A Year in Review

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Sept. 20th 2006 to (today) Sept. 20th 2007 Our First full complete year in Tanzania

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” Hebrews 10:24

As we have been gathering together our pictures, facts, and stories from reading through all our past reports we find ourselves a little in awe of what all has happened this past year. We are encouraged and given a new zeal and excitement for the work through the little reminders of all the good that has been accomplished in such a short amount of time. And to top it all off Brent & Kelly are away on a really exciting “Mission trip” of their own this week out in Ushirombo in the Shinyanga Region. Along with John Hall, Christoper & Elijah from Moshi. The first day he called and after all day of preaching in the bush, there were 5 new souls added to the kingdom, and then last night he called and there had been 24 baptisms yesterday, then I called an hour later and there had been 2 more, so 31 in all after just two days of preaching the gospel in a ripe and responsive environment, to God be the Glory! AMEN! But what a way to close out the year and begin a new one today waking up and starting again one foot at a time stepping forward to the call to preach and teach the good news of the Gospel in faith and obedience to His command.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:10

I could just stop there and with just the news of yesterday alone, it’s been a great year! But, Oh there’s so much more! As we started reading over all the reports we’ve sent home and calculating the information we have recorded in our daily journals of the things we have experienced first hand here in Africa we found these amazing details from this past year. We really just can't believe it's been a year. In some ways it seems like we just arrived and in others like we've been here all our lives. I hope these little glimpses at the past year encourage you as they have me as we’ve gone back over them.

Over 150 visitors have traveled over to work along with the TZ2000 team in some capacity or another.

We’ve had 56 different guests in our home, for dinner or fellowships and 38 to stay over night with us in our home. (and we love each and every one of you!)

Over 9 flat tires that I can think of.. But probably more (Brent will know more on that one when he gets home)

Between Brent & myself we have taught at 29 Different Seminars this year

Brent has Taken 2 week long “Mission” trips: Longido & Ushirombo

We’ve personally witnessed 109 Baptisms in our time here. Over half of those in a River or Creek somewhere and at least 6 in the portable baptistery, when no water was available

There have been 4 “Train the Teacher” Workshops

There are 12 Students participating in the Garden Project

There have been 38 Students to graduate from the Preacher Training Schools (Acsop & ABS)

Brent has taught 7 Classes in the Preacher Training Schools: Daniel & Ezekiel at KBS & again at ACSOP, Marriage and Family at ACSOP, and Psalms and Denominational Doctrine at KBS

We’ve given away over 200 Bibles to people we’ve studied with

This one’s a sheer guess, so I’ll go on the low end… But between Brent, Kelly, and myself I’m estimating that there have been over 300 personal Bible Studies held

We’ve helped with 3 Quilting Classes for “Sew- Be It” & Emily, Brent, and I all learned to Quilt! (Emily has made 2 quilts, Brent made me one for my birthday, and I have made 2 regular sized ones, and several small quilts for the orphanages and one special one for my new niece.)

There have been 30 Quilts made over all (Arusha ladies while we were there) and distributed to Orphans, and 40 more in the process of being made (Moshi ladies).

We all have an endless list of "You don't see that everyday" Stories

We've seen a child left on the street in trash and plastic bags and a boy lying lifeless in the middle of the road

There have been numerous wrecks and accidents right before our eyes, where Brent has responded to aid those hurt along the roads, his past Firefighter/EMT training has come in handy

We've seen hunger and starvation first hand, and the effects of poverty in a third world country.

The kids have all made new friends everywhere we go.

We’ve worked with 3 Orphanages: The Joy Foundation in Boma Ngombe and in Machame & The Cradle of Love in Usa River

Worked with 1 Children’s Home: gathering needed supplies and visiting the children at Camp Moses

We’ve helped work with and teach at Hannah’s Nursery school and found sponsors for over 50 children to cover their cost of Education. Built desks, bought books and supplies, and raised the funds to purchase 5 acres of land to build the school on.

We’re in the process of raising funds and drawing up plans to build the classrooms for the Nursery school and establish a second new school, The Kilimanjaro Christian Academy (Primary 1 and above) in Boma Ngombe on the new land. This will be the first Christian school that we know of in the Northeastern Tanzania area.

There have been over 3 Earthquakes ranging from 4.4 to 5.4

We’ve seen just one “LIVE” snake, which is great news in AFRICA! (on the front porch, but the dogs found it and Brent killed it!)

The kids have all had dental work done, fillings for Gracie & Garrett, caps & root canal for Kelly, and a retainer for Emily… (all so much cheaper than in the states)

We’ve only had one Emergency Run to the Hospital, when Gracie’s Ankle got stuck in the Bicycle spokes

Worked with 3 Safari for Souls Campaigns: Arusha, Kisongo, & Moshi

Helped to Established 6 new congregations

Helped with 3 medical Clinics while Dr. Smelser and his Sweet wife Nancy were here

Brent’s father, Jim Richardson, endured some severe heart problems, but is now doing much better. Kelly however, did loose his father this year.

We’ve added a new Niece to the family, with my brother’s first child, Karis.

We've hiked down mountain trails to studies and baptisms in some amazing and beautiful scenery

We've been threatened to stop preaching the gospel in different villages

We've welcomed 3 new missionary families to the TZ2000 team following in after we arrived

We've hosted weekly devotionals in our home along with fellow missionaries.

The kids have seen the amazing wildlife of Africa first hand and been able to go to 4 different National Parks: Arusha National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, and Lake Manyara National Park.

We’ve watched national Geographic without the television being involved

We’ve seen a single angry Cape Buffalo fight off three hungry lions

We’ve picnicked beside a Pond full of Hippos.

We've Sat 3 Feet from a full mained lion in the safari truck... and watched lions cross the path before us and lay down to rest 2 feet from us....(yes your heart does pound!)

Had Elephants walk right up to the truck while we were hanging out the top

Been charged by a herd of Buffalo and nearly hit Zebras while driving down the highway

Seen Zebras fighting in the wild & Cheetah’s cross the road in front of us

Watched the Wildebeest and zebra Migrations

Watched two male Elephants fighting tusk in tusk… aww the sounds

And adored the hundreds of Baby animals born in the spring time of Tanzania

We’ve sat and talked with the Massai people along the road sides

The kids even sat and played with Massai children on the river banks as they were herding their cattle to get a drink, so they had time to play while we were baptizing someone a little further down stream.

Climbed the face of waterfalls and explored to find new ones...

Had a monkey jump in the window and take off with Gracie's Juice box

And of course... been attacked by 3 or 4 monkeys at differnt times, (mainly garrett again) as we were eating lunch

Saw one ad for KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) on the back of a Dala Dala… false advertising to say the least!

Had our first Thanksgiving and Christmas in Africa… with our Missionary family here

Rode one Dala Dala…. That’s a victory to have survived…. That was the day of the Long walk to the village of Kingori, holding 2 live chickens and 2 African women in my lap

Emily & I have attempted to learn to carry things on our heads… unsuccessfully

Brent & I celebrated our 11th Anniversary Together

The kids have all grown more than words can express, all three children are speaking Swahili in general conversation with their friends.

Kelly, Emily, Garrett and myself have all jumped off the Marangu Water Falls

We've floated down the Pangani river in a long boat looking for Crocs.

Brent tried to "out-preach" the rain during the rainy season as the floods come during a seminar up at Kioga pelting down on the metal tin roof above us.

We've shared countless meals with our gracious African brethren in their homes.

We've slept in Tents out near the Crater, in a Massai camp

Garrett learned to make home-made toys with the children in Karatu from scraps of trash laying around.

Had a group come over from our sponsoring congregation in Alabama

One congregation in Oklahoma, raised the money for brent to Buy a motorcycle so that we could get to more Bible studies.

We've Watched the African Sunset fall and rise, so many times, just beyond the edge of Mt Meru and Mt. Kilimanjaro

We've seen the Mountain by Moonlight... (literally and breathtaking, but also meaning we've seen things, that you just can't seem capture in words or in pictures, no matter how hard you try!)

Attended Intermediate level Swahili at language school

Brent & Kelly have helped with building projects in many small congregations: The floors & walls at Kioga, The foundation work and roofing of Monduli, Helping sturdy the pole building in Marangu and Kingori, Buildings in Ushirombo, and we will be working on the Nursery school Construction as well.

Kelly preached his first sermon ever, in Tanzania ~ at the Njiro Seminar and then continued on preaching at Arusha, Moshi, the Preacher’s Training Camp, and in Ushirombo

Everyone in the family, the kids included have helped to distribute thousands of tracts and correspondence courses in the villages and cities that we have traveled through, worked in, and just here around town in Arusha and Moshi.

Brent has preached on numerous occasions in over 18 different congregations, & preached twice in complete Swahili that I have heard.

The fun facts could go one and on… but I think you get the idea… It’s been a remarkable year in our lives, serving here as missionaries in this amazing country, with a people we have come to love and admire, to work with and learn from. Together along with all of you who have helped to make this possible… just look again at all the great things that have been done, in the name of our Lord and Savior! “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” Eph 1:3

There's no way to ever be able to post all of the pictures we have taken this year... And we are finding how very hard it is going to be to squeeze even a sliver of these stories into a 30-40 minute presentation on the work as we travel around reporting on the work during our furlough. We will however bring pictures withus where-ever we go for anyone wanting to sit down and look through them as we are there. Brent has even put together a DVD of all our pictures to sit and watch on TV as we get the oppertunity to come and visit with people. We leave in just a little over a week now... And with a longing to see family and a tugging at our hearts to be here... I think Home for Missionaries, is in both places.... Where your heart is.... There your treasure will be also.

We thank God daily for the priveledge of being here and for those of you who allow this all to be possible with your faithfulness from where you are! Thank you from the entire Richardson family!

In Christian Love & Service
At the Close of a Wonderful year in Tanzania,
Brent & Julie Richardson

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Photos

The Richardson Family
Sept. 20th 2006 to Sept. 20th 2007, Today is our 1 year mark here in Tanzania

Brent & Julie
Celebrate 11 years of marriage... at the Foothills of Mt. Meru in Arusha national park

The kids are all growing....
Emily is 10, Garrett is 9, and lil Gracie is 5 (about to be 6)

Kelly turned 18
Graduated H.S. & Began taking classes at ACSOP

Even Gracie has learned to Email....
to talk to Grandparents, cousins, aunts & uncles, and friends back home

we've taken some great pictures...
capturing memories... of an amazing year! We cant wait to share them with everyone!

Comments

[Trina Gee]

great job
As usual, Julie, you have done a great job with your photographs and documentation of the work. I applaud your effort and time spent, not only on the blog, but on the actual work itself. I honestly don't know how you find the time and energy to do it all. Have a wonderful furlough, but from experience, I can tell you that the word "furlough" is not spelled "v-a-c-a-t-i-o-n". Ha/ha May God bless you in all your travels and reporting and may you come back safe and sound. TG