August Update

Our house at Keza...

Ben graduates...

After the Rugby game...

Dear Friends and Family,

We are back from our long family trip to Kenya. Spent countless hours in the car, waited at border crossings, and stayed in different homes and hotels during the 14-day long trip.  We witnessed Ben Johnson's graduation from High School at RVA, returning alumni trying unsuccessfully to beat the soccer and rugby varsity team, watching a Rugby match for the first time (for Gina and Esther) and meeting many other missionaries both in Tanzania and Kenya. In all it turned into a mini-vacation, both restful and adventurous. 

On our drive back we were dropped-off at our new home in Keza, some 6 hours north of Kigoma. We have now had a week to completely unpack and turn the little house into our own. Sunday morning we walked some 50 minutes to the nearest assembly in the town of Kaziramihunda to fellowship with some 25 other believers. Luke was asked to speak that morning and I (Gina) have already been pleaded with to teach the women's bible study. 

We have spent the last few days in Kigoma going to offices and getting all the required paperwork for the car. Monday morning we hope to pick up the last of that paperwork and drive back to Keza. 

Praises:

- Paperwork for car completed

- Safety in travel

Pray for:

- Continued learning of language and culture

- Involvement in the nearby chapel

- Boldness in reaching out to our new neighbors

With love in Christ,

Luke, Gina and Esther

Our "new" car

We are very thankful for the Lord's provision of a car for us. We got it used from another missionary family who just recently moved to the Congo. It is a 1991 Toyota Hilux Surf. It was in fairly good condition although I worked on it for 2 days along with 2 mechanics to get it up to par. We put new tires on it, changed all the fluids, changed some worn steering components and some bad seals, and of course cleaned it up real well. We hope it will be used for many more years in the Lord's service. 

Evangelistic Trip

Two days after we arrived in Kigoma where my (Luke) parents live, we went on an evangelistic outreach trip for a week. We went down south to an old Burundian refugee resettlement called Katumba.  

 

We had a seminar each morning (teaching about the local church) based on William McDonald's Emmaus Course "Christ loved the church" (See below).

Then from about 3 to 6 PM each day we had an evangelistic meeting ...

With singing and lots of special numbers from the numerous church choirs ...

And finally preaching at the end.

Then in the evenings we showed gospel films as soon as it was dark enough.

On Sunday 11 people were baptized. Here are the witnesses ...

And here is one of those who was baptized.

All in all in was a good experience of the rustic conditions which most people in this country experience daily; namely no electricity, running water or western toilets, and rice and beans each day. We are thankful that we did not get sick at all while down there, although the dusty dry season weather got to our noses and throats a bit.

July Update

Dear praying friends and family,

 We have enjoyed the couple of weeks we've had in Kigoma with Mom and Dad Johnson. Esther is loving all the attention she gets from her grandparents and the swimming in Lake Tanganyika just a few meters from the house.

 

Village Visit: Our first week back we headed off to Katumba, a refugee settlement some 11 hrs. south of Kigoma for an evangelistic conference. The believers took very good care of us, providing a bed frame at last minute and some straw mats for the bed. The "little house" that we stayed in was a newly built pharmacy but was available for our use while there. Dad Johnson along with other leaders taught seminars from the Emmaus  Correspondence Course "Christ loved the Church" each morning. The afternoon was filled with the regular meeting which consisted of many choirs singing, a speaker giving the gospel message and then an invitation to confess sins as well as an opportunity to pray for the sick. As soon as the afternoon meeting came to a close, the men would quickly set up for the films, that way, when the sun set, the movies could begin right away. On our last night of movies was the biggest crowd we had since word had gotten around the village. Kids by the hundreds were everywhere, it wouldn't take much to round them up for an impromptu Sunday School! On Sunday 11 believers were baptized.

 

Youth Conference: Luke was asked to speak at the first youth conference held at the local assembly, so he worked hard on getting enough material to last for two 2-hour messages. At the end of the second message it was open to questions and the youth had many. 

Retreat: These past three days we had a nice mini-retreat with Mom and Dad Johnson and their co-worker Brook Ford. We spent a lot of time in prayer and seeking God's leading in regards to the ministry possibilities in this area. It also proved to be a good time for us to ask questions and get familiar with the past and current ministries by other missionaries in the Kigoma area.

More Travel: In one week we'll be on our way to Kenya for Ben's High School graduation (Luke's younger brother). We're working hard to get our "new" used car ready for the trip. On the way up we'll drop off a few of our belongings at Keza. On our way back from Kenya (around July 22), we will settle there until the end of the year. Then we will move to Kigoma town.

We are praying that we'll be able to be in contact via e-mail and internet while we live at Keza even though there is no phone line or electricity. There is an option of doing email through a wireless modem, so pray that the details for that possibility will all come together.

Pray for:

- Our trip to Kenya (July 6 - 22)

- Our 5 month stay at Keza for cultural immersion

- God's guidance for our future ministry in the Kigoma region

With love in Christ,

Luke, Gina and Esther Johnson