we have come to believe that many of the challenges that this school faces (financially and otherwise) are not so much because the church here does not have means to support the school but rather because the leaders of the church have not put a high enough priority on the work of Waama to give it any significant place within the church’s structure or even within its annual budget. So, the good news that the dean shared with us is that letters were recently sent out by the head office to all the districts within the diocese stating two main points.

1. All districts are now being asked to allocate funds within their budgets for the training (at Waama) of their own church leaders (pastors and evangelists).
2. Seminary level courses will begin to be offered here at Waama as soon as January!

As far as we are concerned, both of these points are direct answers to prayer (both yours and ours). Basically, it is evidence that the church here is finally beginning to see the importance of the role of Waama for the church and, as a result, is beginning to give their much needed support. Furthermore, with regards to the offering of seminary courses, not only will this save the church the exorbitant expense of sending their up-and-coming pastors to outside, expensive and sometimes foreign institutions, but it will also guarantee that these men will be trained in a conservative, Bible-believing environment.

Keep the prayers coming! These changes will not take place without some degree of growing pains. Furthermore, as you pray for Ben and me, pray also for the other ministries (like ILCT) with which, even sometimes unknowingly, we are working in concert. Please continue to also pray for the students who are now starting this new school year as well as for all the staff. This past Tuesday, we had our teachers’ meeting to determine the start and finish dates for each of this year’s terms, class schedule, individual responsibilities of each teacher, graduation date, etc. Many students have arrived and we have begun to get acquainted with them as they get settled in and prepare for classes to officially start today (10/29).

We have also begun our weekend ministry schedule. We visited the village of Gamdi a week ago Sunday, have showed the Jesus Film here on campus for the new students (once in Swahili and once in Iraqw), and already have commitments for the first and third weekends in November. I would also ask for your prayers as I take advantage of an opportunity to be in Dubai November 8-14 to do some work for my former employer (LEKTRO, Inc.). Pray also for Ben as he covers for me here at Waama during those days.

I could keep going but I will save it for my next update. I have already gone too long. Thanks to all who are still reading. I cannot even tell you how grateful I am for your faithful prayers, support, and encouragement in so many ways. I wish I had time to communicate with each of you more personally. This will have to do for now. God bless each of you richly. You are in my prayers.

In Christ,

Jesse