Luke's Journal from his trip

 Dear praying friends,

I just wanted to give you a report of the ministry that took place last week. Thank you for your prayers. We really felt God’s power working in and through us, in spite of our weakness. You were a part of this work, through prayer.

The team being prayed for before leaving on their trip.

Day 1: We drove for 11.5 hours (about 600 km.) and arrived at the sub village of Weja Wanongu. We were welcomed by the few believers and some of the locals. We showed films before eating and going to bed.

Car parked in front of chapel building.

Thankful for mosquito tents.

Arriving in Central Tanzania.

Day 2: We took the gospel door to door as one big team of locals and us visitors. We visited about 4 houses and shared the good news and prayed for each household. After lunch I set up 2 strings in the front of the chapel for hanging my teaching pictures. At around 4 PM I began teaching the Firm Foundations course which emphasizes God’s salvation plan from the beginning, up until the coming of Jesus Christ. There were around 30 in attendance. Then we set up for another night of films but there was a problem with our HDMI cable. We were not able to show films.

Luke teaching Firm Foundations.

Peter teaching.

Day 3: We divided into 2 groups and visited people in their homes. The third home we visited was the home of a witch doctor. We found someone in the courtyard and he said the owners were not there. As we went on I saw a man come out of one of the houses and stare at us. After that, at the next 3 houses that we visited no one wanted to listen to the good news so we stopped and prayed again, binding the powers of darkness. The next house we visited welcomed us and listened intently with many questions. I taught again in the afternoon and then we talked with the locals since we were not able to show films.

Getting to the houses wasn't always simple.

Taking time to visit.

Some just weren't so eager to visit.

Day 4: We went to the broken well to attempt to pull out the pipes for the hand pump. Someone has donated an electric pump and the plan is to install solar panels and a water tank. We were not able to pull it up with my limited tools. We contacted a well repair man to begin his journey and come help us. Then we took the gospel door to door in two teams again. More teaching in the afternoon, before showing the Jesus Film at night. Someone was able to send us a new HDMI cable by bus. I began to feel quite sick to my stomach and did not sleep well.

Houses are well spread out from each other.

Day 5: I woke up still not feeling well so I rested that morning, while the others took the good news door to door. In the afternoon I was able to teach my course and that night Faraja translated the Pilgrim’s Progress film.

Day 6: I woke up feeling much better and we went with the well repair man and about 12 locals to pull out the pipes and rods for the hand pipes. It was a labor intensive job, but God helped us get it done. In the afternoon I finished up my teaching with a very clear gospel presentation. The family members of the sub village chairman wanted to receive Christ so we prayed with them. We showed films again that night.

Getting to work on the well.

A long and tedious process of pulling out the pipe.

"Many hands make light work."

Day 7: It was the Lord’s day. We had a wonderful time worshipping the Lord together. We also had a baby dedication and 15 young children were prayed for. Samweli, from our team, preached on the new life we have in Christ. A couple came forward to trust in Christ. After the service we went to visit one of the believers in his home, where they live together as an extended family. In the afternoon I did some teaching on God’s plan for the local church. We showed films for the last time and then packed the car to leave early the next morning.

Praying for the children.

Sunday morning service.

Day 8: We had to push start the car and then drove for 13 hours and arrived home safely.

Thank you again for praying.

May God bless you,

Luke Johnson