May Update

Dear praying friends and family,

We wanted to share with you some highlights from these last months.

First of all, our local church family in Kigoma has been hit hard with the death of an elder's son, and former deacon. Then, less than 6 weeks later, the elder's oldest daughter died too. Please remember in prayer our dear brother, Mr. Swedi and his family and the newly widowed Mrs. Janet who just gave birth to a boy.

Many people at the funeral

The Disciples of Jesus school students had a month-long Easter break. They are now back in session, and we've added two new students, for a total of 9 students. They have had opportunity to visit nearby villages as ministry trips. Pray that they will all finish the remaining eight courses to be equipped to serve in their local churches.

Young students preaching at the village of Nkungwe.

Game time for the students after classes.

And some exciting news: the new property for the school just got a well! We are so thankful that our friends from ODE were able to bring their equipment and drilling team this past weekend. They hit water at 270 ft, and plenty of it. How we praise the Lord for this provision! We can now move forward with construction, and we can provide clean water for the families in the nearby community.

* Visit our previous blog post to see photos.

As a family we enjoyed having Esther home from boarding school for her month-long spring break. Don't know if it's getting any easier to see her come and go so much, but it's become a "new normal", and we try to make the most of it when we can all be together. We were able to travel to Burundi, and visit with Jesse and Danny's families and have a little vacation. Our kids hit milestones with celebrating birthdays recently, it's a joy to see them grow! Pray for our kids as they finish up the school year, 1 in boarding school, the other 3 at home. 

Aaron, Michael and Emily doing school at home.

Saying good-bye to Esther, in Kigoma after Christmas break, 
and then in Bujumbura after spring break.

Michael turning 7, William turning 3!

Thank you for your prayers.

Blessings in Christ,

Luke and Gina Johnson

"Spring Up, O Well!"

We have a WELL at the new property! 

How we praise God for this provision. 

Our friends from ODE graciously agreed to help us by drilling a well. They brought the heavy equipment: the drill and the compressor in two separate trips on Friday. They set it all up, then drilled on Saturday. They hit water, and plenty of it! And so by Monday, it was time to pack up the equipment, take it back to their town base. They are currently scouting a new plot and ministry to bless, south of Kigoma. Thank you so much, drilling team!

With this access to water, we can begin the work of construction. We can also bless the families in the community with daily access to clean water.

The drilling team setting up their equipment.

 

The team working. Notice the neighbor kids watching!?

Don Reed, drilling.

February Update

 We thank God for his protection and constant provision. We are thankfully enjoying good health (besides a passing cold), and not being hindered in the work of the Lord, here in Tanzania. The ministries we are involved in have not slowed down, the believers are free to worship and meet together and we count it a privilege to be able to do so.

Luke is currently teaching “Bible Study Methods" at the Disciples of Jesus School. There are 7 faithful students who will study a total of 13 courses, equipping them to teach and shepherd their local churches. Please pray for these students, to study well, and learn with the intent to then teach others.

Traveling between countries has affected us, with the added requirements, but God has helped us through those hurdles. Our oldest daughter, Esther, has started studying at a boarding school in Kenya (neighboring country) for her high school years. We thank God for his provision of this lovely school for her, and the excellent teaching she is receiving. Please join us in praying for a relaxing of these added requirements and an ease to traveling.

I (Gina) continue with homeschooling with the other school age children: Emily (11 years old), Aaron (8 years old), and Michael (7 years old). It is always challenging, and tiring, but so rewarding to discovery truths together and see them grow in their knowledge and understanding. Our youngest, William, is 2 years old and loves to be at the center of everything! We would appreciate your prayers as we seek the Lord’s wisdom and patience in raising all of our children to be Godly men and women for the Lord.

Blessings in Christ,

Gina Johnson

At the Kigoma airport, watching Esther's plane take-off.

New Year Update

Dear praying friends, 

Another month has gone by since we last wrote, and a new year has begun with fresh opportunities for serving the Master.

Disciples of Jesus School

On January 10 we began a new school year with 7 new students (2 men, 3 young men, and 2 young ladies). We may get 2 more students next week, if all goes well. Please pray for a deep spiritual hunger and for steadfast commitment for each student. Pray for us as teachers as we seek to nurture them spiritually.

Homeschool and Online School

We were happy to have Esther home from boarding school for the month of December for her Christmas break. Well, she is still at home, studying online after many staff at her school in Kenya had gotten sick with Covid. The plan is for her to return on Jan 29. Gina continues to homeschool the 3 middle children. That comes with many challenges, so you can pray for all of us for patience and wisdom from God with homeschool and online schooling.

William was sick with malaria on Christmas.

We enjoyed a Christmas dinner on Boxing Day!

Pretending to be tourists in our own town.
Visiting Dr. Livingstone museum.

Back to school: Emily doing a science experiment.

Esther doing online school with RVA.

Direction for the future

As we look forward in this new year we would ask for your prayers for us. That God's Spirit would guide us and fill us with love, wisdom, and the knowledge of His will. We need His direction and empowering for our family, for the discipleship school, the new school property, evangelism and outreach, and with the many struggling churches in the region.

Thank you so much for standing with us in prayer for the Lord's work here in Western Tanzania. May the Master use you as well to accomplish His good purposes.

In Christ, Luke Jonson (for the family)

End of Year Update

Dear praying friends, 

The Disciples of Jesus School celebrated the graduation of its 9 students on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021.

Please pray that they would serve the Master with the new knowledge they have and remain faithful to Him.

Graduates 2021

We have continued to visit village churches as we are able. Luke traveled with 5 others to visit the believers at Kanoge for 4 days. There was a seminar, a wedding, a Sunday service, the recognition of 2 new elders, as well as good conversation and fellowship.

Continue to pray for the many village churches to be salt and light in their communities.

Wedding in Kanoge.

Luke has begun studying the book "True Discipleship" by William MacDonald with 5 young men from the town assembly. We have met 9 times and the discussions have been good so far. Pray for Isa, Michael, Baraka, Daudi and Amini to dedicate their lives fully to their Savior and serve Him mightily.

As a family we have made 2 visits to two different families, both who recently lost loved ones and also recently had new births in their families. It was a joy to spend time with them and seek to encourage and bless them in a small way.

Work at the Discipleship school property continues slowly. We planted a bougainvillea hedge around the fence, and have to replant where the clippings did not sprout. We are in the process of getting the power company to bring electricity to the property as well.

Pray for God's provision and direction to move forward in His time.

Finished fence and gates.

A week ago Gina and I were able to fly to Dar Es Salaam to meet up with Esther, who was returning from boarding school in Kenya for her Christmas vacation. While there we visited the US Embassy to renew Luke and Esther's passports before flying home. We are now enjoying our time with Esther during her 1 month holiday!

Family fun at the beach.

Family time at the beach.

Celebrating Esther's 15th birthday.

There are many different Christmas celebrations at the church in the coming weeks.

Pray for God's Word to bear fruit as some family members who normally don't attend church may be coming for these special events.

We thank you for your continued prayers for the Lord's work here in the Kigoma region. Most of all we thank God for his indescribable gift, as we remember His coming to earth and wrapping Himself in a human body in order to redeem us from the curse. 

Merry Christmas!

May you rejoice in Him always,

Luke and Gina Johnson

Esther, Emily, Aaron, Michael and William too.

September Update

Dear praying friends,

Since our last newsletter we made a quick trip (6 full days of driving) to Kenya and back to drop off our oldest daughter, Esther, at Rift Valley Academy. God worked a miracle regarding the required negative Covid tests which did not all come through on schedule but God made a way through the prayers of His people. Esther has started 9th. grade and is adjusting well to the academic and social life of boarding school, although we miss her here at the house. On the way back to Kigoma we stopped in at the Serengeti national park and got to see some of the african wildlife that tourists come to see. 

Pray for Esther and us as we adjust to the separation.

Saying goodbye to Esther.

Arriving at the main entrance at sunrise.

Baboon on our car while we get signed in.

Ostrich in the Serengeti.

We have recently visited 4 different churches and plan to visit another one this Sunday with the discipleship students. Luke taught a course on Christ and the Holy Spirit at the Disciples of Jesus school and we are now making preparations for graduation which will take place on Saturday Oct. 23, 2021. 

Pray for the students to serve the Lord as they return to their home churches. Pray for the spiritual growth of the assemblies of believers here.

A young student preaching.

Selling Bibles at a very discounted price.

Another exciting development, that has kept Luke extra busy, is the building of a chain link fence around the new property which was purchased to build the discipleship school. Luke has been trying to keep up with the demand of building supplies and make sure things get done right. The property is located on the edge of town with no water or electricity services. Also the road is pretty bad and you have to cross 2 small streams before a steep hill. The motorcycle has been quite useful for going out there and checking on the progress of the work. The fence is almost complete and the last gate nearly installed. Lord willing, we should finish by the end of this week. 

Pray for the Lord to be glorified through this property and that each step of its development would be completed in His time.

Installing the chain link fence.

Getting ready to install one of the side gates.

Since getting back from Kenya, Gina has been busy with homeschooling Emily, Aaron and Michael, and we have all been busy trying to potty train 2 year old William. To add to all the fun and extra business is some plumbing issues in the house which require chipping away at concrete and locating and replacing old copper pipes. But it is not all work. Luke was able to go fishing with the older kids one day and also get an old control line model airplane running. We also managed to squeeze in a date night as a couple, thanks to Grandpa and Grandma babysitting services. We are thankful for the good health that God has blessed us with lately. We are all looking forward to rainy season and saying good bye to dust and brown and hello to mud and green. Pray that we would be clean vessels, ready to be used by the Lord to accomplish His purposes.

Thank you for your prayers. They are much needed and by the power of God they make a difference. We thank the Lord for your partnership in the gospel. We thank Him for how He is using you wherever you are. May we all be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Amen.

Blessings,

Luke and Gina for the family

August Update

Dear praying friends,

Well, it’s time for a much needed newsletter/update. So here goes:

Our family greatly enjoyed a 3-month furlough to the US in early summer. It was an encouragement to meet in person with the Christians in many states. We enjoyed such lovely fellowship and yummy meals at people’s homes. We are humbled by the saints’ generosity and continued interest in the Lord’s work in Tanzania.

We are now back in Kigoma and feeling quite at home with daily power outages and inconsistent water. For almost 3 weeks we all graciously shared a flu around (possibly Covid), ending with pink eye for 4 of the kids. We thank God for his healing.

Luke has managed to make two trips to village churches in our short time back. One church we visited as a family and were greatly encouraged by their growth and genuine love. Gina has started school with 3 of the kids: Emily (6th grade), Aaron (3rd grade) and Michael 1st grade).

Now we get ready for our trip to Kenya, planning to drop off our daughter Esther, for her first year at Rift Valley Academy  Pray for a safe road trip for our family and for a smooth border crossing (Aug. 26th). Pray for Esther (9th grade) as she adjusts to a new school, and first time boarding away from home.

The 9 students at the Discipleship School faithfully continue in their studies. They recently started their last trimester of classes, looking to graduate in late October. 7 students went at dawn today with pickaxes and shovels to break ground for the fencing at the new property for the School. An exciting milestone!

Thank you for your gift received thru CMML. We great appreciate your support and prayers.

Blessings in Christ,

Luke and Gina Johnson

Back in Tanzania

We are so happy to be back in Tanzania!

But we're not quite home when the plane lands. There's a whole country to drive across, a straight line from east to west. Thankfully it's mostly paved, but that doesn't make it less dangerous.

Driving across the country. again.

Esther singing in the choir at the local church.

The kids spend most of their days outside.

Luke spends most of his days fixing something. =)

Back to school; learning about magnets.

Emily in her element, sailing on lake Tanganyika.

Luke doing what he loves: teaching God's Word.

William doing what he loves: eating!

Highlights from our time in the USA

 We arrived in New York, and were picked up at the airport by Phil Parsons. He took us straight way to CMML guest house. Mary Parsons had stocked our little kitchen with cereal, milk, bread, butter, orange juice, and even a roasted chicken! We were exhausted, so after a bowl of cereal (american cereal after 44 months!) we got the kids and ourselves to bed; we slept great that first night!

The next morning, the kids were up early and ready to explore the forest behind CMML.

That was the beginning of our 3 months in the USA. I will share via photos the highlights of our time there: traveling the east coast, then onto Phoenix and the Northwest and briefly finishing back in NJ.

We always enjoy the different seasons there are in the northern hemisphere. This time it was spring, and beginning of summer. It's refreshing to see big parks and open, clean spaces for enjoying God's creation right in the city limits. And it's so encouraging to have fellowship with God's people! Luke had many opportunities to share about the Lord's work in Tanzania. Our family returned with hearts filled to the brim (not just our suitcases!) with gratitude and with wonderful memories.

Pond near Belmar, NJ

Visiting with College friends and Aunt Carol.

Visiting with Chris and Genesis.

Cousins meeting for the first time.

Uncle Jesse teaching the kids how to safely fire a .22.

William meeting Bigfoot.

Celebrating birthdays: Aaron, William and Isaac.

A sunny day on the Oregon beach!

Briefly seeing Great Grandma and Aunt Sherry.

Pretending for a day that we were in the Swiss Alps.

Good food, quality time with cousins.

Playing in the snow!

Fishing with Daddy.

Pleasant picnics by the lake.

Learning how to balance on a floating log.

Fun in the pool.

Skating rink, a first for our kids.

Heading to the hills to beat the heat in the valley.

Great food. Maybe a bit too much!

Packing, standing in line, and exhaustion!