Well, final exams for the year are now over here at Waama and everyone is breathing easier. In fact, Ben and I have also corrected the finals we were responsible for and returned them to the students. Now, it is just a matter of score summaries being calculated and other preparations being made for graduation on the 29th.
While these days have been more challenging than normal for the students, they have been somewhat less stressful for the teaching staff. I have even had some time to begin re-reading C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity as well as start a book by Dr. Don Bierle called Surprised by Faith. If you are looking for a book to read, I would recommend either one of these. With the extra flexibility in our schedule lately, we have also been able to take advantage of a few opportunities to play volleyball in addition to the normal recreation schedule here at the school. This past week we played a couple times down at the village center. We always appreciate these types of opportunities as it provides for interaction with new people in a non-religious setting. Several weeks ago, we were also invited to do a couple hours of coaching for students interested in volleyball at a nearby high school. Some of the students from there come and play here on our campus occasionally so it was fun to interact with them in their environment and also get to know some of their friends.
Our last weekend of ministry for this term was a blessing (June 6th-8th). We were able to travel with six of this year’s students who are all from that area, meet some of their family members, and visit two of the home churches represented among them. Between the 2 showings that we were able to do that weekend, we estimate around 600 people were able to see the Jesus film. We were also able to give several messages not only during a seminar on Saturday but also in the service on Sunday. The area where we were on Sunday, was surrounded by a very large wheat farm owned by a company out of India. So, before going to church on Sunday, we went to visit the manager of this farm (who is from India) since “we were in his jurisdiction”. What a blessing to find out that he was a brother in Christ and very vocal about all that God has done in his life. He even seeks to reach even those that work for him by giving them Bibles and sharing the Gospel in other ways.
This coming weekend, we will be taking a motorcycle trip with two friends (one Norwegian and one American) to visit a Norwegian missionary couple about 2 ½ hours from us. During the weekend, we will also get to go out with them and participate in their evangelism ministry to the Datooga people which, like ours (to the Iraqw people), is largely accomplished through film ministry.
The weekend following (June 29th), will be graduation weekend here at the school. Thank you for your prayers as this day approaches and we spend the coming days working on the harvest and making other preparations. I hope in the next couple months to be able to share with many of you in person more of what God has done here in Tanzania in this past year. Thank you once again for your part in this ministry over the past 10 months. God bless you all. Hope to see you soon!
In Christ,
Jesse Long
Mbulu, Tanzania
