Even though we have been back here in Tanzania for over three weeks now, it seems we are still confronted nearly every day with the drastic differences between life in the developed world and life in the undeveloped world. While there are certainly enjoyable differences, there are plenty of differences that are less than enjoyable. For example, as you know, the school was scheduled to open on the 16th of this month. In preparation for that day the teachers finally had their planning meeting for the semester on the 15th. Worse than the late scheduling of this meeting, however, is the fact that the only thing decided at the meeting was that no classes would begin until the school board has met with the regional church leaders to address the poor economic condition of the school and namely its inability for the past several months to pay not only the teachers but the other staff as well. I clearly understand their concern and certainly agree that the churches this school is serving must take ownership of the school and contribute to the cost of its operation.
Your prayers are needed for the school as well as for the church in this region. A meeting with the school board and other leaders is set for tomorrow (October 23rd) and we covet your prayers…even if you are reading this after that date.
On a positive note, students continue to arrive and we have been using these days to have orientation sessions with the students as well as put them to work making sure all the outside work is in order before classes start. For those of you who have been praying for increased enrollment at the school this year (since we have only been at about 60% of capacity for the past two years), I am happy to report that as many as 70 students are expected this year. This number would fill the capacity of the school to nearly 100%!
As another item of praise, the reduced activity here at the school has provided Ben and me with other opportunities to serve. Some of you will remember the ministry here in Mbulu that I have mentioned in the past known as the Iraqw Language and Culture Trust. This is the group almost exclusively responsible for the translation of the Bible into the local tribal dialect of this region. This ministry was started about 50 years ago and is still directed by the same person who started it – a Norwegian lady named Froydis, now in her 70s. Over the past couple years it has been a blessing to fellowship with the people of ILCT and be able to help each other in various ways.
Most recently, shortly after our arrival back here in Tanzania, Froydis contacted us to request our assistance setting up some much needed computers which they had received from donors in Norway. Again, due to our currently reduced responsibilities here at the school, we were happy to do what we could. In short, we found the machines in various stages of disrepair, loaded with old and unnecessary documents and programs, and mostly using outdated operating systems. As a result, Ben and I made a quick 1 ½ day trip with Froydis’ car to the city of Arusha (which was a unanticipated blessing to us) where a friend of ours who owns and operates a computer shop was able to help us install Windows XP on all the computers, upgrade the hardware as needed, and set us up with needed programs and drivers. As the work of ILCT continues to expand and grow, it is fun to see them now equipped with an array of necessary and functioning computers and printers for each of their staff people.
Well, I could go on but I should let you go for now. Thanks so much to each one of you who takes an interest in our work here, faithfully reads these updates, and most importantly continues to hold us up in prayer. While the year seems to be getting off to somewhat of a slow start, good things are happening and I look forward to keeping you updated as God continues to work in this part of the world. I want to close with some verses that Froydis shared with us when we had finished helping her with her computer situation. She explained how these verses have been a continual source of encouragement to her and the work of ILCT over the past number of decades. 1 Chronicles 28:20-21 says, “…Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God – my God – will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD…and every willing craftsman will be with you for all manner of workmanship, for every kind of service; also the leaders and all the people will be completely at your command.” For Froydis, Ben and I were some of those “willing craftsmen” that God had provided for her work. For Ben and I those “willing craftsmen” are not only people like Froydis, but each one of you, too, who make our work here Tanzania possible.
God richly bless you all for your part in my life!
In His service,
Jesse Long
Mbulu, Tanzania
