From the Field:

I know I say this often, but, WOW! Time is flying!

It’s the end of May, but my brain still believes it’s the start of April. 😅

In the last two months, I’ve traveled extensively, starting with a quick Texas trip to visit family and meet my niece Nora (who was born on my birthday!) I’ve made several short trips to the States. Honestly, I don’t usually enjoy brief stays at home; once my body adjusts, I fly again. This time, it felt like the Lord multiplied time, making days slow and weeks long in the best way. Rather than feeling anxious about returning to Tanzania, I felt peace and enjoyed time with family and friends. 

After returning to Tanzania, I had ten days to prepare teaching notes before my next adventure. I traveled for nearly two weeks to Ngara, a village in far west Tanzania, just 15 minutes from Burundi and Rwanda borders. I heard this area was beautiful, and I was amazed by the hidden paradise in the hills.

I co-led a Pastors and Leaders Conference with Bishop Raphael, who spoke on biblical leadership, while I discussed the authority of scripture. Over three days, we explored how spending time in God’s word is essential for knowing God, growing in faith, and discipling others.

At the conference’s end, a Pastor asked to meet. He shared his calling and upcoming plans to plant a church in a village. The training reignited his zeal and desire to bring people to Jesus. As he prayed, he felt led to give us an offering as thanks. Though small, it reminded me of the widow’s mite—generosity is about the heart, not the amount. I often learn more from these pastors than they from me.

Week two in Ngara, I taught my last Minor Prophets class with 29 students, which I liked. The students asked many challenging questions! One of my favorite discussions was on day one. I started each week with an intro lesson where we answered questions like: “What is prophecy?” “How do we know a prophet is sent by God?” and “Does prophecy look the same today?” These questions were key as we explored Israel’s history and interpreted the messages in these twelve Old Testament books.

Our class met in a church, but construction has begun on a new LVCC campus in Ngara! We visited the site and saw the foundation stones delivered. Construction will start with a dorm for students sleeping on church floors. TEAM, a ministry we partner with, received matching funds for the school. Bwana Asifiwe! To learn more or join their mailing list, CLICK HERE.

After returning from far-west Tanzania, I traveled to far-north Tanzania to help lead a two-day seminar on child safety with pastors and widows. I was amazed to learn that within PEFA churches in Mara, they’ve started a foster care system, with families caring for orphaned children on the streets. Pastors address spiritual needs, while widows serve as social workers. We visited a church with a feeding program that meets community needs. This exemplifies the church as Jesus’ hands and feet in the community.

I’ll be in Mwanza for the next few weeks, preparing for my class – The Letters of Paul. In June, I’ll attend a training in Nairobi on “Healing Wounded Hearts,” a program I was introduced to years ago and am excited to see in action!

Visa Update:

I feel like Dory, but instead of singing “Just keep swimming,” I “just keep waiting, waiting, waiting.. What do we do? We wait.. wait..”

BUT, progress is being made! There are two stages to applying for a permit, and state one is complete. My two-year work visa has been approved and paid for; now we wait on the residence visa. Will you pray with me that this is approved quickly? I’m praying that this is approved before my trip to Kenya on June 16th.

Support Update:

Raising support is a never-ending test of my trust in the Lord – and I’m continually humbled by the generous support of my friends and family. Thank you for partnering with me, praying with me, and choosing to be a part of this wild journey. 

If you haven’t yet set up an account to support me through CTEN, click the link below.

I am currently in need of an additional $475/month. This will help me cover things like: 

• Visa (think processing fees and a gift for those helping me)
• Travel (think gas, hotels, food, supplies for trainings)
• Continued Learning (think Swahili lessons, resources to help prepare for teaching)
• Tools (think translation fees, battery-powered projector, screen, hard drives for storage)
• Health (think medical insurance, doctor visits, etc)

Eventually, I also hope to raise funds for different initiatives I may be able to participate in through LVCC (think camps for orphans, trainings for caregivers, youth camps, women’s conferences, etc)

Will you prayerfully consider joining my support team? 

Special Request:

Dear friends,

Your support and prayers have held me up as I have transitioned into a new season of ministry in Tanzania. Transition is a familiar theme in the life of a missionary, and it comes with both losses and gains. Transitions are not easy, but I’m learning that living away from home, away from familiarity, makes transitions exponentially more difficult. I love my new job (just as I loved my old job!), and I have enjoyed exploring new opportunities and building new relationships here in Mwanza, a place that I both know well and also keep learning more about.

It is recommended that cross-cultural workers take time to debrief in times of transition so that they can continue to grow and thrive. There is an organization in Spain called SentWell that specializes in helping people to transition well, and my hope is to participate in a debrief with them as I continue to adjust to my new ministry role with PEFA and LVCC. The goal is to take time to process the previous chapter while focusing on moving forward with an open heart in order to be able to minister out of a “full cup.”

If you would like to give specifically towards a debrief opportunity for me, simply make a note along with your donation.