Teaching on a street corner

For many months now Terry has been going every Monday afternoon to a street corner to teach about good livestock production. This is truly in the "heart" of the Rangi. This came about as Terry was walking one day, they ask, "what are you doing? where are you going?" Terry told them he taught about good livestock production and they said, "come here and teach". He never knows how many will come or where it will lead, but he is open to where God is leading. Many times people will come home with him to see the bio gas generator or he will have opportunities to go to their homes to meet the family and look at their animals. Sometimes they want him to go to their village, but that hasn't happened yet, he is waiting for them to make arrangements.

The rains has been good this months, we have received over 7 inches now and most if not all have planted. We pray for good crops so there will be enough food for all.

Form 6 Girls Receive New Bibles

These are some of the Form 6 graduates who have been in Nan's weekly Bible study for the past year. They had their formal graduation ceremony on the 20th of January and last Wednesday Nan was able to give each of the 78 girls new Kiswahili Bibles. From their emotions you could tell that many of these girls had never owned a Bible of their own. It was such a joy to be able to share with them how God has blessed us and we, in turn, are able to bless them. These students are actually taking their final National exams this week, February 7-11. Please pray for these young women and for their future. These are some of the brightest young women in the Country of Tanzania, just by being invited to attend this government school shows they are the future of Tanzania. It has been such a joy to be with them teaching the Bible study of David.

Teaching about the bio gas generator

Terry has been teaching for several months now on a street corner among M's. Each week is about good livestock practices and the bio gas generator. Just today, while talking about building a bio gas generator Terry invited them to our house to see the one we have. Four men and one woman came. Here they are feeling the flame. The man of the extreme right was so interested he ask if he bought the barrels would Terry come to build one for him. He lives in a village just outside of town and of course it is something that we really want to do. If we can get Tanzanians sold on the bio gas, then it can save them so much money by not buying charcoal, kerosene or using wood. It is also much cleaner cooking and the manure can still be used on their farms. We continue to p for opportunities to teach about the one who gives life everlasting.

New Calf

This is Terry's latest calf, named Baraka, meaning blessing in Kiswahili. It is the calf of some M friends and we have a very good relationship with this family. The calf was born in late December and on this day Terry de-horned the calf. The one behind is Furaha, Happy, in Kiswahili, but Terry didn't do the artificial Insemination for this calf. Furaha was born just last week. P for continued opportunites to share with other M's.

Kondoa Girl's High School Graduation

The student in the middle is Clara Manoni, her mother on the right, Demetria, brother in the center, Daniel, and Nan on the left. On Thursday, January 20th, the high school had their formal graduation exercise, (over 300 girls graduated) although the students still have about a month of classes and final exams. We have been friends with the Manoni's for almost 10 years now. Clara's father died in December of 2007, but we have remained close to the family. It really was God's working that brought Clara to Kondoa in 2009, just after we got here. She had been accepted at a private high school in Dodoma, but then received the invitation to attend the government school here (much cheaper). It has been such a blessing to be near her these two years of her final high school courses and of course to have here mother, brother and an aunt be able to attend the graduation and stay with us. Clara has one other sister, Mpelwa, who is in Form I at a boarding school in Dodoma,(high school) Please pray for Clara that she will finish well and make good enough scores on her exams to attend a Government university. She wants to attend Mzumbe (Mm-zoo-mm-bay) University near Morogoro and study law.

And the rains came tumbling down

I hope you can see the rainbow. Some of the most beautiful rainbows we have ever seen have been here in Tanzania. We have been so blessed with rains, although they didn't begin as early this year as last year, but in December we had over 6 inches and this month already over 2 inches.

On Wednesday nights we have a short devotion time, just Terry & Nan, and every week we end with the song, Morning Has Broken. The second verse says, "Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven, like the first dew fall, on the first grass. Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden, sprung in completeness where His feet pass." The rainbow reminds us of His promise of never to destroy the world by flood, but it also is a reminder of His blessings here on earth. Count your blessings today!

Progress??

Thought you might enjoy seeing some of the progress in Kondoa town. They have been grading many of the roads and making ditches, the ditches were all dug by hand. As you can see, this house just happens to be in the middle of the road. The man on the left side is walking down a narrow path, as of this week the house has two big red X's on the front of it. The large tree limbs prevent cars/trucks from hitting the house. We shall see how soon this is torn down. The funny thing also is that on the other end of this road is another house in the middle of the road. Somebody didn't tell these folks where their property lines were! I hope next year to be better at keeping up on the blog. Pray for us to be diligent about His work.