Greetings from the campus of Waama Bible College in Mbulu, Tanzania! It took a few days but it is good to be back here and moved into our home. As I stated in my last email, we continue to anticipate that classes will begin this coming Thursday (October 16th)…but that could still change. Since we arrived back on campus, we have been busy sorting through our things, getting organized, doing fall cleaning, and getting connected again with the other staff. We also had the chance this past weekend to compete for our second time in an annual volley competition hosted for our region in the town of Haydom. We again played on the Mbulu town team…and again swept the competition.
By way of praise, the new dean of Waama has now arrived here at the school after completely recovering this past week from a recent bout with Malaria. He was able to travel back to Waama with us yesterday from his home village where the volleyball competition was held. With him here, we now hope to have a teachers’ meeting in the next couple days to confirm what courses will be held this year and divide up responsibility for each of the corresponding classes. Until that time, we will simply try to anticipate what our responsibilities will be and plan accordingly.
As far as our residency situation, I don’t have much new to report. Unfortunately, we will not be able to begin the application process before school starts as we had hoped but still anticipate no problems. We have been delayed because most of the staff from the head office of the diocese are involved in meetings for the next several days. These meetings involve all the various mission groups working in this area which are a part of the Lutheran Missions Cooperation. This has prevented the General Secretary from having time to give attention to writing a cover letter for our application which is required since legally this diocese is the organization under which we are here working. So, we appreciate your continued prayers for that whole situation and that renewal would be able to be processed before our current residency permits expire in mid-January.
I am going to keep this update short but wanted you all at least to know we are back home and getting settled in. God is good and we are excited for all He has in store for the year ahead. Keep in touch and let me know how I can be praying for you, too!
God bless you all!!
In His love,
Jesse Long
Mbulu, Tanzania
