Friday 18 – Monday 21
The first village safari: We were sent due East from Kondoa to visit 3 villages. The first was a new Masai church at Mutanyele. It had been planted about 6 years before, in this village of about 100 people. We were met at the roadside by their choir who quickly climbed aboard and even borrowed hats as they sang us into the village. Among the children, were some boys dressed in black with white paint markings – this year’s circumcision group. They dress like that for 40 days to distinguish them so they can be honoured. The boys of a year group form a lifelong bound.
After morning tea with goat liver, we came to the baptism and healing service. We were introduced and welcomed. A young man got up and said they had stopped the Bishop when he was driving past and asked him to come to them. They needed healing and deliverance and wanted his help. He had promised to send some people to them and here we were. (Bishop Given had told us this too.)
Andrew preached giving the invitation for healing. Then Ian was asked to baptise their 8 candidates both adults and children. The first was a fine looking, young man, Yeremia, then another young man, some babies, and before long we were past 8, 15, 20 until we reached 28 people! There were only around 50 there. Apparently, Yeremia’s example made it possible for some other adults to come forward.
Then we got onto healing. With four queues formed, we prayed for about 34 people with about 25 reporting a healing. What is more, another two were baptised during the healings taking the total to 30 baptised that day! The pastor was very joyful.
Next we were asked to bless the cattleyards. These corrals of thorn bushes keep the herd and flocks safe at night. So we blessed one, then a second, then a tramp to a new house to bless it, then another five cattleyards. During this time, Yeremia told me that we were special friends because I had baptised him. He wanted me to say longer in Tanzania, so we explained I have responsibilities to my own congregation. He then said, if I came back, I should contact him and he would come to meet me in Kondoa. He also asked me to pray that might go to Bible School to learn more. Praise God! I believe this young man will be a future church leader.
Finally, we were served the goat stew and rice they had prepared for us and we left late but rejoicing for the next village where we were to stay the next two nights.
The first village safari: We were sent due East from Kondoa to visit 3 villages. The first was a new Masai church at Mutanyele. It had been planted about 6 years before, in this village of about 100 people. We were met at the roadside by their choir who quickly climbed aboard and even borrowed hats as they sang us into the village. Among the children, were some boys dressed in black with white paint markings – this year’s circumcision group. They dress like that for 40 days to distinguish them so they can be honoured. The boys of a year group form a lifelong bound.
After morning tea with goat liver, we came to the baptism and healing service. We were introduced and welcomed. A young man got up and said they had stopped the Bishop when he was driving past and asked him to come to them. They needed healing and deliverance and wanted his help. He had promised to send some people to them and here we were. (Bishop Given had told us this too.)
Andrew preached giving the invitation for healing. Then Ian was asked to baptise their 8 candidates both adults and children. The first was a fine looking, young man, Yeremia, then another young man, some babies, and before long we were past 8, 15, 20 until we reached 28 people! There were only around 50 there. Apparently, Yeremia’s example made it possible for some other adults to come forward.
Then we got onto healing. With four queues formed, we prayed for about 34 people with about 25 reporting a healing. What is more, another two were baptised during the healings taking the total to 30 baptised that day! The pastor was very joyful.
Next we were asked to bless the cattleyards. These corrals of thorn bushes keep the herd and flocks safe at night. So we blessed one, then a second, then a tramp to a new house to bless it, then another five cattleyards. During this time, Yeremia told me that we were special friends because I had baptised him. He wanted me to say longer in Tanzania, so we explained I have responsibilities to my own congregation. He then said, if I came back, I should contact him and he would come to meet me in Kondoa. He also asked me to pray that might go to Bible School to learn more. Praise God! I believe this young man will be a future church leader.
Finally, we were served the goat stew and rice they had prepared for us and we left late but rejoicing for the next village where we were to stay the next two nights.
In Mwaikisabi, Helen and I were accommodated in the Pastor’s house being given his bedroom. The rest of the team were in two rooms in another house. It was a comfortable bed. Next morning, being Sunday, we preached at Church services. Andrew, at Mwaikisabi and I at Wisuzaje – which we had visited 2 years ago. On arrival, we were taken to a Masai encampment near the village for Chai. One of the wives said to Anne, “You prayed for me last time you were here!” I preached on the end of Mark 6, encouraging them to come forward for prayer. We gave out Words of Knowledge with the following number of acknowledgements each:
Headache right temple (4)
4th Finger (0)
Lower back (4)
Right elbow (2)
Left foot (2)
Elderly man with a stick and a foot problem (2)
Headache at back of head (2)
Right Cheek (1)
Back below right shoulder (4)
Right hip (1)
Difficulty during pregnancy (3)
We all prayed for many people. I alone saw healing with these conditions: Shoulder and elbow pain (2 people); chronic pain from a boil; pain from knee to ankle; blurred eyesight with pain from crown to jaw; lower back pain.
In the afternoon, they wanted a seminar so we taught them to pray for each other. Possibly, we had used up all the sicknesses in the morning, perhaps they were too shy, but no one wanted prayer.
Meanwhile, the Masai women of the morning had invited the team plus all the local clergy to evening chai and a blessing of their cattle. When the man of the encampment arrived, Manyka, he was full of generosity. He is not an Christian but allows his wives and children to attend church. He insisted we stay for a feast and wanted to give us each a cattle skin to sleep on that we might leave after breakfast. So we were given more chai, and waited while a goat was killed and prepared for a meal. Then off the bless his cattle and another serving of liver then stew. We got away at 10pm to crash into our beds back at Mwaikisabi.
Monday – Seminar at Mwaikisabi.
Wonderfully, Manyka, turned up the seminar. He had been given a Masai megavoice audio Bible, and was either listening to the Bible or the seminar all the time. We think he is not far from the Kingdom of God.
In the seminar, I repeated the previous day’s teaching on how to pray for healing. This time, with Words of Knowledge to encourage them, we had about 30 people up for prayer and we got them to pray for each other in groups of three. At the end, 27 people claimed they were healed! We had a child there who was subject to fits (epilepsy?). As she was prayed for, she went out. After some consideration and prayer, we decided to cast out a Deaf and Dumb spirit. At that, she woke up and was able to stand up.
On the drive, back to Kondoa, we dropped the Pastor of the Masai church back to his own village and at his request blessed his church, house and family. Then we came across some Masai by the road. We recognised them and stopped – there was Yeremia and some others again. It felt like a blessed reinforcing of our relationship with them.
Tuesday 22 – Wednesday 23 Rest days.
We all had a rest on the Tuesday. Then on Wednesday, Andrew and Paul headed north back to Arusha to fly home. The rest of the team had a needed quiet day. Unfortunately, we picked up a cold and it has worked its way through the team – so rest is good.
Headache right temple (4)
4th Finger (0)
Lower back (4)
Right elbow (2)
Left foot (2)
Elderly man with a stick and a foot problem (2)
Headache at back of head (2)
Right Cheek (1)
Back below right shoulder (4)
Right hip (1)
Difficulty during pregnancy (3)
We all prayed for many people. I alone saw healing with these conditions: Shoulder and elbow pain (2 people); chronic pain from a boil; pain from knee to ankle; blurred eyesight with pain from crown to jaw; lower back pain.
In the afternoon, they wanted a seminar so we taught them to pray for each other. Possibly, we had used up all the sicknesses in the morning, perhaps they were too shy, but no one wanted prayer.
Meanwhile, the Masai women of the morning had invited the team plus all the local clergy to evening chai and a blessing of their cattle. When the man of the encampment arrived, Manyka, he was full of generosity. He is not an Christian but allows his wives and children to attend church. He insisted we stay for a feast and wanted to give us each a cattle skin to sleep on that we might leave after breakfast. So we were given more chai, and waited while a goat was killed and prepared for a meal. Then off the bless his cattle and another serving of liver then stew. We got away at 10pm to crash into our beds back at Mwaikisabi.
Monday – Seminar at Mwaikisabi.
Wonderfully, Manyka, turned up the seminar. He had been given a Masai megavoice audio Bible, and was either listening to the Bible or the seminar all the time. We think he is not far from the Kingdom of God.
In the seminar, I repeated the previous day’s teaching on how to pray for healing. This time, with Words of Knowledge to encourage them, we had about 30 people up for prayer and we got them to pray for each other in groups of three. At the end, 27 people claimed they were healed! We had a child there who was subject to fits (epilepsy?). As she was prayed for, she went out. After some consideration and prayer, we decided to cast out a Deaf and Dumb spirit. At that, she woke up and was able to stand up.
On the drive, back to Kondoa, we dropped the Pastor of the Masai church back to his own village and at his request blessed his church, house and family. Then we came across some Masai by the road. We recognised them and stopped – there was Yeremia and some others again. It felt like a blessed reinforcing of our relationship with them.
Tuesday 22 – Wednesday 23 Rest days.
We all had a rest on the Tuesday. Then on Wednesday, Andrew and Paul headed north back to Arusha to fly home. The rest of the team had a needed quiet day. Unfortunately, we picked up a cold and it has worked its way through the team – so rest is good.
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