Refugees in Tanzania

Imagine being violently forced from your home because of civil war.  Imagine being forced to leave your country because of mass genocide.  Where would you go?

For the past 50 years Tanzania has hosted hundreds of thousands of refugees from Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Many have settled in refugee camps in northwestern Tanzania, not too far from Musoma, where we will be living.

Tanzanians have mixed feelings about refugees.  Some see refugees as a threat to national security and a burden on the country's already weak economy and infrastructure.  They believe refugees should be forced to return home.  Others in Tanzania see refugees as a blessing and want to welcome them into their country.

Please pray for the refugees in Tanzania.  Pray for their safety, pray for the end of violence, war, and genocide, and pray that refugees would find hope and peace in Jesus.

Resources:
http://www.theirc.org/where/tanzania
http://www.refugees.org/article.aspx?id=1193
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/06/19/tanzaniauganda-prevent-forced-return-refugees

25 percent

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."  Proverbs 3:5-6

We joyfully and gratefully acknowledge that God has provided 25% of our necessary financial support for Tanzania.  This is clearly a gift of God's sovereign grace and we humbly acknowledge him.  To all of our prayer and financial partners: thank you for allowing God to use you as a conduit of his grace.  We are so encouraged and excited!  We are trusting God for the remainder of our support...in his way and in his timing for his glory.  Please pray with us.

Balloons in Tanzania and Wal-Mart

Last night we went grocery shopping in Wal-Mart (yes, all of us: 4 kids, 1 car seat and 2 carts!)  Ellie kept saying, "We go to Tanzania.  We get balloons in Tanzania."  Our kids are so young, they think going to Tanzania is the same as going to Wal-Mart.  They have no idea that this is no mere trip to Tanzania.  We are moving!

Some of you have asked us a valid question: "How long is your time commitment for this mission with Wycliffe?"  Good question.  We believe God is leading us to full-time service with Wycliffe.  This means permanent, career move, life-altering, indefinite period of time, until-God-leads-us-elsewhere life transition.  Many Bible translation projects take years or decades to complete.  We are committed to investing our lives in the cause of Bible translation.  Therefore we are asking God to provide regular, monthly prayer and financial partners.  We appreciate all of you who have joined our team!

Thank you!