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.