July, August and September Update

"How great are his signs, how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation." (Dan. 4:3)

Greetings to all of you in our wonderful Savior's name. It has been a while since we wrote a proper update; the end of June, to be specific.

After the evangelistic conference in Songambele, my father, some church elders and I took a 5 day trip down south. I was dropped off with one other elder at the village of Katumba where we have a church. We team taught a 2 day seminar and then fellowshipped with the believers on Sunday. Meanwhile my Dad and the other elders went further south to visit 4 new churches for the first time. All in all the trip went well, the fellowship was uplifting and God's Word was taught.

The following week, in the middle of July, the Gungu town church hosted 3 days of meetings for the local elders of the Kigoma region. Besides discussing ministry and administrative items the Scriptures were taught 2 of the evenings.

The following week there was yet another evangelistic conference, 6.5 hours north-east of Kigoma, in the village of Kasanda. This time I was able to go with my family and we picked up 2 elders along the way. The seminar times in the morning were poorly organized and very late in starting, yet well attended. The afternoons consisted of open air preaching and in the evenings we showed the "King of Glory" film in Swahili.

Getting ready to show "King of Glory" in Kasanda.

5 believers baptized in the river at Kasanda.

By this time we were ready for a break and the last week of July we got to go to a missionary retreat on Lake Kivu in Rwanda. It was a wonderful time of being taught in the mornings (with the kids attending their own program) and the afternoons full of family activities and/or relaxing by the water. On the way back to Kigoma we stopped by to visit Danny & Anne Johnson (Luke's younger brother's family) in Gisuru, Burundi.

"Camping" in Rwanda for a week.

Kid having fun in the water

As soon as we got back the discipleship course started its 2nd term. Then toward the end of August we got a brief visit from Brook Ford (former missionary in Kigoma). It was great to see her again, and she spent much of it, traveling, teaching and ministering to the ladies. While that was going on we snuck in another visit to Burundi, this time to see Jesse and Joy Johnson (Luke's older brother's family) who had just returned from the US.

We got back just in time for me to begin teaching on Salvation at the Disciples of Jesus school, and also once a week at the mid-week Bible study at the Gungu town church.

Luke teaching at Disciples of Jesus School.

I just got back from another evangelistic conference in the village of Munzeze. The seminar was well received and prompted some good questions. The gospel preaching was met with no visible response, although the Word was faithfully sown, and will not return void. There seems to be a spiritual blindness over that village; even the evangelical churches are very stagnant, with little or no growth. Please pray for that village, that Satan's strongholds would be broken down and the veil lifted from people's eyes.

Harry Johnson teaching the morning seminar at Munzeze.

Gina has begun a new school year of homeschooling, and now Aaron has begun kindergarten. Please pray for Gina as she tries to find time to focus on each of the 3 school children. It is not an easy task, I assure you, especially with a little 3 year old (Michael) who feels left out.

Lately I have been challenged about the need to unite in prayer for the churches of the Kigoma region. Pray that they would grow and multiply with vitality and boldness, like the churches in the book of Acts. Please join with us in prayer for the outpouring of God's life-giving Spirit. God may be wanting us to take a bold step in a new direction, but we want to make sure we are following His lead, and not our own agenda. Prayer is the key that will open this new door. Please pray with us.

Thank you for your partnership with us in the gospel.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you,

Luke, Gina, Esther, Emily, Aaron and Michael

Odd post

Why some photos just won't make it on a newsletter:

They are blurry.

Now, I like this photo of the kids. It shows the excitement in the car that morning as we headed off to Burundi, and then onto Rwanda for a week of family fun. We had gotten up early and had packed the car, the girls remembered to bring their "kanga" (cloth) in case they got cold. Well, sure enough, as we climbed the hills it got chilly. Here they are huddled in the back seat, trying to stay warm just as we got back on the road after the first of many potty breaks. It was a full two weeks before we were back home, but we sure enjoyed traveling and seeing so many places and visiting with so many people.

They show every day travel but, maybe just a little too much.

On the second day of travel, just as we were leaving Bujumbura we came across this overturned taxi. It's common to see accidents while we travel and it's usually because the drivers are speeding. The roads aren't meant for cruising at high speeds and it's a good reminder to the other drivers to stay alert and not be foolish.
And speaking of accidents, you can clearly see the reflection of some underwear drying on the dashboard of the car. I think we'll blame the 3-year old, it looks about his size. Again, just a common occurrence when we travel!

They are too hard to explain.

I don't understand electronic stuff. But the sight of so many wires, with hardly any proper connections, and so much dirt covering it all, it's a wonder it works at all!

They are just awful.

In the 9 years we have lived here, I have failed at taking a good photo of the food. I think it'd be nice to show the amazing hospitality that is showered on us, especially in feeding us so well, but I can never get a good shot. I think it's partly the chaos that surrounds the meal time, the kids are so happy to get fed and we're all excited to dig in, the spoons are falling on the dirt floor, the littlest one is touching the dirty bench when he's just had his hands washed, the girls are arguing over which soda they should share, and we're trying to remind them all that in this culture kids are seen and not heard, especially at meal times. Oh well! So this is an example of an amazing spread by our local hosts, a goat was slaughtered that morning (Esther has pictures of that!) so we all enjoyed roasted goat, goat innards in a sauce (which we eagerly shared with another table), rice, beans and cooking bananas in tomato sauce. And of course the soda.

I don't know what to caption them

A dry pod with cool looking seeds....

This photo was taken in Kasanda, on our last day there. These seeds are Emily's current favorite. And they were growing on this vine, inside these pods right by the hedge where the ladies were cooking. They are really bright red as they dry, and a lighter pink when they are fresh. The church kids saw how excited Emily was that they all chipped in to help her collect as many as she could before we got in the car to drive back to Kigoma. So now they sit in an old spice container, waiting for Emily to get inspired and make a bracelet out of them, or perhaps a bulky ring.

They are not from the right angle.

I was sitting at the back of the church, listening to Luke teach on the Holy Spirit during the morning seminar at Kasanda. I purposely sit at the back so I can keep an eye on the kids that are playing outside. And as I'm looking out the church door from my bench I can see Aaron and Michael with some other kids hanging on the guava branches. They are swinging so hard I'm afraid they'll break it (later Luke assured me that guava limbs are very flexible), but they are having such a great time too. Later on they were up the tree and jumping off, making all the old ladies gasp. Best nursery care yet!

Wondering if they are appropriate.

This is in Kigoma, just outside the market, at dusk. The vendors come out to the road and it instantly turns into a street market for the many heading home who need to buy dinner on their way. We are one of the many buying dinner that evening. I like how the women are just going about their business and have the fish displayed on their trays or basins. I don't know them personally and I feel a little bad for taking their photo without them knowing. But now you know a little bit about our town and its evening market, we have lots of fish!

They make us look like weird parents.

It was the Sunday after Easter, and we were met with a down pour as we were finishing up the service at the church in Mwakizega. We waited for the rain to subside a bit while they served us a delicious meal of ugali and beans. An elder's adobe home in the next village over had just fallen the night before. So we drove the 20 minutes to his village, parked the car off the main road and then walked. This photos shows the road and the mud and the drippy rain as we walked some 10 minutes to the elder's home. Well, we didn't have any umbrellas with us, and thought that a rag on Michael's head would do the trick of keeping him a bit dry.

So that is why you won't see these photos in our newsletters. I'm sure I can find some more reasons and some more funny photos and give you a glimpse into our adventurous life here in East Africa.

June Update

Greetings from Kigoma dear praying friends. 

We thank those of you who were praying for the evangelistic conference and outreach at the village of Songambele. We praise the Lord for the many who heard Christ’s glorious gospel clearly presented through door to door, tract distribution, choir songs, preaching and Christian films. On Sunday morning we baptized 5 new believers. 
Please pray for lasting fruit. Several made professions of faith for the first time, others recommitted their lives to the Lord. We also prayed for the sick and those oppressed by demons. We strongly urged the local leaders to follow up with those who came forward or showed interest. Please pray that the church will continue to visit and encourage the ones who were drawn near by the Lord. Also pray that the strongholds of witchcraft and domestic violence would be broken down in that village, and that many would be delivered from the evil one.

The dancing choirs draw a crowd and stir up the dust.

The people sit and listen.

Alfred preaches on the makeshift stage.

Singing and praying before going door to door.

Petro baptizing new believers at the river.

I, Luke, have barely been home a week, but tomorrow (Thursday) I leave for another 5 day ministry trip down south. We are taking one car load of church elders and dividing into 2 groups to visit and encourage the churches and teach seminars. Please pray for safety and for the ministry of the Word, that the saints will be encouraged and motivated to attain the stature of the fullness of Christ. Please pray for Gina and the kids, as we will be apart again for that time, that God would grant them grace and strength.

These trips are not without their challenges so we TRULY do need your prayers. God is looking for men and women who will stand in the gap and fight against the powers of darkness through intercessory prayer. God is able to deliver!

In our Savior’s holy and powerful name,

Luke Johnson

May Update

Dear praying friends, we thank the Lord for your partnership in the gospel.

Be patient and take heart, beloved brothers and sisters, because we believe the judge is standing at the door (James 5:7). And through your labor of love (your prayers and your generosity) the Word of the Lord continues to grow and multiply (Acts 12:24).

We praise the Lord for a team of Burundi believers that came the end of May. They were an encouragement to our local church in Kigoma and gave teaching and also reached out to two other village churches. They focused on teaching the youth, the women and the church leaders. On their last day, a marriage seminar was also added last minute, and almost our entire church showed up for that. Those who were translating did a great job and were all tired after 4 long days of ministry. We are thankful how the Lord guided in the many aspects of the visit and how the local church received the team well.

Peter translating during the marriage seminar.

Peter Yamungu is finishing up teaching Old Testament Survey (Part 1) at the Disciples of Jesus School. We currently have 5 committed students. We hope to gain more students next term, as some did not complete their studies last year and plan to resume where they left off. Please pray that each student would humbly receive the Word implanted (James 1:21).

The Gungu town church has committed to reviving the church in the nearby village of Kizenga. A handful of gifted members from the town church have been going each Sunday to teach Sunday School, lead the service and preach, as there is currently no qualified leadership there. Pray for a strong assembly to be established in that majority Muslim village.

The kids enjoying being at Kizenga.

The building at Kizenga has been destroyed, but the church continues to meet under the mango trees.

We praise the Lord for the safe arrival of the Kinlaw family to Kigoma after 4 months of language study. We are looking forward to working together with them for the advancement of Christ's church in this region. Pray for them as they get settled into life here, and as they continue to learn and practice the Swahili language, needed for ministry here. Our 4 kids are really enjoying playing with the Kinlaw kids, who are similar in age.

We are getting ready for an evangelistic conference in the village of Songambele, June 14-18. Pray for the door to door evangelism and tract distribution. Pray that the Word being proclaimed through singing, preaching and Christian films, would accomplish new birth in many. "Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Pray for Gina and the kids as Luke will be gone for 5 days.

Blessings in Christ,
Luke and Gina Johnson

Rhino Rock

Our kids love going to the beach, the Jakobsen's beach, to be exact. And just between beach 1 and beach 2 there are some rocks, one of the bigger ones we call Rhino Rock. You can jump off this rock and into the lake, but not just any time. The water needs to be high enough, so you don't hit the rocks below. Well, these last weeks the water has been really high, so it's the perfect time to jump off Rhino Rock.
Back in May 2015, Esther climbed to the top of the rock and after seeing her dad and Javen Mirabella jump off the rock she'd figure she'd try too. She was only 8 years old then. I was ready with the camera but I was also strongly encouraging her NOT to jump. After seeing how high it was and hesitating for awhile, she finally decided it wasn't the right time. *whew*
Well, now it's June of 2018 and with the high water it's a great opportunity to try the jump off of Rhino Rock.
And Esther did it!

Esther's first jump.

And again...

Ready for her second jump.

No problem!

Well, guess who has to try and keep up with her big sister (by almost 4 years!!). That little girl in the pink swim shirt at the top of the rock. That's Emily.

And she's only 7!

I just about dropped the camera in the water!

And they both climbed right back up to the top and jumped once each again.

And these are only the girls, what will the boys be like!?!

A facelift on the car.

We're going on 3 weeks without the use of our car. The kids have enjoyed the many bajaji rides recently. We still have the use of the motorbike so Luke can still make it to teaching his class at the Discipleship School. The girls and I have also enjoyed walking to market and to friends' houses.

Spraying primer.

So the car is in the shop to get a new paint job. It's been needing one for some time and we finally got around to it. Before the paint, Luke had the mechanics fix some other things on it too. When Luke checked up on the work last week, they had not been able to paint much due to no electricity. With using a sprayer for painting, the compressor needs to have electricity. So everything was brought to a halt, but that's how it goes. And so we continue to enjoy our walks and the numerous motorbike rides.

Happy Saturday!

Coffee beans cooling in the baking pan.

We had a good start today with a cup of coffee made with Luke's freshly roasted coffee beans. These are bought green by the kilo in our local market. We then sort them and roast them. They make excellent coffee.
You never know what your day may hold.

Our washer.

This is what the rest of our day looked like!

Luke did a great job of finding some spares from our old washing machine (which has been invaded by rats who ate at the wires and all the plastic) and adjusted them to fit this one, which is smaller. Nothing is a simple fix, you always need to modify and do your best at using what's available. Luke is pretty good at that, and I'm grateful he is!

Being 3.

We had an exciting morning... Michael wanted Aaron (and no one else) to help him get on the trampoline. Well, as Aaron was trying with all his might to give his brother a boost, he got a fit of giggles and dropped him. Maybe Michael was laughing too 'cause his top tooth caught the side of the metal bar and pushed it halfway into his gum.

Ouch!

He has a different smile!

About three hours later he let me touch it and I gently pulled it out. That's a three-year-old's baby tooth:

A very long baby tooth!

We are thankful to God that he's doing fine. And that the tooth came out intact. We'll continue to watch him and see if he has any swelling later or things like that.
Of course within 20 minutes of the ordeal, he was back outside, on the trampoline, no less!

An Over-Due April Update

Dear praying friends,

It has been a while since we last updated you on the ministry here.

Emmaus Intern
After our trip to Bolivia for the wedding we met up with Alexandra (Alley) (an intern from Emmaus Bible College) in the big city and made our way back to Kigoma at the beginning of February. Alley was with us for 10 weeks and was able to see firsthand many ministries, participate in others, and experience a foreign language and culture. She has just returned to the US for her debriefing. Pray that God would guide her plans for the future.

Disciples of Jesus School
In early March we began a new year at the Disciples of Jesus school and we have 5 consistent students. We hope to gain a few more students the 2nd and 3rd terms, who did not finish the course last year. Teaching is going well. We are in the 3rd module, and have 2 more to go for this term. Pray that the students would grow in their love and knowledge of the Savior.

Volleyball after class. 

Luke finishing up for the day.

John and Jennifer Kinlaw
New missionaries, commended from North Ridge Bible Chapel, Raleigh, NC, are currently studying at language school in Morogoro. They have 4 kids. After finishing they will move to Kigoma to help with the Lord’s work in this region. Please pray for them as they study the language and culture, and practice speaking. Pray for them as they move and settle into life and ministry in Kigoma. Pray for adjustment and vision for them and their children.

Annual General Meeting
We had our annual missionary meeting (required by the government) here in Kigoma. We met with Harry and Ruth Johnson, as well as Steve and Gill Davies from Dar Es Salaam (with Echoes of Service, UK). It was a nice time of fellowship, sharing reports about the different ministries we are involved in and praying for each other. We look forward to being together with John and Jennifer Kinlaw and family next year.

Eating out at the only pizza place in town.

Peter Yamungu
Our friend Peter is currently in the Tabora region with the unreached Wataturu tribe, for one month, doing his research and field work for the Missions course which he completed in December 2017. Please pray for open doors, good contacts, good research, provision and protection for him as he has about 3 more weeks to go. Pray that God would send more workers of light into this dark place.

Peter and his wife Naomi singing during the testimony time in church.

Church Visits and Building Projects
Since our return we have been able to visit 3 village churches, including attending an Easter Conference of the southern churches. Please continue to pray for the church leaders. Two elders have had to be put under discipline because of sin. We need to be vigilant and aware of the serpent’s strategies to destroy and scatter. Please help us by praying that God would protect these leaders from the enemy’s attacks. Please pray for the many spiritual and physical needs, which sometimes seem overwhelming. There are many churches that are at various stages in building their place of worship, and other newer ones that are seeking to purchase property.

Trying on glasses at the Bukuba church; ladies dancing during the worship service.

Easter weekend in Sunuka, and local church singing.

Luke preaching at the Mwakizega church; eating well; men trying on glasses. 

Lamech's adobe house crumbled under the heavy rains; our drive home.

Work and Residence Permits
Last month we began the tedious process of renewing our residence permits, and applying for a work permit for the first time (a new requirement). Please pray that both of these permits would be granted so that we can continue to serve here in Tanzania.

Family
Gina and I continue to be challenged to grow in new ways as we raise our precious children. Gina works hard at homeschooling the girls. Please pray that we would have joy and peace in the pressures of daily life.

May the God of peace be with you all,
Luke, Gina, Esther, Emily, Aaron and Michael

A Rainy Sunday

Today we visited the village church in Mwakizega-Kampande. I (Gina) have only been there one other time, so it was nice to finally make it there again and be with the believers.

Church singing

Luke preaching

After the preaching and the announcements, the Sunday morning service came to a close, it was around 1 pm. The ladies who had been diligently cooking outside under some trees brought the prepared food and all of the dishes into the chapel. And then the rain let loose. It came down in sheets! The tin roof made it nearly impossible to have any kind of conversation. We all just huddled in the dry chapel and watched the foot trails become rushing streams.

Kids checking out the down pour. 

After a lovely lunch of ugali and chicken, the rain subsided to a steady sprinkle. Luke opened up the boxes full of reading glasses and offered them to the older men and women in the church who thought they might need them. They all got their chairs in a circle and passed the glasses down after trying them on. If a pair of glasses was a good fit and seemed to work for them they'd keep it, ask for a case and then give their chair to someone else who was waiting to try some on. Some 20 glasses must have been given away in just this one church.

Trying on some reading glasses.

Well, the rain was not letting up and we had planned to stop at 4 different places before driving back to Kigoma. So, we piled in the car and went to our first stop. It was not too far from the church, an old widow lady was unable to leave her room but she and her husband had helped start this church so we crowded into her room and sang and prayed with her. She was grateful and sang along to every verse of On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand.

We then made a quick stop at a former student's house so he could show "mwalimu" Luke the progress that had been made. All in the steady rain and muddy foot paths.

We then headed out to the main road and drove a few miles to the neighboring village. The girls were eager to visit Emanuel and his wife who had just had twins some 3 weeks ago. This was the man whose house had burned down a year and a half ago. The girls were happy to hold a baby each, a girl and a boy. The mom is still at her mom's house, recuperating. *I will try to post a photo later, they are on Esther's camera*

Everyone piled into the car once more, I was holding a sleeping Michael, and we drove down even farther to the next village to visit Lameck. He is one of the elders in the church in the village of Lugunga and also helps with the kindergarten that they have in the church building. We stared to drive down to the village and off the main road and realized it'd be hard to get back up such a slick hill. So we parked the car. And this time we all piled out and walked to Lameck's house, right on the water's edge.

Lameck's house.

Or what's left of Lameck's house. The rains cause damage to these adobe houses. They can't handle days on end of steady rain and so they eventually collapse. He was in the house the morning it fell, but he's grateful that none of his children were there with him. His wife had foreseen (typical...ha!) the trouble they'd have so she insisted on finding another place for herself and the children. One heavy adobe fell on his left hand and some bamboo scratched it a bit. Otherwise he's completely unharmed. They've removed their contents from the fallen house and crowded into the other room they have.

Lameck's house

 In the meantime, the children spend the night at neighbor's homes and he continues to work at finishing his new house, that is farther up from the lake and made of burnt brick. He's eager to get a roof on so they can move in.
He was very grateful for the visit and encouraged too. He walked us up the muddy path to the parked car to give us a proper farewell. We climbed into the car and finally headed for home, after dropping off the three elders at the first village and picking up the two young men who were riding back to Kigoma with us. We were given a rooster as a gift; it'll be chicken soup real soon. And a couple of meters from getting into the car, for the last time, Michael tripped and fell flat on his face. He managed to get mud on the inside of his shirt!
We were finally on our way home, we only had one hour drive. The rain continued to fall. And then we came to a river ... that hadn't been there before. It had managed to cover the road since the rain started that afternoon, deteriorating many other parts of the road. It was an exciting drive! We had to drive thru some fairly deep water 5 different times in that one hour. We were happy to make it home, knowing we'd be sleeping in our own beds, all warm and dry.

On our way home.