Bibi Marge: Bariadi Orphanage...from a dream to reality

I have written in the past about Marge Beam. She is a retired schoolteacher from OH that is changing lives and making a significant difference .  What a story! Age was no barrier for Marge. Retired from teaching,  she is making the most out of life after retirement.

 Marge has been the driving force and fund raiser for the project.   The orphanage n Bariadi has been in operation for a year  and a month.  They have 12 children living in the facility... six boys and six girls, ages 5 and 6.

In November the Bariadi congregation had an event to celebrate this occasion.  The women of the congregation cooked and the two church choirs sang and danced  to celebrate the completion of  two water tanks.The latest project will collect rain water during the rainy season that can be used throughout the year.  This will eliminate the need to purchase water.

The orphanage will be dedicated in June of 2011.
 

Mission Training Centers in Tanzania

Mike Rodewald  Regional director of Missions  LCMS  Africa reported about his visit in November to the East of Lake Victoria diocese

In Tanzania, in the East of Lake Victoria Diocese, the church is growing there through Mission Training Centers (MTCs) supported by the LCMS Mid-South District and LCMS World Mission. Students come for classes from outlying villages two days a month for a two-year period to be taught by a pastor. At the end of this time, most graduate as evangelists. Each evangelist is provided a bicycle and is expected to go into an unreached area and begin a new congregation. Some go for further training and, depending upon the training, are ordained as deacons or certificate pastors. There are ten of these MTCs set up around the diocese with an average of ten students (depending upon the month) in each center.

When visiting another parish, Mike witnessed  Bishop Andrew Gulle baptizing  44 adults and children who had been preparing for baptism! This particular congregation was established by one of the evangelist graduates of an MTC on August 1, 2008, and now has 625 members.

Another interesting thing he learned was how another church practiced stewardship. One Sunday of every month all bring their offerings to support all the church workers in the diocese. Those who don’t have money bring farm produce or other items to church. After service, everyone gathers outside the church and an auction is held. Those who have money pay above value for items but, in this way, everyone is able to support the church within their own capacity.

Mike & Cindy Rodewald

46 Farmers Folly

Lynnwood Pretoria 0081

South Africa

John Ndongo: He finished well

When I think about the life of John Ndongo two thoughts come to mind. 

 The first is; one man can make a difference and the second is;  we must use the time God has given us.

John Ndongo  heard the name of Jesus for the first time and was baptized  at Sunungu in 2007 and immediately began sharing the gospel with his family and friends.  He was not what you would consider a likely evangelist, as  he had a checkered past.   He had been known to be a drunkard and people reported that  he used to get drink and sleep in the road.   Some reported that he was abusive to  his wife and children. 

Perhaps that is why his evangelism was impactful. The people saw the change and the church grew. Twelve months after his baptism there were over 200 baptized members in the little village in the Bariadi area and in 2010 there are well over 500 baptized members and the congregation has a church building. Many people came to know the Lord through his sharing.

People said "If John Ndongo has changed because of Jesus, this Jesus in good to believe in."

In  2009  John Ndongo died and leaving  a widow and children.

John made a difference in Sunungu province and his witness lives on in the lives of the believers. Look what he did with the final two years of his life. He finished well.

Worship at Ukerewe Island in Tanzania

Houge Mission News from East Africa August 2010

Claude and Rhoda Houge are serving in East Africa with LCMS World Mission

Greetings from Nairobi! We returned on August 20 after several months in the states. We apologize for not getting out a July newsletter, but it was difficult to keep up with correspondence with all the traveling.

Our remaining activities in the states went very well. Our uplifting visit to Redeemer in Ft. Collins CO was followed by a few days with Claude’s sister Alice and her husband Harold in Canon City, where Harold is an LCMS pastor. We enjoyed the scenery and some fun times with our lovable great-nephew Jack!



It was great to spend a Sunday at dynamic Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Owatana MN in early August. Also, we were able to get one more visit scheduled in Omaha NE to meet with the leaders of churches and organizations working with Sudanese ministry in Nebraska and Iowa. Claude wanted to introduce Rev. Jacob Gillard (on home leave from Uganda) to these men since Jake will be working more closely with Sudan in the future.



Some of the people you may recognize include Rev. Ray and Lois Wilke (Orphan Grain Train), Rev. Rich Boring (NE District Mission Exec), Rev. John Deang (NE District Immigrant Ministry), Rev. Mark Gerken (IA West Mission Exec), Rev. Jake Gillard, Rev. Ken & Betty Greinke (former Africa Regional Director), Rev. Russ Sommerfeld (President, Nebraska District), Rev. Simon Yiech (President, Sudanese Lutheran Mission Society), plus the pastors and leaders of churches in the area working with Sudanese ministry in the area. (Claude took the picture, and I’m in the middle.)



Prayer Requests:
 Praise God for safe travels while in the US and back to Nairobi.
 Pray for us as we continue our work here. There is so much to do with projects, reports, and communication with partner churches, preparing for visitors, and many other activities that seem far from what we think of as “traditional” mission work. But all is part of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
 We thank God for those of you who pray for us and support us. We don’t correspond directly as often as we would hope to, but we are grateful for your partnership with us in our mission work.

May God bless you richly!

Together in His mission,
Claude and Rhoda Houge

E-mail address: claude.houge@lcms.org

Mailing address:
Claude & Rhoda Houge
PO Box 22
Karen 00502, Kenya

Financial support:
LCMS World Mission – Mission Central
40718 Hwy. E16
Mapleton, IA 51034
(Designate: Houge missionary support)
Or
(NOTE: New Address)
LCMS World Mission
Missionary Support
PO Box 790089
St. Louis, MO 63179-0089
(Designate: Houge missionary support)

Peru Mission Trip in November.....Reaching Out in Manchay

You are on my pray list as a possible missionary to Peru in November. 

Following is more information about this "Reaching Out in Manchay" mission trip.

I'm asking you to pray about going, then call me or email with: I will be praying for others on this trip, let me know more, here is a question, OR SIGN ME UP and send me step two, I want to serve my Lord.

The Lord has an agreement with the airlines....
the sooner we book the airline tickets, the lower the fee will be.

--

LES has

MORE Passion for

PERU

Missionaries to Kenya and TZ: Shauen and Krista (Krenzke) Trump

Shauen and Krista (Krenzke) Trump serve the Lord as LCMS missionaries in Kenya and Tanzania, where Shauen works with Lutheran church bodies across both countries. Much of Shauen’s work as a mission facilitator involves serving alongside the varied churches in this area by teaching, discipling, and walking alongside each partner according to their needs. He also stands as the primary contact in this area for churches seeking new relationships with the LCMS. Krista currently enjoys her time with Josiah and plans to seek nursing work in Nairobi with opportunities for Christian outreach.

Shauen was born in Eureka, Calif., and his home congregation is Resurrection Lutheran Church in Cary, N.C. He received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Seattle Pacific University and his Master of Divinity at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Shauen enjoys being a father, camping, traveling, jogging, working in other languages (including software languages), and reading. Krista grew up in Liberia, where her family served as missionaries with Lutheran Bible Translators. She received a bachelor’s degree in Christian outreach from Concordia University, St. Paul, Minn., and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from St. Louis University. Krista previously served through LCMS World Mission as a long-term missionary in Slovakia from 2003 to 2005. She enjoys camping, traveling, entertaining, and cooking. Shauen and Krista were married in June 2007.

In 2009, while completing vicarage in Uganda, their son Josiah was born in Kampala.

Please pray for the Trumps as they serve the Lord in Kenya and Tanzania. Pray that the Lord would use them as His instruments to encourage and build up God’s church in East Africa. Ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen them and give them wisdom as they study Kiswahili and learn to live in a variety of cultures. Give thanks to the Lord that Shauen and Krista have answered His call to serve Him and the people He loves in East Africa. Read more about the Trumps at www.TheTrumps.orghttp://thetrumps.org/.


• Birthdays: Shauen - April 10, Krista - Jan. 29, Josiah - Dec. 19

• Wedding Anniversary: June 9

Home District: Southeastern & Nebraska

Shauen just finished his cross cultural vicarage in Uganda and after Swahili studies will return to the states for his furlough and ordination, and then return to East Africa to take up residence in Nairobi, Kenya.

Wells for Tanzania

Bishop Andrew Gulle,  he leader of the East of Lake Victoria dedicating a well in Mwadui Tanzania in June 2010. As the result of this well, clean water is readily available.

This well was made possible through the generosity of the Hearts of Jesus program of the Mid-South District LCMS. Wells were dug in two other locations in the East of Lake Victoria diocese.  The well in Mwadui is located next to the church and in the middle of the village.  So convenient.

We take water for granted here in the United states with clean fresh water is ready available just by turning a tap.  In Tanzania, getting water  is a major daily task for a family. In villages without wells , the women /or children will often walk miles to get the daily supply of water for the family.   This water often not clean, so these wells are a blessing to the villages

Thank you.

2010 Short Term Mission Trip Update

We often read about mission trips taken by others to exotic locations around the world, but this year a group from the Mid –south District got an opportunity to experience something pretty life changing.  In May,   our group boarded planes from Memphis and Nashville with a final destination of Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania. After a short flight to Mwanza,   located on the shores of Lake Victoria, and the offices of the East of Lake Victoria Diocese (ELVD) of the Lutheran church of Tanzania.  After a warm welcome by the officials of the diocese, we loaded the vehicles with Bibles and headed out on our mission adventure. We split the group with some going to the Mwadui area and the other group traveling to the town of Kahama.  We were led by a pastor from the ELVD and interpreters.

A typical day started around 7AM at the church where we picked up pastors and evangelists to go with us to the designated village.  Most of the villages we visited were located about an hour drive from our base and most of the roads we traveled on were either gravel or dirt but sometimes we followed a path through the bush.

When we reached a village there was always a group to greet us and show us the typical Sukuma hospitality usually with welcoming songs and refreshments.  After a short time to visit with the evangelists and elders of the congregation, we started out on foot to the area to evangelize.    The team was split into small groups with a pastor to lead us to the individual homes.  When we arrived, we announced our arrival by calling out the word " Hodi” and instantly we were welcomed with calls of Karibu.    You would see the woman of the home scurrying around to find a place for us to sit under a shade tree in the boma which is the yard around  3-5 homes.  The family members would gather around to socialize.  They loved to hear our voices and where we came from.   We would tell them the gospel message using our flip chart or evangacube through the interpreter.  We   invited them to join us for the evening service and baptisms.  In a few cases some wanted to be baptized immediately.

The afternoon service usually started around 4 or 5 pm with sometimes hundreds of people walking into the area where the worship was to be held, either in a church or under a shade tree.  After the service and baptisms. At dark the cinema van would show an outdoor movie of the life of Jesus followed by more baptisms.

In some areas there were no churches within 30 to 40 miles of where we met. Witchcraft and traditional ancestor worship still is practiced.    We met people had never heard the name of Jesus.

It was also a blessing to see how people responded to a gospel message and the name of Jesus. On our last trip 804 people were baptized by the two mission teams in a week. The partnership of the ELVD and the Mid South District is bearing much fruit. We are making plans for our trip next year. Pray about joining us.

Bob Allen                                                                             Peggy Krohn

Mission coordinator                                                        Mid-south District office

rjallen@prodigy.net                                                       peggy@mid-southlcms.org

615-672-0923

Tanzanian Prayer Needs

Changed from Glory into Glory

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from

the Lord, who is the Spirit

2 Corinthians 3:18

The people we meet in Tanzania have been a blessing to us. Weekly I received an email from someone we met in the ELVD. This week I received one from Christina. Christina was someone who cooked for us every day in Kahama. She took time from her work to cook two meals a day for a group of about 20 people for the entire time we were on our mission. Now, I want you to know that cooking is not on electric stoves but often over a fire in the back yard. She was a joy to be around, always a smile. She truly reflected the glory of God.
People tell me I would like to go on a Mission trip but I can’t do anything. “No special skills required”, we can use the talents God gave you. Can you hold a baby?, can you read a story to a third grade? Can you hold a hammer? Think about joining us on the trip in 2011.There you will met some the people of the Sukuma Tribe. There are still people living in this area who have not heard the name Jesus or have heard of His love for them. PRAYER:

Thank you Father, for individuals like Christina who share the talents and gifts you gave them . Thank you the chance we have to outreach with the ELVD in sharing the gospel to the people living in the diocese in Tanzania. Thank you for the thousand who have come you know your name and become part of your family. It is so easy to see Your hand and grace in this ministry to the tribes living in the area. We thank you for the partnership the Mid-South District (LCMS) has with the (ELVD) and the blessings that have resulted in this marriage.

We ask for prayers for:

o Funds to support the seminary education for the 10 men requesting to attend
o Continuing support of the partnership and expanded outreach to the Sukuma people
o For the Church Plant Ministry (CPM)
o For those congregation worshiping in churches with no roofs
o That you will allow God to use your gifts to share the Gospel
o For our plans for 2011 mission trip to Tanzania

More precious than gold or diamonds report

They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. Ps 19:10

We started this year’s mission trip to Tanzania in the town of Mwadui, in the distance you could see huge piles of dirt and tailings from a nearby diamond mine. There a well, next to the church, was dedicated by Bishop Gulle. This was one of three wells paid for from the offerings of hundreds of children from Schools and congregations from the Mid-South District. The trip ended at the last service at Mwendakulima in a small school room. After the service we drove to the foundation for their new church building to ask a blessing on the congregation and their new venture. This backdrop was a mile or two from piles of dirt from the new Gold Mine in Kahama.

We did not return to the USA with any Diamonds or Gold but with a sweet taste in our mouth as we recalled the many new friends we met in the small villages. We have so many pleasant memories of the hundreds of people who joined us in baptisms. Over 800 men women and children were baptized during our short stay.

A perfect testimony to David’s words in Psalms 19....... The law of the Lord is perfect restoring the soul The testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple.

The needs are many but we see the obvious needs for more Pastors and evangelist. We continue to support the Mission Training Centers where the lay evangelist are trained but we also need to find a way to support those men who want to attend the seminary.
Pray for:

• A Mentor for the new Christians so they can continue to grow in the Lord
• Pray for the Church Plant Ministry (CPM)
•  Pray for the outreach of the evangelist, pastors lay members as they share the gospel
•  Pray that God uses your gifts to share the Gospel
•  Pray for continuing educational support for pastors and evangelist in the ELVD

Gift leads to consecration of Bishop for Tanzania.....

 "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me".

Matthew 25:40

Sometimes we will not know this side of heaven what  impact our words or actions will  have for eternity. Even the smallest things may have long term consequences.

How many church members are active in church today because as children someone, maybe a Sunday School teacher, pastor  or a neighbor ,noticed them and encouraged their faith.

Here is a true and heartwarming story. A  young boy living in South Western Tanzania, a member of the Sukuma tribe, was raised with traditional  beliefs which included worshipping  their deceased ancestors.  

One day a  man  transferred into their  village with his work.   He performed his normal daily activities but he   also volunteered  one hour each Friday in the public school to share  his faith and  beliefs to the fifth grade class students.  Schools had a one hour class each week for students to have religious  instruction. They had Muslim, Catholic and Protestant teachers and the students could go to whatever group they chose.  The  man teaching  the Protestant group noticed that one student took a  special interest in what he was hearing  so he invited him to church to  attend confirmation classes he was also teaching.

The family did not approve,  but he came to  church and was eventually baptized and confirmed. When the time came for this man to move away from the village he announced in church that he wanted to give a farewell gift to the church. That gift would be that he would pay for one person to go to Bible College and this young man would be the recipient of this generous gift.  This education would have never been a possibly without this support.  

After successfully completing Bible College this young student went on to Seminary and was ordained a Lutheran pastor. He pastored  a number of places in Sukuma land. In 2009 at the age of 45, this young pastor was consecrated as Bishop of the East of Lake Victoria Diocese of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania. This diocese is one of the fastest growing Lutheran districts in the world.  Bishop Andrew Gulle shared this story of his life with us and said that he invited this  man to his consecration ceremony and reported that the man cried with happiness at the event. Sometimes God allows us to see  the fruits of our labor to encourage us. And even better ending to this true story is that Bishop Gulle reports that his family are now baptized believers.

The partnership of the Mid-South District and the East of Lake Victoria Diocese (ELVD)  may not seem like much  by the worlds standard but it is the only pure mission outreach help the diocese receives.  The number one request from the ELVD is for help to train new pastors and evangelist to spread the word to the people in the district who have not heard the gospel message.  One components of Fan into Flame is funding to support Church planting ministry training help for the ELVD.

Many people feel they do not fell called to go on an actual  mission trip to Tanzania but we can use our gifts and talents to support this ministry thru Fan into Flame.  Our part is to be  willing to offer them.