Ready for Home!!!

Most of you may know by now that our stay is coming to a close. It has been an incredible Life changing, and more, time. I am excited to becoming home. I will say this first we are all safe and wee. There were several riots on the university grounds and the campus was closed. By this happening our ministries have been interrupted. Therefore, in return we are just proclaiming the Gospel every where we can. Today Matt, Felicia, and I went to a carvers market to buy somethings for when we come home. We shared the Gospel as Paul would have to the men and women we saw, and bought from.  It was just amazing seeing them get excited about the Gospel. Anyways we have a handful of days till debriefing which means it really close. lol! I can't begin to describe what a journey this had been. I long to share everything with you all when I return. I love you all see you in time. 

George 

Life N' Africa

Well, life here isn't all that bad, well it has its moments of glory, and horror. Yet, we push on for the next day quietly keeping the count of days in our head till we return home to see our Families, Church, Friends, and all loved ones. We have had some issue with the student protest and unfortunately iI could explain in fullness all the details but I can't. However, we are still meeting with students and though its easy to disciple other Christians it can be hard to find new believers willing to give up there family religions to follow Jesus, Abandonment and beating are welcomed if one choose to do so. But its cool when you see an unbeliever weight that very thing. I am glad to report we are doing well and have growing numbers and seeing faith increase every time we meet with the students. Walls are being broken. I have to say this, the coolest thing about ministering to these students is that they are from not just Tanzania, but Kenya, Uganda, Congo, Sudan, and all those countries have one thing in common. There are Christian fight the battle over faith, in a heavily sinful reality. Congo, Army soldiers rapping women, Sudan, a stop and go civil war, Uganda, Corruption, Kenya, become more and more of a Third world country with the Rich getting rich and the Poor staying poor. Tanzania has its sure of unjust justice, yet it remain very collective in its approach to maintain order though it to has it fair share of corruption with in its political system. We have student that string out all over Tanzania and it's neighboring countries and that means one thing. The lord is going to be glorified in Africa somewhere. Its cool to actually know that I am part of something bigger than myself. Anyways, please continue to pray for us and the students here, and we will do the same for all of you back home. We love you and thank you for everything you all have done.

Chip

Update

Hey all I want to give you a quick update and when I get back in town Tuesday I will update you more. Well things here are getting super hot... That also includes the ministries on campus. Its kind of hard to tell you new things because we have been here for quite some time and everything is moving smoothly. I did find out however that one of our night guards had a heat stroke and past away a while ago. If you want to join us in praying for his family and friends. Well, our small groups are growing and the guys in them are really becoming close and its cool. That is what we came to do. We have been able to go to and orphanage with the campus ministry and I love those kids. There are several pictures on my facebook. If you dont have one, you can make one or ask someone if they do. lol. But I have to go. Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts. We love you and thank Christ for you....
George

Church Friends and Family

Family, Friends, and Church

Hey everyone! Things here in Dar are going well. I miss everyone but hey we have only 9 more weeks here. Believe it or not. WOW! I must tell you matt and I got to travel to Kenya with both Tanzanian Hands-on Teams. It was an incredible 16 hour roller coaster ride, filled with luxurious stops along the way to Nairobi, Kenya. Our stops were other bus depots and truck stop, not like the ones back home on i75. These bathrooms or Toilets were holes in the ground with a buckets of grotesque water to clean our hands. Let's not even mention all the human feces round the "porcelain hole" But thank the lord we made it with our stomach still attached. Nairobi is a lot like LA or Dallas with a European influence. Then we had to go home the day after arriving. The purpose was to renew our VISA because of the complications that most of you know about. All is good now. However, I, yours truly, managed to get a bacterial infection. YEAH, not really. If anything please pray that I get better soon because it effects my travel, if you know what I mean. 

Cool news everyone, Rays beat Boston, now only 3 more games to pull an extremely awesome victory!!!! But you know that.  So on the other hand I would like to share some neat stuff that is currently happening. I will be leading a Hall (Dorm) II Bible Study on Romans. I started doing them individually but I had to many people so now we will meet as a group and then talk individually as needed.  Outside of being sick, Im doing great. We need a positive Spirit to work here or we will just get beaten up. 

There are some complications happening, there are a lot of talks of the students rioting. Felicia noticed a small demonstration by a Cafe'. So we are on notice if we see any outbursts to just leave.  We live far enough away to not be affected by any rioting. I would love if you all could pray for that issue to be resolve in a more productive manner. The rioting is over the Dorm rooms and students aren't being allowed to advance because of outstanding loans.  

The same students, Bill, Makemie, Boneiphace, Peter and now Maganga and Paul> I am working with these know to help disciple them under the Bible. I am hoping to involve many more in the Hall II Bible study, including two new contacts, Jo and Patrick. Please pray that the Spirit of God is directing these young men and not I because that is not the reason I should be here. 

I love you all dearly and I too am praying for you. Please continue to pray for us as it does get hard to be here with all the commotion and the tendency to want to go home. Thank you all so much for everything you all are doing for us. We couldn't e here if it weren't for you all. 

May God bless you.

George

Well life in Africa is pretty awesome, I mean there is a huge shortage of BBQ sauce but life will go on. Throughout the last few weeks I have really been struggling with the fact of being away for so long, but after a lot of prayer and God putting people into my life things have been getting easier. I feel bad that I actually miss my fiends more than my own family. Anyways, I am in the middle of trying to situate bible study ideas, so prayer would be really helpful. God has blessed me with an awesome group of Tanzanian's, that seem to be really interested about anything I say about Jesus, So once again pray that I am able to speak clearly, and able to answer their questions. It is so cool just being able to see how deferent their society runs. Although they don't really have much earthly possessions, most of them are quit ca-tent with just being able to show love and friendliness to one another. What I'm trying to say is that this whole society is based on relationships. Their just so open with on another, for instance a Tanzanian and I were walking through the dorms passing out CD's, and we just walked into anyone and everyones dorm room, without even a knock. This whole basketball reach-out has been awesome, but I have been feeling led to start another kind of bible study. So I'm going to get my hands on some "visit me" papers that all of the students fill out, and hopefully God willing I can start up another bible study. In other news, it is really starting to get hot here! Not much fun, and its only going to get hotter. Thank you all for the prayer support, it means more than you know. One last thing if anyone gets really bored, feel free to drop by my house and say hello to the old man for me; he would love it. I have a lot more to write about, but I need to get to bed, so I love and miss all of you, except for joey. lol Now GOODNIGHT!!!

p.s. Every BBQ restaurant in St. Petersburg FL. will be bombarded the night I get home. You all are welcome to join!!!!

Here's and Update

Church, Family, and Friends.
Thank you all for your commitment in praying for Matt and I. Thank you for your prayers regarding my family. They are doing better, praise God. I want to tell you how we are doing and what we are doing. I guess the best way to explain what we are doing is meeting students, sharing the Gospel, and disciple. It sound easier than it is of course. The idea is to befriend the student to disciple. That is probably the hardest part, bet not that difficult. It is easy to go up and share the Gospel, I think the biggest fear of sharing the Gospel, at the least with me, is my own insecurity and knowledge of the Gospel. Then I realize, while share, I know a lot more than I think. That, or the Lord really intercedes. Whatever the case is it is working. I am currently discipling two Students. Bill Dhieu an Peter Maha. I ask that you all please pray for them and there understanding. Bill is from Sudan and is a Born again Christian, for those that dont understand the difference. Here is Africa, like America there are Christians and then Born again Christians. Christians usually don't understand Salvation with Jesus and they are uninformed of what the Bible says. Born again Christians are Believers and the understand that Jesus paid our price for our sin because we can't. Bill and I are currently going through Romans, along with his roommate. Please pray for the wisdom to share the lords words with both of them. Peter however, I am not sure if he is a Born again Christians or not. He goes to a really religious Church off campus, that preach a Prosperity Gospel. I felt the lord directing me to go over Ephesians with Peter. I hope to help break down the walls of Religious understanding to share with him, Works gets us know where, yet faith does, and that is Faith in Jesus the Christ. I am currently trying to disciple two other students that I just met, Makemie and Boniphase. They are really cool guys and after sharing the Gospel they wanted to here more about the Bible. I don't know what direction the lord is leading me in with them, Yet I have faith his will, will be done.
I must tell you all that this part of Africa is not a whole lot different than some areas in America. The same ministry I am doing here I can do back home and I do for those that know me. But one thing that I must let you understand that I have notice is in America we have resource everywhere. If someone doesn't understand something they can go to educators or libraries and when it come to the Bible this is true. A lot of churches here do not have the resources like we do back home. Many people have several Bibles back home and all kinds of documents that make it easier to understand Scripture. Here this is very rare. Sure Bibles are sold here, but there isn't as many people to help explain the Bible. This is why I believe a lot of Africans, even non-Christian Africans desire to here more about the Bible. So it is good thing there are many missionaries that are coming from all around the world to help share this knowledge. I must say, however, the term missionary needs to be redefined. I believe all believers are called to be missionaries. Whether they are missionaries at work, school, rec, dinner, anywhere. Paul never gave up the opprutunity to share the Gospel and I believe we should, even though I know Im just as guilty as the next.
I love you all and I am praying for all of you back home, for the economy, family, church, and school.
George

Serious Stuff

Hey All Ministry here is Going well... However, things back home clearly aren't. I want everyone to know we are praying for everyone back home. I myself, take prayer very seriously and understand how powerful it is. Guys, Gals, Friends, Loved Ones, Church, I am asking for some serious prayers. My Uncle Stan is not doing well and has be for the past week in and out of the Hospital, To my knowledge it is not good and apparently not getting any better. Please life him up in your prayer, And also my Grandpa Jim, for he is ill and they don't know what's wrong with him. These men are clearly numbering in years however they are members of my family and I love them dearly. Please lift them up in your prayers knowing the same knowledge I do. That is that whatever happens may it be Gods Will, even as they are my Loved ones they are His too, and may the Lord our God be glorified as His Will is being done. Please pray for the Lords Will among these loved men and please pray for good health and divine intervention so that the Lord may be glorified at all cost. I love them, please love on them..... 

Also another Tanzanian Hands On team in Mortagoro has torn a few tendons in is right foot. His name is, Arran, Please pray for a quick recovery, he is the same guy who earlier caught Malaria. Please pray for him and healing. 

Thank you to all those that are encouraging us, and Church thank you for that wonderful card. It was very encouraging, great timing, especially with the events unfolding. I love you all very much. Matt gives his thanks too, we both really enjoy reading the up lifting prayers, and encouragements. 

Everyone, I thank you so much for your prayers and please know mine are with you daily. I loe you all...

George

We have pictures!!!

We have finally been able to get photoes up for you all to look at. The are on my Facebook.

Keeping U Updated

Hey all! Things are going here in Dar, moving write along. I was given a great idea that I thought I would do. We have been meeting students and I want to give you some names, that if you wish you could pray for them. Mjema is a student and he seems to be a pretty cool guy. He has asked if I would share the Bible with him, so that if he sees what it says, maybe he will believe. Mjema is a Muslim, and like many of you know September is a holy month and we are joining the millions of prayers for the lord to reach out to Muslims. Mjema is wanting to know more after I sat down with him and shared the Gospel with him. The Lord is working on him and I would love if you all could pray for him. Another guy is Peter Maha, he is a Roman Catholic. When I sat with him and shared the Gospel, he said that that is what he believed. Yet, when I asked him about how do we get to spend eternal life with God. He said by doing Good things. I shared with him some stuff about what the Bible says to show Peter that no good deed will help us get to Heaven. Peter has shown interest in coming to church and it seems like we maybe able to do a Bible study together. This way we can go through the Lords word and understand his will for our lives. Matt has been talking to Micheal, another guy, who is Roman Catholic but it is questionable of what he believes. It is not uncommon to hear that people are a Christian but the don't understand what a Christian is. He has a best friend that is Muslim, we would like you all to pray for him too. I don't know his name, but the guy likes us. Pray for Hashim and Habib, who are some students Joel is talking with. They are Muslims but they seem to be interested in the Gospel. Those are a couple of guys we could use some prayer for. Also Peter Tumaini and Plus Abraham are two guys that the Tennessee Volunteer mission team hooked us up with. I know know thing about them but this week I hope to get a hold of them. I will try and keep you all up dated on more prayer requests.
Also we are having trouble with the VISA's still and it looks like we will be traveling to Kenya for a day to renew our current VISA's. That is something you can pray about, and we would be very grateful. Kenya is a days bus ride away and the roads are nothing like back home. Also please pray for my Mom, she is going through a really rough time, for many reasons. I am sure she could use some encouragement too. Matt's dad seem to be doing awesome but pray for him to, Matt is a great son and I'm sure he is missed by his dad.
Church we are praying for you all so much too, and we thank you all for helping us serve the Lord and meet Him here in Tanzania. Keep us updated on how we can pray for you all. The Lord doesn't stop, therefore neither shall we. Thank you Church for praying for us, your encouraging thoughts have helped us get through trouble times. Thank you for being awesome. We love you all.
George

Check it OUT

Alright the past few day our team has been going up to the campus "A LOT" and it has been exciting. School starts in about 2 weeks and we are already seeing first year students arriving on campus. Our team along with 6 other volunteer missionaries from the states (Silver Dale Baptist Church, TN) have been diligently meeting people, getting to know them, inviting them to church, and the asking them hard questions. All with in the time we initiate conversation till as long as they can talk. I do make sure I find a moment to ask the questions before they or I have to go. The questions really aren't hard. They follow: Do you know what happen after we die? For the most part I get a lot of different answers, but the most common answer is "Heaven." However, Then I ask the question, how do YOU believe YOU get to heaven? I have only a few answers and the most (98% of the time) is by doing good things. I let them go from there and I ask them to share with me what they believe in. Commonly, I receive two answers Muslim or Christian. Rarely do I receive " I am a born again Christian" and if I do, I tell them of ministries that they are welcome to get involved in, as well as, sharing the names of college Tanzania church leaders, then I move on to inviting them to a bible study and then moving on. Yet if they say Muslim or Christian, I take a moment for them to explain what it means to be a Muslim or a Christian.  Usually about 9 out of 10 times I get an answer like "If I do good thing, I will go to Heaven." After a while, I ask them If I can share what I believe. Tanzanians love to talk so they always say "YES", it hasn't failed once. So I share. If they has said they were a Christian I go strait to Jesus and the bible using verse and stories I have memorized. I share what it means to be saved and works ain't cuttin' it. JESUS! Ok now a Muslim is different. In the past 3 days I have met 4 Muslims and now have to take a moment and tell you about an approach  that has been super successful. It's called the Camel Method, look it up. Okay the camel part is stupid, but the study takes you through the Quran, Muslim book, and so them what is said about Jesus. Look it up guys it is worth it, please trust me on this topic. So the idea is to us Arabic terms, because that is what the have been taught, and share them the Gospel. I did that every time and I haven't had one person receive Christ, but I am starting a Bible study with all 3 of the guys and one of the team members is starting it with the other Muslim. This is how The GOD ALMIGHTY works. It is crazy. 2 of the Muslims are more interested  the Gospel than the Qu'ran. It is so FRICKEN COOL. I am sharing this because I want to encourage everyone that reads this blog to tell people the Gospel. For real it is crazy, Our God will take over the conversation. I love you all and I am praying for all of you daily.

George

Think About This

All our lives what do we desire? Aren't we significant enough to know our own desires? Look at this, we have two ideas that filter through our mind daily, hourly, and every second of our life here on Earth. Those ideas are NEEDS and WANTS. Every decision is made by what we need or what we want. We need so much don't we? We need food, water, clothes, air, and money, right? No, not all. Yesterday, I was reminded of a story where Jesus is talking to a women. A women that no man of His stature, among Jew, should ever be talking to. This women comes seeking water. Do you blame her? Water is a puzzle piece to life, yet, Jesus say she WANTS water, and what she NEEDS no well can provide. She needs living water. Thats so true. Jesus time and time again tells us that our needs, these things that we feel like we need so bad, i.e. (monetary) DVD's, big screen TV's, cars or trucks, a new book, a women to be with, desires, kids, honestly sexual activity, love, ownership, food... water. Yet, needs are not needs at all. I want a wife, I want to have sex, I want to have a kid, I want to adopt, I want a dog, I want to finish school with high honors, I want my family to be fully devoted followers of Christ, I want the church to have to say sorry to the Blood Mobiles , because our members cant give blood because so many of them have been on mission in the must horrific locations in the world. Yet, The Teacher says, "Everything is meaningless, utterly meaningless..."Pleasure is meaningless", "Wisdom is meaningless", "Riches are meaningless." there is truth behind theses words. Oh boy, I want pleasure, yet it does nothing for me, I want wisdom, yet it does nothing, I want riches, and yet it does nothing. Why then do I feel like I need these things. I know I'm not alone, you reading this want the same thing. It doesn't matter if your some suit wearing, bible carrying Christian, or some crack freak on the street, you want these meaningless thing that we collectively feel are needs. "God I wish those were needs, how awesome that would be." Aren't we foolish, it sucks but so true. This women wanted water that she felt like she needed and Jesus laid the smack down on her and said she need life. Philippians 4:19 says " And my God will meet all your NEEDS according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."
We have a guy that wants us to give him money, 100 US dollars, thats 120,000 Shillings, He said the $100 will meet his needs. No, No, No, none of us guys gave him the $100 dollars, we gave him a job and paid him what little we had, but never did we just give him money. Jesus didn't gave this women life, we share life with this worker and I don;t know his next step, but he has heard it, he knows. Our only need is Christ. "My God will meet all "MY" needs according to HIS glories riches in Christ Jesus." It sucks but we don't need anything but Christ. He will not ever reward us for anything by our desire, in doing good deeds. He will bless by His riches, not mine.
Heres the thing though we have to WANT what we NEED and not NEED what we WANT. If we NEED are relationship with Christ Jesus, then We need to stop needing what we want and start wanting what we NEED, the salvation of Jesus. Matthew 16:25 says (Jesus talking) "For whoever WANTS to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. Jesus is it and our life is lost to our desire, truly we want desire that in the end do not give us life,l but failure, broke hearted, depressed, upset, frustrated, hateful, and FAKE. I can sit here and continue in showing you who much God desires life for us, salvation for, us all. JOHN 3:16, For God so loved the world..... It's crazy but we can do either two things continuing NEEDING the things we WANT, or WANT the THING we NEED. I love you all to much to sit here time an time and tell you how cool it is here, because I will be the first to tell you IT SUCKS, IT REALLY SUCKS, But I am not here to fulfill some desire, I am here to serve the true God, Savior Jesus and I have to start, I love you all so much that I am telling you its a what you need, Jesus and you have to want it because if you don't things may look great, but only from the outside. Please family, friends, church, students turn form your love for the wants of the world and Love the NEED of the world. For it all is meaningless with out God, don;t lie to your self any more, Love the one who loved you FIRST and Will love you LAST. I love you all, thank you for reading what has been on my heart for the past weeks. I miss you all and hope to see you soon.

Another Day

Hey everyone, things are good here, school hasn't really started yet, there is about 3 more weeks till the college campus is open to students. Outside of that we have been able to go in to the down town markets. There is not a lot to do till school starts but, there are and have been chances to share the Gospel and at the most our story. Oh and a lot of prayer walking. Its cool, the reason school hasnt reall started is because it was pushed back a few weeks, things don't all ways go accourding to plan here. Its cool though. Right now at the campus there are a lot of American students. Who would have known, but it is what it is. However when school startes there will be thousands and thousands of students. Isaac is a church leader / recent graduate and he will be helping us around campus, but it's more like we are on our own, which is cool but sometimes it can be intimitating. They play a lot of football, well, we call it soccor and ultimate frizbee is huge here too. Anyways we are have a really hard time getting the pictures up so bare with us and well try to figure it out or something. To kind of let you all have a mental image of Tanzania I'll try and discribe it. If you talk to sheets of paper and on one wright modern culture and the on the other wright 3rd word and you take those two pieces of paper and crinckle them together you'll get Tanziania. Its crazy, the have a lot of modern things that even some Tanizanians can afford, but then agian they have a lot of what we would consider poverty locations. Yet the live life to the fullest. Its pretty cool the, The Tanzanian flag is Blue, Green, Yellow, and Black. The black strip is for the color of the people. The blue is for the oceans, green for tropical enviroment, and yellow is for the wealth of the country. They make the statement that there is no RED on the flag, even though Red is an African color, because Tanzania is a Pieceful country, and red stands for violence. I would have to say that Tanzania is a non-violent country VERY PIECEFUL. Anyways I'll try to get pictures upload this week, no promises and I'll give you a heads up of how the ministry his going.

Home

Okay well, for the last couple weeks it has been mainly orientation for our field assignment. We are at our humble home. Its been a long road so far but we are staying at a Baptist House. It is huge about 5 minutes from the US embassy. Oh and how cool we have a 24-7 guard. I should have pics up soon and everything. The internet is slow but whatever, and some times the power just goes out. Joel and I are recovering from amoebas. We both got pretty sick just after we moved in. 4 hands on members have attracted amoebas they think it was from the food in the compound where we had the orientation. 

Ya we have learned a lot from the past couple weeks, mainly culture stuff and storying. Africans seem to like storying. Its a real simple concept. You just tell them the stories out of the Bible. Its crazy how they are just so willing to listen. We have a lot of Muslim here but it mainly "my daddy was a Muslim so therefor I am to" and that also seems to be true for christians here to. The have to names for christian and that is Christian- which is a person is is a Christian by family and not faith. Then there is "born again" which means the except Him "Christ" and they are Christ followers. Its strange but we even have that in the states, more or less the idea and not the saying. But anyways, all is good. It is cool how easy it is to share the Gospel here but the one bad issue is which I kind of saw before coming here is Im WHITE and white people have money. Where i live there are more white people but still the Tanzanians want my money. lol. In one day in the city we had like 3 to 4 people ask us to buy them stuff. One guy had a a business outfit on with nice shoes and a nice phone. He talked with us, mainly Joel, for about 30 mins. Then he wanted us to buy him lunch. I should have asked him to buy us lunch. We just said no. It is definitely different here but nothing dangerous, however if your not smart you will get taken advantage of. Anyways it is late Ill will try to keep everyone updated soon. Love you all.