Greetings from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania! We arrived here a week ago, this time it only took 24 hours to go from the late Spring climate and the rolling green hills of the Palouse prairie in north Idaho to a land of eternal sun and warmth on the western side of the Indian ocean. We praise the Lord we made our connection without any issues and upon our arrival all of our luggage was waiting for us.
Walking out of the airport and into the hustle and bustle of the city brought back a flood of memories from the previous years we had spent here. We praise the Lord for everyone involved in getting us back. From our team here in country who followed up on paperwork and went on frequent trips to the capital on our behalf , to our churches, friends, and supporters stateside who were praying faithfully for our visas to be granted, God answered your prayers! Honestly we realize what a privilege it is to be here and that beyond the Lord working through our team stateside and in country we wouldn’t be here.
Now that we’re here, we have a busy month ahead of us. First of all, starting Tuesday, we’ll be attending some important meetings to discuss our future place of ministry and possible co-workers. These are some pretty big decisions and we covet your prayers over the next couple days. After these meetings Neil will be travelling south to Mozambique, where he will be attending some conferences and visiting some village works. He’ll be gone for almost three weeks, and Micah and I will stay here in the city during that time. Again we covet your prayers, for Neil as he travels and for Micah and I back home.
Yesterday we went to our old church and worshipped the Lord in Swahili for the first time in over a year. It was quite the experience for the senses! It did our hearts good to be engaged in Swahili again and to see our friends. We also got to see many of our neighbors from the area where we used to live. What joy it brought to our hearts to see so many people happy to see us, and who genuinely missed us while we were away.
We look forward to see what God has for our family in the coming weeks and months ahead. We have recently been encouraged by a verse printed on our calendar. It reads, “The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.”
Psalm 121:8
Above the verse is a picture of a delicate song bird, covered in a beautiful array of colors. It is perched on a branch, poised and ready to take flight. It is a reminder to us of God’s loving presence and provision and of our freedom in Christ, no matter where he should lead us.
