Elihuruma, John, Judith, and Joshua

Elly, Musa, & two ladies on his ministry team (one is his fiancé)

Elihuruma Muruma (Elly), John Athumani, Judith Msengi are wonderful people I've been Facebook friends with since last Spring, shortly after Musa's visit.  In fact, all of the folks shared about in this post are some of the many people Musa has interacted with as he travels throughout Tanzania preaching the Word.



Elly's the youth rally in Arusha

Elly is an inspirational young evangelist and teacher in Arusha, Tanzania.  Elly, at 25, has written three books, and holds youth (secondary and college age) rallies with amazing music, preaching, and teaching.  He is passionate about helping to shape the character of young women and men in Tanzania to love and serve our Lord, particularly students within the universities where they are often taught views conflicting with the Truth of the Word of God.  His ministry mission statement is to "live full and die empty".  Lay it all on the line for our Lord, there is nothing of more value.  On my first night in Tanzania I was privileged to attend "part" of an all nighter rally that Elly's ministry put together.  I was privileged to hear absolutely wonderful music (singing and instrumental), preaching and teaching my Elly, and Musa, and such energetic enthusiasm - it was an amazing evening.



with Judith at Joshua's Studio

with John at Joshua's studio

John & Judith are father and daughter.  John is much sought after Tanzanian evangelist, who knows Musa from sharing the podium at various crusades.  John was raised muslim (from his dad's side), and was hand selected to travel to Saudi Arabia for special training when his muslim mentor suddenly died (on the day they were to travel).  This caused him to step back and re-evaluate his life's path.  This, plus constant prayers from his mother led John to the cross of Jesus - where he has been serving faithfully for most of his adult life.  John has a particular gift or reaching out to the muslim population in Tanzania - sharing with them true hope which can only come through our Lord Jesus Christ.  His only daughter Judith (he has three son's and one daughter) has been trained in child care and desires to serve the Lord through an orphanage when God opens this door.  Judith also has a beautiful voice and sings at many of the crusades that John is involved with.  Judith decided to take her dad's Christian last name (Msengi) rather than the muslim name (Athumani) that he was raised with.  I had the honor of meeting John and Judith in Katish, Tanzania - where they served me a wonderful meal - and we strolled around their town enjoying our common fellowship in The Lord. John took time off from a crusade he was a speaker at in order to meet me - this was such an honor.



with Joshua at his studio

During our stroll through Katish we visited Ebenezer Recording Studio and I had the wonderful honor of meeting Joshua Sumari.  Joshua is a young father of two, who built a recording studio off of his house, and has recorded Musa, Judith, and the Good News Choir (more about them in another post) among many others.  Joshua is very humble, and is very professional, and created an excellent sound room using, in part, a ceiling covered with cardboard egg containers.  Joshua is in the building an addition to his home which he hopes to turn into a regional radio station where praises to our Lord can be broadcast throughout the countryside.

What an honor to meet such amazing extended family members in Arusha and Katish Tanzania.

 

What is a Salaman?

Paul, Daniel, Isaac, & yours truly

Well - perhaps rather than "what is a Salaman, I should ask, what are four Salaman's - and what do they have to do with Tanzania? Now - I may have some of the facts slightly off - but following is an explanation what a Salaman is: Paul & Christine Salaman, along with their two boys Daniel & Isaac are a British missionary couple who live in Dodoma, Tanzania; Paul is a physics professor at St. John's University, and Christine works with the local Anglican Church office.  Paul and Christine first came to Tanzania in 2000, a young couple with no children - seemed like it would be good to "try out" foreign mission work before starting a family.  They applied to a couple church mission agencies, and were accepted by the Anglican agency to serve a small parish in Killamintinde, near the archdiocese for central Tanzania.  While serving partly at the archdiocese - they met a young Musa Njagamba, who was assisting with youth outreach and music at the diocese, and became very close with this young man who had such a passion for preaching the gospel.  It is through Musa that I came to meet the Salaman's; I was even privileged to stay in their guest room which they call "the Musa room". 



Musa & Christine

Shortly after arriving, they became "hooked" on the people of Tanzania - but after about three years thought it would be good to head back to England to start their family. Shortly after the birth of their second son - they sought new opportunities to return and serve in Tanzania.  Paul noticed the need for a physics professor at St. John's in the city of Dodoma, and back they came in 2007.  coming up on six years, they figure to stay at least three more before returning to England for their son's to complete their secondary education there; and after that - who but God knows.  I suspect they will be back in Tanzania.



possible site for new dorm at St John's

St John's is a fairly old university, but as a Christian university is sort of the poor step sister to the much larger University of Dodoma (which is funded by the government, the muslim church, and has received large grants from the Gates Foundation).  St John's has a real need for new dormitories, but no funds.  Rentals in this city, due to having two universities, are very high, and it is often not safe for students to commute to off campus housing; in fact, last year a young lady was raped and murdered while commuting.  Paul, through the campus church, is seeking grants to help fund construction of a much needed dormitory.  In order to qualify for grants, they need drawings and construction estimates - and this is where God, through Musa, has connected the Salaman's with the Luebben's.  Please pray as we develop plans, that God will use these to help this dorm get built, and that more safe housing can be made available to the students of St. John's.



Snapshots from Freetown, Sierra Leone

I had the privilege to spend the last week of October, 2013, with Michael Turay and his beautiful family.  Michael is the head pastor of Grace Point Bible Church, in the Regents district of Freetown.  He is also the founder of Aletheia Ministries. I met Michael at a great study on the book of Romans offered in Spokane last January/February.  Michael was one of the teachers.  During a break, I noticed him studying and taking photos of the small church that we met at; asked him about it, shared what I do - and the next thing you know I find myself halfway around the world in Freetown. 



Michael & Georgiana Turay

 

Grace Point Bible Church

 



Michaels wife, children, and mother were wonderful to spend time with - they love our Lord, are sharp, fun, and humble.  They fed me too much, included me in their family for the week.  Michael took me to their church, and to the site where they will build their new church and ministry.  This is a VERY challenging site - to say the least. In addition, I was able to share in in their daily routine of loading up the car beyond capacity (I added to this "beyond" part); dropping of his wife at her work, picking up two or three of the Aletheia Ministry team, dropping off their 13 year old at his school, and then the 4 year old at his school (and sometimes the neighbor boy as well), before heading to the Aletheia Ministry office. Just driving around in Freetown is a faith building experience - I am grateful that Michael did the driving!



Nathan, Donald, & Samone Turay

Grace Point & Aletheia focus on teaching sound doctrine (Christ alone, by grace, through faith alone); on discipling men and women in to know the gospel, and share the gospel with others.  Many of the church leaders are also part of Aletheia - and they spend most every Wednesday evangelizing in the mornings, and teaching small group Bible studies in the afternoons.  They spend much of the rest of the week studying the Word and sharpening each other; often debating in a loving way.



Following are more photos to help capture the week. Please pray that the Lord blesses this ministry in a town where the true gospel is very hard to come by, and also please pray that the Lord helps me find time to complete the drawings for these wonderful ministries.

 

typical urban housing



church members clearing the site of rocks

view of city from highest point in Freetown area

 







Miscellaneoous Photos of Guatemala

countryside

dare devil bus employees

narrow - nerve wracking roads

abandoned traditional style home

market in Quiche'

I think they can fit "one more thing"

mother and child

carrying heavy loads part 1

heavy loads part 2

road side market

some of the helpers

Uspantan home

Mission church at city center

interesting performance stage at Uspantan town square

market at Uspantan

local girl fascinated with construction work on the project

children of the corn

Cristobal busy working on the water storage building

father and son enjoying watching land being prepared for building

heavy load part 3

searching for greener pastures

heavy load part 4

Mayan hill for sacrificing children is removed, land prepared for Isaiah House - to protect and nurture children 

Joshua & Daniel

Two amazing people that I was privileged to serve with for my 10 days in Guatemala were Joshua Jarrett and Daniel Kwon.








Joshua


racing a boy in Quiche'
 

Joshua Jarrett has accompanied the Clower’s on four ministry trips to Guatemala; and Daniel Kwon nearly ten visits.  Joshua, a 30 year old former professional basketball player (not the NBA – but some international type league) has such an optimistic and enthusiastic attitude.  He worked very hard every day, alongside of Randall, Daniel, and Thali, on the water project; but also with carrying heavy loads, preparing and serving the celebration feast, and was just an all-around wonderful man to experience this trip with.



DanielDaniel Kwon heads up a ministry called “A Cup of Water International”, givetodrink.org.  Daniel is a former pastor, and an engineer who left the pulpit a few years ago to form this ministry to help provide safe, clean water in the name of our Lord all over the world; particularly in third world countries.  Daniel was continuously thinking of creative ways to pump water up this steep mountain to the site…I don’t think his mind ever stops.  At the same time; he greeted every morning with a song of praise; and will (and did) share the gospel constantly in a winsome and passionate way.  Daniel wants to build a house and missionary training center on this same five acres; and within a week of returning home, the Lord helped me provide a conceptual design for this ministry to be built alongside the Isaiah Home in Guatemala. 

Thali Clower, Daniel & Josh figuring out the water system

Thali & Randall Clower and The Ezra Project

Thali and Randall Clower, physician assistants from the Tri-Cities, Washington have been traveling to Guatemala for several years, leading small groups from their church (Richland Baptist Church) to spread the gospel to remote villages, provide medical clinics, find clean water (see “A Cup of Water” blog) and help the people of this land.  Thali was raised in Guatemala and hitchhiked out of that country into Texas in the early 1980’s, where she eventually met and married Randall Clower. 

As you might imagine, there is a special place in her heart for the Guatemalan people, particularly those in the more rural, mountainous towns and villages.   During these repeated visits, they found that in one mountainous town prostitutes and other women who cannot afford to have a baby, throw their newborns in the latrines and garbage dumps to die. This touched their hearts, and the hearts of those who traveled with them.

In November, 2011 the Ezra Project was formed to provide a home for these women and their babies (Ezra-project.org).  The new home will be called “The Isaiah 58 Home”, from Isaiah 58:7 “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him…” God has done amazing things in a very short period of time as He moves this project forward.



the land for the Isaiah 58 building

·         Approximately 5 acres of land acquired from Christian man named Francisco.  The land in in a semi-rural town of Guatemala.

·         After 20 years of attempts by local residents to build a road, this milestone was achieved once local government learned of the home’s purpose.

·         A road to the land was built in 24 days with the help of the Mayor (who is a Christian)

·         During our August visit, the beginning of the rainy season, the road became impassable, so the Mayor donated about $10,000 worth of gravel and services to allow this road to be accessible year round.

·         With a lot of inspiration from our Lord, conceptual floor plans have been prepared for the building, which is designed to be constructed in four phases.

·         Detailed drawings for Phase 1 were prepared during the August visit, and the land was leveled to prepare for construction of this building.  As part of leveling a spot of the house, an overgrown mound, which in time past was used to sacrifice children during the Mayan years.  Now, instead of being used for human sacrifice, this land will be used for protecting lives.  Phase 1 will house a boy’s and girl’s dorm, plus a water purification and office area, and a multipurpose room for meals, worship, instruction, and indoor recreation.

construction of water tank storage building underway

·         Much of the time during the August visit was centered around building a safe water system on the property; a work still in progress. As part of this process a small building to house water holding tanks was designed on sketch pad and construction well underway by the time I left on August 17.

Check out the Ezra Project website for more information about this project, and this ministry, and how you can help.