August Update

Dear praying friends and family,

The time for our return to Tanzania has come. As I write this the car is all loaded up with our luggage for our trip to Seattle and then our flight Monday morning. It has been a great furlough of seeing lots of chapel friends and many family members as well.

Since our last newsletter we visited Luke's uncle Don Tinder and his son Derek and his family in the San Francisco area. We had a great time with them and got to share about the work at Sun Valley Bible Chapel. We enjoyed the train ride there and back.

With the cousins in California

As soon as we got back we helped out with a week of Day Camp (like a VBS) at the Tieton Drive Bible Chapel in Yakima, WA. We did the journey through the Bible and it was a wonderful outreach to the kids of the community. The children really enjoyed acting out parts of the Bible as well as all the teaching, activities, crafts and singing. Please pray for lasting fruit from this effort. Since then we have been getting stuff we need and packing for our return to Tanzania, and now it has come. 

Our Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) in Tanzania is 7:30 AM, Wed. Aug. 27, 2014 (Local Time). In the meantime, and for the next few months we will be awaiting another arrival. The ETA for his/her arrival is February 2015.

Aaron has no idea what this is all about!

When we get to Tanzania we'll still have a 3 day drive to our home in Kigoma, then we will begin unpacking and settling in. The discipleship course will be starting up soon after that. Please keep all these things in mind as you pray for us. Thanks.

May God's peace be with you,

Luke, Gina, Esther, Emily, Aaron & ????? Johnson

June and July Update

Dear praying friends and family,

We are State-side this summer and enjoying our time in the Northwest. More than half of our furlough is over already, so we are taking a look at our "to do" list to make sure we are ready to return to Tanzania the end of August.

Some highlights of our furlough have been with family. Gina and the kids spent a few days at Lakeside Bible Camp with Jesse and Janel and the kids enjoyed playing together, which helped with adjusting to the new time zone. A week after arriving we attended the wedding for Ben and Breana Johnson in Phoenix and also enjoyed seeing some of Luke's siblings and their growing families. A couple of weekends were spent at the farm in Oregon with a chance to see Grandma Nelson and also attend the Memorial Service for Grandpa David Nelson. (pictured below: us girls with Grandma Nelson in OR) There were two other family weddings in June and July, and it was fun to see so many aunts and uncles and cousins after many years.

With Grandma Nelson in Forest Grove, OR.

Upon arrival, Luke stayed in Chicago to then catch a ride to Dubuque and attend the Iron Sharpens Ironconference at Emmaus Bible College. We also spent a week at Family camp this time at Shiloh Bible Camp, where Luke and Mark Mattix shared the chapel sessions. Luke has also shared about the work in Tanzania and will do so again a couple more times.

Another highlight has been our time with our chapel family, Tieton Drive Bible Chapel. Dave and Heather Cole have blessed us by sharing their living space with our family of 5. Their house has a feeling of "home" for our kids whenever we come back from a weekend trip. (pictured below: Thomas and Lincoln Cole with Emily and Esther near Mt. Rainier) In August we will help out with Day Camp that the chapel is hosting and looking forward to having some 100 kids for that week.

Kiddos on a little hike.

Our kids have adjusted well to the many changes and the lack of routine. The next adventure will be our train ride to the San Francisco Bay area to visit family and a couple of churches.

Thank you for your support and prayers.

Blessings in Christ,

Luke, Gina, Esther, Emily and Aaron Johnson

Many more furlough photos!

April Update

Dear praying friends and family, it has been quite a month since the last time we wrote. We thank you all for your prayers for us and the work here. 

We were once again reminded that our only secure treasure and inheritance is laid up for us in heaven where no one can touch it. On Sat. April 19, while we had gone to the beach for a few hours our house was broken into. The robber(s) cut through some metal bars on the bathroom window and entered the house. They took our computer, iPad, a projector for the film ministry belonging to Luke’s Dad, an external DVD drive, Luke’s cell phone and a backpack. We are thankful that they did not take anything else.

We are also thankful that we have all our computer’s information backed up on an external hard drive which was not taken. We are thankful that some other missionaries have lent us a computer for the time being. And we have so much else to be thankful for. Afterwards we did try and make the windows harder to break into by welding thicker metal bars on the outside. 

Welding stronger rebar on the windows.

The week following the robbery Luke taught a course on Youth Ministry at a Christian College in town, 5 hours a day for 5 days. The following week Luke continued to attend the discipleship course, on Monday, Tuesday and Friday afternoons, to see how things were going as Peter taught the first part of Old Testament Survey. 

We were able to take a quick 2 day (1 night) trip as a family to Matyazo Mission, where Aaron was born. We went on a hike to see a waterfall and swim & relax by the river. 

The following week Gina & Esther worked hard to finish school by Friday (and succeeded!) and Luke prepared to teach a 3 day seminar and show Christian films at the village of Nkungwe. On Thursday Luke left for Nkungwe and co-taught with Peter a seminar for youth in the mornings. In the afternoons the church held outdoor evangelistic meetings, complete with many choirs and a guest evangelist. In the evenings we showed Christian films. It seems the enemy sought to oppose our efforts as Thursday Peter got a bad sore throat, stuffy nose, and sinus headache which lasted the whole time there. On Friday night Luke did not sleep well, as he woke up multiple times with nausea and achy joints. Saturday morning he was still unwell so Peter taught the first session while Luke rested, then Luke taught a short 2nd session before going home early. 

Outdoor Evangelistic meetings

Once home, Luke rested (as best as he could with three kids who were very happy to have their Daddy back) and began to take malaria medicine.  We thank God that today, Sunday, Luke is feeling quite a bit better, though not yet back to full strength. We are thankful that Aaron is also all better from his sickness with malaria this week.

Please pray for us as we seem to have too much to do before we leave on Thursday morning for the 3 day drive to the coast, Dar Es Salaam, where we catch our plane the following Tuesday for our 3 month furlough in the States. 

Thank you for your prayers for us at this busy time.

Blessings in our Savior’s name, Luke, Gina, Esther, Emily and Aaron Johnson

March Update

Dear praying friends and family, grace & peace to you from God our Father. We are encouraged when we consider that many of you pray for us. We thank the Lord for your partnership in what He is doing here in Kigoma, Tanzania.

Upon our return both Luke's motorbike and the family car took turns in the shop getting significant repairs done. We are thankful for these means of transport that the Lord has provided for us and are especially thankful that both are now being used again (things always seem to take longer to get fixed here in Tanzania as parts are hard to come by).

The discipleship course continues. We have 6 people who attend. Japhet just finished his teaching on the Christian life, and Luke begins teaching on Monday about personal Bible Study Methods. In class we continue to do Bible memorization together and at home they are required to read a chapter of the Bible each day and comment on it in a notebook. Please pray with us that they will develop habits that will last a lifetime and that will bring about progressive spiritual growth and change in their lives.

We are currently corresponding with people in the U.S. as we make plans and preparations for our upcoming furlough (end of May through end of August). Lord willing we hope to see many of you. Pray that we will finish well with what we are doing here, and that the Lord would go before us and make our paths straight for our time in the U.S.

Gina is trying to finish homeschool with Esther (in 1st grade). Emily plays with Esther when she can and when she can't she plays with Aaron. Aaron continues to explore the whole house on all fours, and get into things he shouldn't. Emily makes sure to say, "Mom, Aaron getting into twubble" whenever he is doing something he shouldn't.

Finally may we all fix our hope on the glory and reward that is to be revealed when our Lord appears. That is our true motivation for service.

Sincerely,

Luke, Gina, Esther, Emily and Aaron Johnson

Peter and Emineli diligently taking notes.

Japhet teaching the Discipleship Course students.

Playing soccer after class.

To the coast and back again

Dear praying friends and family,
During the month of February, Luke taught one more church seminar. Then he, along with Japhet and Peter prepared for the start of the Discipleship Course on March 10.

Luke, Peter and Japhet in front of old Chapel.

Quite a few among the youth expressed an interest in attending but so far only a handful have showed up. Luke is teaching the first course, "Bible Survey" and trying to fit as much as he can into 6 teaching sessions. Please pray for the teachers and students during this first 3-month session.
As a family we have returned from the big city on the coast to attend the annual meeting with fellow Tanzanian missionaries. The 3 days together was spent in pleasant fellowship and encouraging reports from each family.

CMML Tanzanian missionaries in Dar Es Salaam.

To get to the big city we piled in the car with Luke's parents and drove north (to Mwanza), a 13 hour drive. There we caught our flight, instead of flying from our corner of Tanzania where only one airline offers services at an exorbitant price. We had the chance to briefly visit the small group of believers on Sunday. We praise the Lord for his protection on the road and in the air.
Upon our return home we found the electricity to be "off" more than "on", and the water to be the usual inconsistent few hours a day. This morning a very close strike of lightning caused a surge of power that fried our modem. Again, we praise the Lord for his protection and that nothing else was damaged.

Our family of 5 in Dar Es Salaam.

Little Aaron is a boy on the move. Esther is a champ at 1st grade, with only 9 weeks left of school! Emily is just Emily; at 3 and a half, she surprises us all the time as she tries to keep up with her big sister.

With love from our corner of Africa,
Luke, Gina, Esther, Emily and Aaron Johnson

January Update

Dear praying friends and family,

On January 16, Luke and Esther joined a crew sailing to the northern village of Kigalye. They spent a day talking to many youth in the Muslim village.

Then, last week, Luke spent 2 days, along with two other men from the church, fixing up the old wooden church building. The plan is to use this as a classroom for the discipleship program that will start in March.

New boards added to replace the rotting ones.

This past Thursday, Luke spent the day teaching a seminar on "preaching" to the men who are leaders at the local church and keen on sharing God's Word.

Luke is teaching again, at "Grace Bible College" in the village of Sunuka. He's teaching Theology Proper, this time for only one week. 

Next week, Luke and his father will teach a 2-day seminar on The Church at the local assembly.

The kids are getting along marvelously. Esther and I just keep plowing thru homeschooling, one day at a time. She's doing a great job.

Enjoying a hike at a look-out spot over Lake Tanganyika.

Please Pray:

- For lasting fruit among the ones that heard the Gospel in Kigalye, especially those who received Bibles.

- For the leaders in the local church as they teach the "flock".

- For Luke as he travels and teaches this week.

Thank you for reading this and for praying.

Many Blessings,

Gina, Luke, Esther, Emily and Aaron Johnson

First Boat Trip of the Year

At 10 this morning, a group of 7 went to the northern village of Kigalye, along Lake Tanganyika. It is a predominantly muslim village that's been visited some 3 times already. Harry was eager to visit a few families and, of course, take the sail boat out for a much needed ministry trip. Esther was also eager to go, and this time get to spend the night on the sail boat with her Daddy!

Please pray for a safe trip and return and for a meaningful visit with the muslim families.

Esther is on board and ready to sail.

The crew is busy as they leave.

And they are off...

December Update

Christmas 2013

Dear family and praying friends, we are thankful to God for giving us another year to serve him on this earth. This may be the year Christ returns to take us to be with him! Let us work while it is still day, because the night is coming when no one can work (John 9:4).

The Holidays

Our family was able to celebrate Christmas in Burundi with Luke's parents and 2 brothers, Jesse & Danny, and their families. We enjoyed our time together, although some of the travel plans had to be changed due to a flu that we passed around generously. We returned to Kigoma, Tanzania for the New Year and are now looking ahead to more ministry.

Ministry

On Sunday, Jan. 5, Luke & Esther went to the village of Songambele along with some of our Tanzanian brothers and sisters. They baptized two new believers, a young man and a young woman. Afterwards we were able to meet with the leaders of the church and of the different ministries and help them to evaluate how things are going, and see where the needs are that we can help out with. It was a good time of discussion and we thank the Lord for their growth so far. 

On Friday, Jan. 10, Luke was able to sit down and discuss plans with Peter Yamungu (one of the deacons) for starting a discipleship course for the youth. The discussion went very well and we hope to include others in this planning stage. Please pray with us that God would clearly guide in each decision, and that His perfect will would be accomplished in and through us. Pray for protection from the attacks of the Enemy who will no doubt oppose this endeavor, and for unity of purpose and vision among us.

Next week Luke plans to go by boat with his Dad to the village of Kigalye for follow up on the evangelism done twice last year.

Family

In December Gina and I celebrated 8 years of marriage, and Esther completed 7 years of life. We praise the Lord for his kindness to our family. Gina continues to homeschool Esther, who is in the first grade. Esther especially loves the books and stories that they read for school. Emily loves to play with Esther and also with her brother, but is often bored when Esther is in school. Aaron is eating solids now but has not yet attempted to crawl from his sitting position.

Furlough

Praise: We were able to purchase tickets for our furlough this summer. Please pray for us as we attempt to make a schedule for our time there. We look forward to seeing many of you during that time as the Lord permits.

It is our prayer that we will each serve our King and Savior faithfully in this new year.

With Christian love,

Luke, Gina, Esther, Emily, and Aaron Johnson

Aaron's first Christmas

"Drummer boy"

October Update

Dear praying friends and family, we trust each one of you is doing well, and growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Ministry

In the past month I (Luke) finished the Wednesday Bible teaching of Ezra & Nehemia. Then I had to prepare to teach a course on Eschatology for 2 weeks at a Bible College in the village of Sunuka. This College, called Grace Bible College, was started this year by the initiative of a local elder in that village. He has seen the need for village church leaders and pastors to receive nearly free Bible training as most cannot afford to attend Bible institutes in the big cities. There is no cell phone communication in that village but I was able to return on Friday and spend the weekend with my family before returning on Monday morning to teach. Unfortunately a big rain, a flat tire, and a long delay at the ferry crossing caused me to be late for classes on Monday. We made up for part of the first day and the students were still able to complete their exams on Friday, on schedule.

Family

Upon returning my first time I found out that Esther had had malaria and had gotten medicine right away and had recovered fairly quickly. Also, baby Aaron had learned how to sit up by himself! During my 2nd week of teaching Aaron got an ear infection resulting in a ruptured ear drum. He is still taking antibiotics for that. Gina managed the household like a champ and didn't even miss a day of school with Esther! We are very happy now to be back together again as a family. These village teaching endeavors are somewhat difficult for us but through your prayers and by God's strength we were enabled.

Aaron sitting up.

Aaron and Esther at the beach.

Emily bobbin' for apples.

Upcoming 

Now we would like to begin concentrating on preparing to start some sort of discipleship program, with the youth first, and then possibly with others in the town church and beyond. We don't know what God will do but please pray that as we begin making plans that God would guide and provide in everything, and that it would first and foremost be according to His will and plan. There are also various Christmas celebrations and preparations.

Another upcoming event is our tentative plans for a furlough in the U.S. from end of May through the end of August of next year. We are looking for tickets. Pray that we would be able to get "cheap" ones. Also please pray for the scheduling of our time there and whom we should visit, that we would have wisdom to balance ministry and the need for rest. 

As always we thank you for your prayers and we remember you as well with thanksgiving before our God.

Blessings,

Luke, Gina, Esther, Emily and Aaron Johnson

Motorbike trip

Luke has been teaching for the past week in a southern village (Sunuka). He graciously took the motorbike this time so I would have the use of the car. We were very happy to have him back home for the weekend. This morning he packed again and put everything under plastic for the 2 hr drive in the rain. Unfortunately, he had a flat tire on the way down so that delayed him for teaching his class this afternoon. Lord willing, he will finish teaching this course on Eschatology, and give the test on Friday to the 8 some students before coming back. His weekend home was not so restful since he was busy preparing for the 2nd week of teaching. There is no electricity at the village so he needed to have the tests printed and most of his notes ready for teaching. Please pray that he'll finish this week well and also stay in good health and that the students will learn and enjoy this study on the End Times.

All packed and ready to drive down for his first week.

All packed and driving in the rain.