Hail Comes To Africa

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Weather is often a topic of conversation. Yet here in Africa, it is not idle talk used to pass the time. Water from above is a matter of life and death. I recall one drought-stricken year, the boys and I were driving out in the bush and saw the carcasses of dead giraffe and zebra.

The rains have finally come to Tanzania. Some downpours have dumped enough in just two hours to turn our driveway into a river, and the front yard section into a lake. A few days ago, I was out in the little tin-roofed room I use as a study and hail began to fall. Much of it was pea sized but some got as large as small marbles. The sound upon the tin was deafening. With my hands over my ears I looked out the little window, watching as the piles of ice grew higher. The torrent of waters eroded so much soil that the trench in front of the garage filled and the room flooded to about two feet deep.

The landscape has changed overnight, as hundreds of people flock to their fields to cultivate and plant. Charles has been given permission to use a section of one field near his home and has planted some corn.

Charles and I continue with our classes - planting the seed - the word of God. However, we have noticed a slowing down since so many are busy during this time of year. Many take this month to travel and visit relatives, others focus on cultivating and planting, and school is out for the holiday time.

Last Thursday evening we hosted the Samford family for an evening of snacks, visiting, and a movie. We enjoyed watching the old classic Its A Wonderful Life. I popped some corn that was given to us by Paul and Dorothy when we visited in Malawi.

Sunday was a very good day for us. I taught the usual Bible drill and short lesson. For the worship time my lesson addressed Resisting Satan, and Carey lead the Lord's Table. Following worship the men went for lunch at the home of one of our members. The menu included rice, beans, some goat meat, bananas, and sodas. The men returned to the church building for a leadership seminar. My lesson addressed congregational leadership in the absence of elders, and Carey spoke on the eldership. Stress was given to the need for personal growth toward having those qualifications. We concluded with a question and answer session.

We express our thanks to all who support our work by prayers and giving.

In Christ's service,

George

2011

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Photos

kerosene lamp
Storms bring power outages

Comments

[Patrick Swayne]

Request
Hi Jensen's! Thanks for the update. George, would you mind sending me the notes for your lesson on congregational leadership in the absence of elders? I'm always looking for material along these lines and am sure that yours would be good. :) Thanks!