November 8th - Visiting churches

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Today was not a school day so we had visits planned to two new churches which I had not visited before. We made a quick run to the Internet café to check our e-mail, and then returned to meet with Pastor Angowi at about 10:00am. We talked about our schedule for the remainder of our time here, which churches we were going to be visiting, and a few other details. Once again Pastor Angowi was going to be busy, so Pastor Shenkalekwa was going to go with us to the churches. I have seen very little of Pastor Angowi on this trip. He has been busy with meetings of all kinds with parents and organizing other details for the coming graduation.

We hired one of the seminary students to drive us to the two congregations we were going to be visiting. We paid him about $45 for gas and his time for the day. Boy, was it a ride!

The first congregation which we visited was near Moshi, in the suburbs of Pasua. This is a new congregation with a man named Lyimo serving as it pastor. The area of Pasua is mixed with Christian and Muslim. We passed a number of Muslim schools of different types and sizes. They sure have money! Our congregation does not have its own building. They are currently renting a room in the local secondary school on Sunday mornings for their worship. This part of Moshi is expanding rapidly and the land has become very expensive. Just like back home! We met with the members of the congregation in a covered open air building. We were told about the history of the congregation, and what their goals were. We sang some hymns and had the chance to address them from the Word. Then we were treated to a bottle of soda and were taken to see the school where they are currently worshiping.

From there we went left Moshi going West towards Arusha. About 20 km out of Moshi we turned North to Machame and then headed up into the slopes of Mt. Kilimangaro. There was some confusion about which congregation we were supposed to visit, but finally figured it out. We first drove to Pastor Ulotu’s home in a very picturesque area with banana trees all around. Almost as soon as we walked in the door the rain started coming down. Harder and harder it came down! It felt like we were going to be washed down the hill, house and all! After a quick meal of boiled bananas and boiled chicken, we made a break for the car to head up the road a little further to where the new congregation was meeting. We were a little concerned because the wipers on the car didn’t work, the windows were fogged up, and it was still pouring. The road itself had disappeared and a fast-flowing river had taken its place. Even inside the car the rain was coming in through holes that weren’t supposed to be there!

The members of Machame-Kimbushi were meeting behind one of the member’s homes. They had a canopy covering their little church area, with an altar set up on one end and wooden benches for pews. It was very small, but it was also a small group. Again they told us a little about the congregation. The woman whose house was being used had just lost here husband several months earlier, but wanted to do this for her late husband. She seemed to be very dedicated and concerned for the truth. We again addressed the congregation with the Word and encouraged them to remain steadfast and strong even the these difficult situations, trusting in the Lord.

By the time we finished our "service" the rain had subsided and the rushing torrent we had walked through to get to the house had disappeared. It was a little sticky, but the water had completely run off! We felt much better about going back down the hill now that it had stopped raining and the river had returned to a road! It was about a 45 minute trip back to Moshi from there and we arrived back at the hotel around 5:30pm. Even though it wasn’t that many hours, it felt like it had been a long day!

Tomorrow we have a shorter day with one church visit for the Sunday service in the morning. I’m looking forward to that!

In Christ,

Nathanael