You Are Blessed to be a Blessing

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Mike

Mike and I are now enjoying the cool, comfort of our home. We planned a five-day backpack fishing trip into one of the wild areas of northern Pennsylvania. Mike has fished for native trout here since the late 1970’s. I wanted to go there one more time before leaving for Africa.

 We decided to hike into a new spot this year.  It was high and flat. We passed through areas that included bog meadows and plenty of rocks. Both combinations perfect habitat for the rare wildflower known as Pink Lady’s-Slipper and for the Timber Rattlesnake. The one we were glad to see, the other we were hoping not to.

The flower was a pleasant surprise. What a delicate, lovely flower! One has to ask why God put such a beautiful flower in a place where most people will not likely see. The following day, I was hauling wood.  I was on the trail not far from our campsite when I heard a “buzz” and turned. Behind me was one of God’s most fascinating and feared creatures. It was a decent sized rattlesnake in the “black phase”.  Thankfully I did not panic. Mike later asked me did I notice the head. No, I had been fixated on the tail.

We have been pondering this experience.  Once again we are reminded that God is with us everywhere we go, no matter where we go. He is in the mountains of our state and He is in the faraway place of Tanzania. How thankful we are for His constant abiding presence! Joann

Today we went back to the county Health Department. We have a couple more shots to get before we move to Tanzania. I was there to get the meningitis vaccine. The lady said “your’s will be free because the lot has almost expired and we will not be able to use it all !” Mike was there to get his Hepatitis B vaccine. His cost $62! Joann

 No we have not changed our destination!  But if you are like me, you had to be reminded that Egypt is an African country too.

Maybe you have not been following the current news coming out of Egypt. But did you know that our Christian faith has several ties to Egypt?

Did you know that Jesus lived in Egypt? Remember when Herod was killing the male children two years of age and under? He wanted the King of the Jews DEAD! Joseph was warned in a dream to take his family and flee to Egypt.

Do you remember that Jacob and his 12 sons also lived in Egypt? They joined their brother Joseph who was in power there. For generations they prospered and lived in peace.  After Pharaoh died, another ruler came to power who HATED the Israelites. They were ENSLAVED. Then God called Moses to lead them out to the Promised Land.

Most importantly it was in Egypt the way of salvation was revealed. “When I see the BLOOD, I will pass over you.” Exodus 12:13. Blood on the door post SAVED the Israelites from the angel of death.  “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”  Hebrews 9:14.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” I Peter 1:3. Yes Easter is a celebration of life. But Easter is also a celebration of our security in Christ and our freedom from the bondage of sin! Joann

Sometimes I think are you really helping us God?

Yet I strive to pray daily that God would put love in our hearts for the people of Tanzania.

 I marvel at how difficult it is to pick up the phone to call and ask for appointments with people to share in a vision that has an eternal impact.

Yet I strive to pray daily that we will be fluent in Swahili so we can understand the values, hurts, fears, and world views of the people of Tanzania.

 I wonder sometimes if there are enough partners who have a heart to be part of fulfilling the great commission.

Yet I strive to pray daily that God will unite our team in Tanzania so that we may do great things to glorify God and that Satan would be bound from causing discord among the team.

 I think who am I that God would give me a part to play in His eternal plan?

Yet I read Revelation 7:9-10 “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.  And they cried out in a loud voice:  “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.” and get goose bumps thinking about having a part in fulfilling that scripture.

Faith is not the absence of doubt, but rather refusing to surrender to doubt by living as though what you believe in, is a reality long before it will ever be realized.

Yet this is always easier to proclaim than to live out.

That is why we have God’s Word, the Holy Spirit, prayer and the body of believers. Mike

This is a good 3 and half minute video clip that summarizes the work in Tanzania.

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)

 Bless God in what we say and do. Glorify God in everything we do. Brag about God all day long.

What if we lived like that? Seeing everything we do as an opportunity to speak good about God. We would burst if we could not say something good about God. That somehow no matter what subject we were speaking on we had to say something about the wonders of God.                         WHAT IF……. WE REALLY LIVED THAT WAY.

What if we thought this way? We have every thing we need. We are blessed with all we need. We are given all that we could possibly ever need. We already have more than we can ever use. We have the confidence that we lack nothing in Christ.
 WHAT IF…… WE REALLY THOUGHT THIS WAY?

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Ephesians1:3) Mike

I’m sitting at my computer. I have Arusha time and temperature on my screen. It is 8:35 pm Friday and 91 degrees there! It is 12:35 pm Friday and 29 degrees here. Wow! Our lives will be so different.

Africa is on my mind more and more these days. Also I think of our team. It is amazing how God has brought us all together. We come from so many different backgrounds-there are teachers and preachers, businessmen and nurses, builders and electrician. We come from Oregon, Colorado, Indiana and Pennsylvania.

Each one brings their unique gifts and abilities. And we all come together for the sole purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission of Christ in the way He has called us. Our team also includes some very special children-Jack, Savannah, Wesley, Meghan, Morgan, Oleg, Heidi and Wyatt. Thinking of you.  Joann