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| Judy |
Weeks before our mission team’s arrival in
Tanzania, prayer had been lifted up that the Lord God of the entire universe
would prepare the hearts of those He would have us meet and tell the story of
Jesus; prayers that the Holy Spirit would prepare their hearts to hear and to
receive the precious gift of salvation and prayers that we would have a spirit
of love, joy and peace when we presented the story.
It was our third day in the area called Salawe
and we were walking back to the car to start our return trip back to our
meeting place. A man on a bicycle was asked if he had heard of
Jesus. He said that the previous day other members of his family had
heard the story and repeated the story to him. We told it again and
he said yes, that he would like to be baptized into the family of
God. Then he asked if we would go talk to his grandmother, who was ill. She could
not walk to us. We said of course and walked across the plowed field to
meet his grandmother. She was sitting on the ground next to their
house. We could see that cataracts were impairing her vision but not
so much that she could not see my white skin and my white hair. Cataracts
are a common problem in Tanzania where medical resources are scarce. When
someone is too old to work, they stay home and do whatever chores they can
manage.
She said she was sure she was older than
me. So we compared ages, she was 98, I am 73. The
average lifespan in Tanzania is around 47 so this is amazing. We told her
the story of Jesus, how He loved her and had paid the price for her
sins. She was excited to hear for herself and said yes to the Holy
Spirit’s call on her heart. It took 98 years but she finally heard
of His saving grace. What a privilege to share this story and witness her baptism.
If we who know Him will just obey and go tell
others, the Holy Spirit does the preparation and the follow up. Now
an entire village has heard of Jesus, many answered His call that day and will
tell the story to everyone they meet. They now have a hope and an
assurance that they do not walk alone and that their future is secure.
The scribe attending this baptism recorded her tribal
name and her selected new Christian name of Hannah. The evangelist in this area
will follow up and talk to her about worship services in the area. The services
may start under a mango tree but eventually the people will build their own
church, clearing the land and making the mud bricks. They are very proud of
their churches. This lady may not live to see all this happen in her earthly
life but her place in eternity is secured.
(Note from Susie Allen/TN) Judy and I were American partners on this day along with the Tanzanian evangelist and scribe. My pace quickened as it was time to walk back to the car. I found myself quite a bit ahead of the group. When I turned around and noticed there were gone, I asked the group of children trailing behind me....where's the mazungu(white person)? They pointed to the trees and I followed as they led the way through the brush, down a path and to a small hut. I arrived in time to witness the baptism of our new sister in Christ. This was a perfect end to a good day. If we traveled from America for this old lady, it would have been worth it. I am reminded of the story of the woman who loses a coin.
GOD'S WORD® Translation"Suppose a woman has ten coins and loses one. Doesn't she light a lamp, sweep the house, and look for the coin carefully until she finds it?
This coin was not lost.
Judy enjoys children at school in Shinyanga
Judy Irwin
Murphy, North Carolina
