In Moshi for a month

BBC students doing a "team building" activity; they managed to balance 10 screws on the head of another screw.

We are in Moshi, (northern Tanzania) for a month. Luke is busy teaching two courses to 31 students at Berea Bible College (BBC). This is the first time the college has had so many students and it's a big answer to prayer. Last year Luke taught only 2 students, so this increase has changed the dynamics of the classroom.

Back to Tanzania

We are in NJ, at the CMML "mansion" and having a wonderful time. Tomorrow, Monday the 25th we head to the airport to get on a British Airways flight that will take us to London and then a second flight that will take us to Dar Es Salaam, TZ.

The boxes and suitcases we mailed on ahead arrived OK except one. A box was broken into and Luke's amplifier was stollen. So Luke might make his way to the FedEx office in town tomorrow to report that something was missing from one of the boxes.

Our 3-month furlough was a first for us. We enjoyed our visits to Chicago, Dubuque, Seattle, Yakima, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Melbourne, FL., Brooksville, FL., Columbia, SC., Charlotte, NC., Roanoke, VA., Baltimore, MD., and Belmar, NJ.

3 months seemed like a good length, for some it may seem long and for others short. That is what worked for us this time, and we'll just see what happens the next time we come State-side. Doing both West and East was a push, but I'm glad we did it.

Looking forward to getting back. Esther is excited. Emily could care less!

Pray for us as we travel. Thanks.

June

Dear Praying friends,

Greetings from the north west USA. One month into our furlough and we're starting to feel at home, just in time for packing up and getting back on the road!

It's been encouraging to visit with friends and see many fellow believers while we share about the Lord's work in Tanzania. Our prayers and thoughts are with the Tanzanian church. Annual meetings for the elders in our area are taking place these 3 days. “Wings of the Morning” sailing ship will be re-launched this coming week and moored in a safer harbor, Lord willing. And dad and mom Johnson are busy moving house once again.

Our girls are adjusting well to so many changes and all the traveling. Emily was sick during our first week, but has recovered and is now back to her wiggly self with two new teeth. Esther loves playing with so many new friends and looks forward to her Sunday School class we've consistently attended for the past 4 weeks. Pray for us as we pack boxes and suitcases to send on ahead.

Thank you for your prayerful support, we really appreciate it.

Serving The Highest Master,

Luke, Gina, Esther and Emily Johnson

My fun girl...

Seeing snow!

In a BIG bathtub, so they are both able to be in at the same time.

Running around EBC campus.

Picking a wedgie... it was a faze and I'm glad it's over!

Emmaus graduation

Congratulations Joy, Christopher and Amanda!

Christopher, the graduate with his sister.

Christopher and Mom.

Fun traveling

Just hours after arriving at O'hare.

Sick baby and tired mommy... welcome to the USA!

Taking a family photo for our prayer card.

A couple days later we're feeling and looking a lot better.

In the Modern World

Dear friends and family, thank you for your prayers.

The long car trip across Tanzania and the long plane rides en route to the U.S. all went well. An overnight lay-over in London meant that we could see the Whites (Old time friends of the Johnsons) briefly, and rest between continents.

We are currently in Chicago staying with Danny & Annie Johnson. Annette & baby Linden, and Lisa (Luke's sisters) showed up and surprised us. It has been great to spend time together with all of them.

On Friday (May 6) we met up with Carol Mattix (Gina's Mom) and went to Emmaus Bible College to attend Christopher Mattix's graduation. We were able to see many of our old professors from when we attended the College and, of course, participate in the graduation ceremonies. Now we are back in Chicago and tomorrow we will take a two-day train trip to Seattle, along with Carol and Christopher Mattix.

It has been a bit difficult getting over jet lag, and along with the fatigue Gina and I feel like we are coming down with colds again. Emily has also had a rough first week in the States, being sick since we started the first flight out of Tanzania. After a doctor's visit and proper medication she is now on the mend.

We would appreciate your prayers for health & strength and for the many travels and visiting we have ahead of us. Hopefully we will get to see many of you during our stay in this country. We certainly do appreciate your prayers and support on our behalf.

In His grace & care,

Luke, Gina, Esther, & Emily Johnson

April Update

Hello dear praying friends and family, we trust you are all enjoying close fellowship with our Lord. 

This past month several major things happened. 

In our last newsletter we mentioned the successful launch of the sailboat that my father built for ministry along the lake. Some of you may have heard that only 5 days after its launch a huge storm came up on the lake and caused the boat to drag its mooring block and run aground. To make a long story short, with the help of many from the missionary community along with hired workers we were able to pull the boat up on land for some fairly major repairs. We are thankful that there was not more damage as the whole boat could have been smashed to pieces. We have just begun to make repairs, but it may be a few more months before it is launched again.

We are thankful to God for our trip to Dar Es Salaam (the big city on the east coast of the country). We went by road, along with my parents, in order to attend the Annual General Meeting of CMML missionaries in Tanzania. We had a nice 4-day stay in a hotel on the Indian Ocean and heard reports on the work from our fellow missionaries. We also discussed various issues and were able to share our ideas regarding how to better work together in the ministry with our Tanzanian brothers and sisters in Christ. All in all it was a profitable and encouraging time. On the way back we saw many very bad accidents and so we are extra thankful for God's hand of protection on the dangerous Tanzanian roads. 

While in the big city we were able to finally pick up Emily's new US passport and her birth certificates (Tanzanian and US consulate report of birth abroad). We are thankful that we were able to get these documents as we prepared for our furlough to the U.S.  We will arrive in Chicago on May 2, 2011 and we fly back to Tanzania from Newark airport on July 25, 2011. Needless to say we have many things to do before we leave.

We just visited the village church of Nkungwe and were encouraged by their outreach efforts to a neighboring village. On the way back from church we were able to take a man to the hospital to get treatment. He had broken his leg (or had badly torn some ligaments) the day before and had no way of getting to the hospital to get an X-ray to see if it was broken or not. We were told that he is a new believer. 

We would appreciate your prayers for the Gungu church here in town that there would be peace and unity. There have arisen a few complainers who have been trying to stir other people up against the leadership. Please pray as there will be a meeting to discuss these problems on Sat. April 9, 2011

Prayer Items

- Boat repairs

- Praise for good meetings with fellow missionaries

- Praise for Emily's passport

- Prayer for furlough preparations

- Prayer for unity in the Gungu church

Thank you for your participation in the ministry here. May you be blessed in the Lord.

Luke, Gina, Esther, and Emily Johnson

Mbawa za Asubuhi

Wings of the Morning is now in the water!

March Update

Dear Friends and Family,

    Yesterday was an historical day. The boat (Wings of the Morning) that Luke, his father and many other men have been working on since May of last year was launched. Some 80 men were hired to push the boat into the lake, but only 40 showed up. However, they still managed to turn/lift her 90 degrees before pushing her down the beach and into the water. It made for a good show as the men worked together to the leader’s sing-song chanting and all grunting in response as they heaved the 4-ton boat in unison. There is much work to do still on the boat (for comforts’ sake), but we are thankful that it does well in the water, either with motor power or wind power. We pray this boat will be used for God’s glory in reaching many of the village churches up and down lake Tanganyika.

    Luke had the opportunity to preach this past Sunday on Psalm 84. Much discernment is needed in knowing how to best help the struggling churches and people of this area. Pray that we would show Christ-like love to all that we meet.

    A couple weeks back Luke and Esther joined Harry and Ruth in visiting the small church at Kamara. Emily kept me (Gina) company while I laid low and recovered from malaria. Thankfully we are all now healthy; Emily is a chubby 6-month old reaching for everything and Esther is begging to go to school. 

    At the end of this month we are planning to go to the big city on the east coast for a conference with fellow CMML missionaries from Tanzania. Please pray that the national airlines will resume their flights to our corner of the country so we won’t need to make the 3-day drive.

In His Service,

Gina, Luke, Esther and Emily Johnson