First Full Day

Praise Report--we got our luggage finally from the airlines. We are still missing 1 large bag and 1 large carry-on so continue to pray that these are returned quickly. The team members who received their long lost luggage were thrilled to have clean clothes to put on! It was great to take a shower, and put on some CLEAN CLOTHES!! Hallelujah!

Today we prepped for our video trainings that we are going to do out in the bush tomorrow and the next day. Watched the videos in Swahili and had Polycarp explain to us what was going on in the videos so we could ask appropriate questions in the small groups. We then reviewed the set up of the video packs which we will run from a generator in the bush tomorrow. I am amazed that we can use technology to further the gospel--bringing truth to the Maasai out in a remote location. God has provided us with a wonderful tool to proclaim his Word.

We enjoyed a Tanzanian lunch today prepared by Scola and her sister Hilda. It consisted of ugali, rice, and a mash of meat and cabbage. Followed by a dessert of snickerdoodles. Scola is a wonderful cook and we are blessed to have her prepare our meals.

Dinner was at McMoody's--a take off from McDonald's. We enjoyed pizza, hamburgers, fries, and shakes. Yummy!

Pray that we minister effectively to the Tanzanians tomorrow--that we would be led by the Spirit and that the power of the Word would go forth to accomplish that for which it was sent. Pray that hearts and lives would be changed as they hear the Word of God. Pray also for safe travel and that everything would go smoothly as we set up the video packs and tents.

Mungu nakupenda sana! God loves you!

Finally here. . .

Praise God!!! We finally made it here!! We are so thrilled!! We finally made it to the Kiliminjaro airport at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. We are all suffering from exhaustion I think. Our brains are still in Kansas, but our bodies are here in Tanzania.

I'll give more updates when I get some rest. We had our orientation session with Steve and Polycarp. We were so tired, we kept falling asleep.

Our next prayer request is about our luggage. We got to the airport in Kilimanjaro and discovered that our luggage had mysteriously disappeared. We only had one piece show up amongst the entire team. So please pray for the quick and speedy return of our luggage as it contains our medicines, our clean clothes, sunscreen, etc.

We just lost our electricity--luckily I'm on my laptop with battery power. But my battery is about to die, so I'm going to sign off for now.

Thanks for all your prayers!!! We continue to need them!!! We are excited about our plans for the next week. Tomorrow we're prepping for the video training sessions.

In London--halfway there!

Well, we finally departed Chicago around 9:08 p.m. Friday. We all were able to get on the same flight so we were extremely thankful for that--especially Sametta as she was scheduled to fly by herself. TAfter an 8 hour flight, the team is now in London and waiting our departure for Nairobi. We had made plans to go and see some sights in London, but due to the fact that we got here later than our original plans, and then we had to stand in line to get checked in for our next leg of the flight, and it's rainy and overcast today, we decided to stay in the airport instead. This was probably a good idea as we are all tired. It's hard to sleep on those international flights!!

The airport security is a little more strict in London than in the States. Two of the team members were delayed in security due to having liquids in their carry-on bags and we had to do some quick drinking and some re-packing of our items.

So keep praying. We are only halfway there!!!

On our way. . . we hope

Proverbs 16:9
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

We met at the church this morning at 11:00 a.m., loaded up the van and went to the airport. We successfully got all our bags checked and made it through security checkpoints. Unfortunately, the first leg of our flight met with some delays.
Because of weather problems in Chicago (we heard tornadoes) our plane arrived late to Wichita. Then once on the plane, there were some wind sheers reported which led to additional delays. When we finally departed, we were about 2 hours behind schedule. We ended up missing our connecting flight from Chicago to London; it left about 5 minutes before we made it to the departure gate. Therefore, we are spending the night in Chicago, and won't be leaving until tomorrow (Friday) to fly to London. Basically, we are one day behind schedule, but should be arriving on Sunday morning instead of Saturday morning in Tanzania at the same time of day as originally planned.

We were blessed by the fact that a church in Mulvane, KS blessed us in the last couple of weeks with some additional funding and supplies. We were able to use this additional funding to help pay for our unexpected expenses of a hotel stay. Also, we have a nice hotel in Chicago with plenty of hot running water, free wi-fi, and sleep number beds--a nice prelude to our expected accommodations in Arusha.

We ask for your prayers as we are currently scheduled to have to split up the team to fly on three separate flights from Chicago on Friday. Obviously, this is not ideal. John is calling the travel agent again tomorrow to see if there is any way that we can all get booked on the same flight, but with 8 of us, and it being a holiday weekend, we don't anticipate this being a realistic possibility.

God is certainly teaching us patience and flexibility and that He is always in control and that we are not!

Mungu akubariki, Bwana Asifiwa

The Holy Alphabet

Received via email. . .

The Holy Alphabet

Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of "Camp Complaining"
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To "thank" is a command
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
Xalting God most high
Yes, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

"I am too blessed to be stressed!"
The shortest distance between aproblem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything

12 days and counting. . .

I'm exhausted!!! I've spent the last day and a half trying to get my daughter home from the Czech Republic and I remember anew how taxing international travel can be. There were problems with her itinerary, a rescheduled flight, a missed connection, a scrambling in Canada to get a hotel room where she is having to spend the night, frantic calls with the airline, the paging system at the airport, and the booking agent. Exorbitant luggage fees--so she ended up leaving some of her stuff in Prague and hopefully will get it mailed back to her someday. Even with all the wonder of technology, it was still difficult to connect with her via SKYPE, email, or Facebook, etc. because I didn't know where she was at any moment. And she had stopped her cell phone service when she left the States and it hasn't been reinstated yet. So she was virtually inaccessible.

As I'm finally taking a deep breath this evening, knowing that she'll get some rest tonight before tomorrow's college graduation, I'm wondering if our team will encounter any of the same difficulties and I can only pray--hopefully not ALL of them!

Zech 4:6 It's not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord.

All my frantic worrying, agitated phone calls, and untamed stress was really for nothing. I felt totally useless on my end and unable to effect any change or assistance for my daughter as she was traveling. All my might and power was for naught--except for maybe helping to get her a hotel room--but it literally took me 2-1/2 hours to get that accomplished. All this to say, it may be a rough road ahead for our missions trip, but we need to learn a lesson (at least I need to learn this lesson)--that we need to be flexible, adaptable, and trust in God to work out all the details. Expect to be frustrated. Expect things not to go exactly as planned. But ultimately TRUST GOD. He's still in control!

13 days and counting. . .

Let us never forget who we are in Christ and what He's done for us!!

Believe the truth--which is the Word of God, and do not listen to the lies of the enemy.

Ephesians 1:7
I am forgiven--all my sins are washed in the blood.


2 Corinthians 5:17
I am a new creature.


1 Corinthians 6:19
I am the temple of the Holy Spirit.


Colossians 1:13
I am delivered from the power of darkness.

Ephesians 6:10
I am strong in the Lord.

Ephesians 1:4
I am holy and without blame before Him.

Ephesians 1:6
I am accepted in Christ.

Colossians 1:12
I am qualified to share in His inheritance.

Revelation 21:7
I am victorious.

Romans 6:2,11
I am dead to sin.

Jeremiah 31:3
I am loved with an everlasting love.

John 8:31-33
I am set free!

Colossians 2:12
I am raised up with Christ and seated in the heavenly places.

Romans 8:37
I am more than a conqueror!

1 Thessalonians 1:4
I am beloved of God.

1John 5:18
I am born of God and the evil one does not touch me.

Romans 8:17
I am a joint heir with Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:18
I am reconciled to God.

Deuteronomy 28:2
I am overtaken with blessings!

Ephesians 1:13
I am sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit.

Colossians 2:10
I am complete in Christ.

Romans 8:1
I am free from condemnation.

Colossians 2:7
I am firmly rooted, built up, strengthened in the faith, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Philippians 1:6
I am being changed into His image.

Philippians 4:19
I have all my needs met by God according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 2:16
I have the mind of Christ.

John 6:47
I have everlasting life.

John 10:10
I have abundant life.

Philippians 4:7
I have the peace of God which passes understanding.

Ephesians 2:18
I have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Jesus Christ.

John 14:12
I shall do even greater works than Christ Jesus.

1 John 4:4
I possess the Greater One in me because greater is He in me than he who is in the world.

John 10:14
I know God's voice.

Colossians 1:27
Christ is in me the hope of glory!

© Copyright 2001-2007 :: Women of the Well - Deborah Lovett ::

All rights reserved. Used with permission.

14 days and counting. . .

Only two more weeks!!

As we get ready these last two weeks, let us be saturated in your Word so that it will overflow from us as we share with others.

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Psalm 19:7

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Joshua 1:8

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Proverbs 30:5

15 days and counting . . .

There is an old hymn that goes, "Though none go with me, still I will follow, no turning back, no turning back."

It seems like we've encountered a lot of opposition even from believers, we've heard some discouraging words, people questioning why in the world are you going to Africa, when people need to hear the Good News right here in America? One answer to that is that we have been called to go to Africa at this time. And we're trying to be obedient to walk through the open door that God has set before us. So even though not everyone is supporting us 100%, we are still going to follow Jesus into Tanzania, East Africa, believing that he has a purpose and plan for us to go.

John 14:1 Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.


No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37

So instead of being "dissed" --disappointed, disillusioned, despairing, discouraged, we are going to remember God's word that says, What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

16 days and counting. . .

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:6, 9-11

I pray that God will work in our hearts and lives as we go to Africa. May he use this missions trip to change our hearts, open our eyes, make us more spiritually mature, teach us more about him, and grow us ever more into his image. It's not only those we are going to serve that will be changed, but we will be changed as well.

17 days and counting. . .

Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?" says the LORD. "Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?" says your God. Isaiah 66:9

I have a friend who is 9 months pregnant. In fact her due date is tomorrow. I saw her on Friday and she looked like she was going to have the baby any moment. As we continue to get ready these last few days before our departure, I'm sure we feel a lot like she does--ready, expectant, eager, nervous, tired. So many emotions will fill us during these next few days. Doubts, worry, excitement, trepidation, fears. Is this really going to happen? Are we ready to "deliver?" The verse from Isaiah 66 above says it all, God has brought us this far--will he not deliver on the plan that he has for us to go to Tanzania? Of course he will. He is still in control and he will help us through our "labor and delivery" as we press on towards our goal of going to Tanzania. So press in, don't doubt!! We're almost there!

18 days and counting. . .

We are "MISSIONARIES"

I still remember when I went on my first short-term missions trip, and someone called me a "missionary" for the first time. And I thought, NO, NOT ME!! Missionaries are those noble, self-sacrificing, super-spiritual people, I thought to myself. But later, gradually, I realized that I was indeed a "missionary," albeit a short-term one, but a missionary nonetheless. Attending a missions banquet once, a man handed me his business card. His title was "Missions Enthusiast." And I thought to myself, that's what I am, a "Missions Enthusiast." So to all the members of our team, no matter what we call ourselves, we are meeting the definition below:

"A missionary is a person who, in response to God's call and gifting, leaves his or her comfort zone and crosses cultural, geographic or other barriers to proclaim the gospel and live out a Christian witness in obedience to the Great Commission."

— Definition adopted by the International and North American Mission Boards in 2000.

http://www.namb.net/site/c.9qKILUOzEpH/b.213022/k.16FD/Sending_Missionaries.htm

Quote from Margaret Mead

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

I heard this quote today and I thought to myself that our mission team is a small group of thoughtful committed Christians and we hope to change the world when we go to Africa--we want to change one heart and life at a time as we sow seeds of faith, truth and God's love.

19 days and counting. . .

Received this email today and thought it meaningful as we draw ever nearer to our departure date:

My prayer is that as our team goes to Africa, that we will dance with God and allow Him to lead us!

G U I D A N C E

Dancing With God

When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other. My eyes drew back to the word Guidance. When I saw "G": I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i". "God, "u" and "i" dance." God, you, and I dance. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead. My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies are upon you on this day and everyday. May you abide in God, as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.

20 days and counting. . .

What can God do through us?

We were driving home from Wichita last weekend after our most recent missions team meeting. On the way home, I was overwhelmed by a feeling of ineptitude and unworthiness. I thought about our group and wondered why in the world God had chosen us to go and be his ambassadors. What would we actually accomplish for His glory? I suddenly wondered, "What were we thinking?" We weren't "special" in any way. We were just normal, everyday Christians with our hang-ups, imperfections, and self-centered ways, and I thought to myself--there's just no way we can make an impact for the kingdom of God. We weren't good enough, educated enough, or spiritual enough. Then God spoke to me and reminded me about Jesus choosing his disciples. As Jesus was walking along the dusty roads, I can just hear God telling him, "There, see that fisherman over there, mending his nets? Go and call him to follow you." And Jesus probably thought to himself, "Are you kidding me?" And after he had selected the twelve, I wonder if he had moments when he thought--"Is this it? Is this all I'm going to get--these twelve imperfect, sinful men? Are these the ones who are going to go and proclaim the Gospel, taking it to the uttermost parts of the earth?" And I hear God, saying, "Yes, just wait and see--I will use these imperfect vessels to accomplish my will. They just need to be discipled by you, and led by the Spirit, and they will be suitable to go into all the earth and spread the Good News." And so too will we.

21 Days and Counting

Only three weeks away! I can't believe it. So many things left to do! So little time! May God prepare us spiritually for this "safari" (in Swahili this means journey).

As we make final preparations, I thought I would refresh our thoughts on WHAT TO PACK--a discussion we had at one of our earlier meetings:

Bible
journal
binoculars
medicines/first aid kit
reading material (book/magazine)
earplugs
sleeping mask
bug spray
sunscreen
hat with wide brim
hand sanitizer
wet wipes
water bottle
fanny pack
camera
passport
immunization record
copies of airline tickets (e-tickets)
neck wrap pillow
skirts for women
lightweight jacket
umbrella & rain poncho
sturdy shoes
carry on bag with at least 1 change of clothing
toiletries
flashlight (if large, will need to put in checked baggage)
anti-malarial meds
list of addresses (for mailing postcards)
world alarm clock
sunglasses
Charmin to go
batteries/extra SD cards for camera
IPOD
towel & washcloth
cash (preferably $50 & $100 newer bills)
aspirin (to take on the airplane to reduce chance of blood clots)
Mints or gum

Team Photo