From Tanzania

A thumb-sized cockroach scurried between my feet as I was eating breakfast. That was after we almost hit one of two giraffes who floated ghostlike across the road on our late drive back from somewhere out in the “bush” near Katesh. That was after we spent two days, during which more things seemed to go wrong than right, together with a small church and a group of local pastors in a makeshift sanctuary made out of sticks and bramble, which the big bad wolf could have blown down with less than half of a huff and a puff. That was after nine hours of driving, a good part of it with less than a perfect attitude caused by the things changing in spite diligent preparation.Leaving, they didn’t want us to, even though the box of materials somehow didn’t get there with us, even though what I taught were just the remnants I could recall off my head, even though I completely loused up a second showing of the Jesus film. Somehow they were gracious to us, genuinely grateful for us merely showing up, worshipping together, praying together, being together. So we were summoned back out of the car to eat a late night meal and sip hot tea, and were showered with a second (the first was back in the stick sanctuary) cloudburst of thanksgivings, blessings, prayers, and finally, after another hour or so, we departed dressed in gifts.Singing, it started at the end of the day, at the end of teaching my first seminar first seminar, 26 pastors lifting up their voices, echoing of concrete blocks and bare walls, followed by an explosion of prayer that ended in praying for one another. Beautiful things stand out more in humble places, Christ exalted in simplicity.Dead tired, poured out, spent, and yet feeling good, and grateful. There is deep satisfaction in being involved in divine, holy, and redemptive purposes; and to watch God take smallness, insignificance, frailty, and turn it into something more, something that affects more lives than seems possible from such insufficiency. There is something overwhelming in watching the power and presence of God take what we have and what we are and unfold himself in and through it.Together, not just being together, but working together, worshipping together, serving together. Not just with those who ride in the car with you, but with those who intercede, with those who supplied, those who cheer and can’t wait to hear, with those who share the joy of Christ and whose joy is to exalt God.To God be all glory. With love from Tanzania, Pastor Hans