A Simple Sign, a Greater Purpose

We continue to remember the people in Nepal who are suffering in the wake of devasting flash floods, including many of our own HCLCN members. For Missionary Ohlmann's recent report, click HERE.

 In this blog I write mostly about the work we do. If you'd like to get some insights about our daily life here in Tanzania, see Paula's journal entry for August HERE.

A new sign for the AECT and Wittenberg: Among other recent improvements to our church and seminary property, made possible by contributions to the CLC MDF, we were blessed to install a sign outside the gate of our property. It's a simple thing, but we pray that our Lord will use this sign for his kingdom work:

• It is meant to catch the attention of our community for our Lutheran church and seminary, but the sign itself is not the destination. It's meant to point people to Jesus, for “We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 4:5
  
  
• In the same way that our sign makes the church and seminary more visible, it reminds us that Jesus calls His people to live visibly -- not for our own glory, but so that others may see God at work. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
  
  
• Our sign is a simple invitation, the same one that Philip told Nathanael concerning Jesus, "Come and see!" John 1:46 We pray that people will find here the saving message that Jesus entrusts to his disciples of all time: "That repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations," (Luke 24:47), and "Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth." John 17:17

A few recent photos (click to enlarge):

From time to time we visit retired Pastor Lengutai at his home. L to R: Prof. Thobias Mbise, AECT Chairman Jeremia Issangya, grandson of Pastor Lengutai, Pastor Lengutai, Pastor/Prof. Robert Loskira

Children of Pastor/Prof. Robert and Rachel Loskira: Angel, Zipporah, Innocent, and Onesimo

The front yard of the church and seminary was recently renovated to include a small soccer pitch for the students. Pictured: the winning team of the first "Wittenberg Cup" round-robin tournament

See a video of the winning goal in the championship game HERE.

Wittenberg students at lunch, grateful for the baked treats and beet pickles that Paula made them

Our twelve Wittenberg Seminary students completed the 2nd of 3 trimesters last week, and they are now on their September break. Please include in your prayers our upcoming visit to Kenya. Paula and I will travel by bus to visit our sister churches of the Kenya Church of the Lutheran Confession (KCLC), as well as outreach contacts, from September 3-15. We ask our Lord for safe travel, growth in grace and knowledge for our KCLC pastors and members, and fruitful discussions with a number of pastors and churches who have expressed interest in our fellowship. In all things, dear Lord, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done!"

FOR MORE CLC Foreign Missions News,

See Missionary Todd Ohlmann's blog HERE

Partners in the Gospel

In this blog I write mostly about the work we do. If you'd like to get some insights about our daily life here in Tanzania, see Paula's journal entry for June/July HERE.

"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now." Philippians 1:3-5

Greetings from Tanzania! It was a busy June in the U.S. Paula, our grandson Elijah, and I visited CLC congregations for preaching and presentations about what we are all doing together in East Africa. We visited our churches in Sister Lakes, MI, Sioux Falls, SD, Rapid City, SD, Loveland, CO, Valentine, NE and Eau Claire, WI. Before and after the CLC Convention we were able to catch up with our children and grandchildren before returning to our work here in East Africa.

Upon our return we were privileged to partner up with Mission Board member Jeff Radichel and his wife, Sarah. The four of us, along with our translator, were the Tanzania Mission Helper team. We traveled far and wide among the churches of the Augsburg Evangelical Church in Tanzania (AECT), as well as to some orphanages and public schools. We taught Bible lessons about the real Jesus and sang Christian songs in Swahili. So many of the people here know something about Jesus, without knowing the true Gospel of His full and free payment for all sins. Our prayer is that both the children and adults who heard our message were drawn to the cross as sinners who are fully forgiven in Christ. We especially ask our Lord to open the hearts of the many Muslim children who heard this message!

For a detailed account of the Mission Helper travels in Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia see the 2026 MHT blog HERE. A few photos from are own travels are below. Since that time our 12 students at Wittenberg Seminary are continuing their studies here near Arusha, Tanzania. It is heartening for us to be Gospel partners with our brothers and sisters here, and to know that our fellow CLC members in the USA are also participating with us in this blessed work through your prayers and support!

[click any image below to enlarge]

At Pastor Bayo's congregation in Karatu

Gembe Lutheran, near the Hadzabe tribe in a remote area

At Gembe the worship service featured 6 baptisms, and worship with the Lord's Supper

At Sana Orphanage, near Wittenberg Seminary

We gave gift bags to the children: coloring pencils and a Bible story coloring book

Matala Primary School near Himo

Ambureni Primary school, near Wittenberg Seminary

Mothers with their small children at Faraja Women's Development Center, where Paula serves as a volunteer

At the Maasai village of Mbuyuni, where Wittenberg teacher Robert Loskira is pastor

The Wittenberg Seminary choir, during a worship service at Ambureni Parish

For some video clips of our MHT travels click HERE

FOR MORE CLC Foreign Missions News,

See Missionary Todd Ohlmann's blog HERE

Leaving All to "Fish" for Jesus

In this blog I write mostly about the work we do. If you'd like to get some insights about our daily life here in Tanzania, see Paula's journal entry for April HERE.

"Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Immediately they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4:19-20)

Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John were successful fishermen by trade. They possessed boats and nets, and even had hired help for the family business. They had homes and relatives, and we know that Peter was married. Yet at the call of Jesus, they left everything and began a 3-year training course led by the master Teacher and Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. When the Lord called on them to "follow Me," they saw in this their opportunity to gain a better treasure than earthly gain. They may not have realized it at the time, but this path would take them on the the dark road to Jesus' cross, to the bright victory of His resurrection, and to the gracious outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. From there they would embark on careers to "make disciples of all nations," which would take them on their own journey from cross to crown.

This call and journey is shared by the students at Wittenberg seminary who are heeding Jesus' invitation to "follow Me" into service as pastors in Tanzania and Kenya. Some are barely high school graduates, others have wives and children, but all are preparing to take life's journey from cross to crown, in service to the Savior who served them first. God willing, they will cast the net of the Gospel of the crucified and risen Christ in order to "catch" men, women, and children for the kingdom of God. Their net will be the message of God's saving grace, as found in His inspired Holy Scriptures. Please pray for them as they learn of the Savior and His Word in order to cast this net in a lifetime of public ministry!

4 of our 12 students: Felix, Mathayo, Vincent, and Peter

For brief biographies of Wittenberg's future "fishers of men," with photos, click HERE.

Some other recent photos:

Students and faculty of Wittenberg Seminary, April 2026 (absent: faculty member R. Loskira)

Student choir at Ambureni Sunday worship

To see a brief video of singing during Ambureni worship, click HERE.

Loading up the Rav4 to move Robert Loskira's family back to the Maasai village of Mbuyuni (he'll continue to teach at the seminary)

The Loskiras (and some extended family) at their Maasai home

Paula and I are preparing to return to the U.S. for the month of June; we'll visit family and I'll attend the CLC Convention. We're also taking a western trip to give missions presentations at the following CLC churches. If you're in the area, we'll look forward to seeing you!

• Friday, June 5 - Devotion and presentation at Berea, Sioux Falls, SD
• Sunday, June 7 - Preaching and presentation at Good Shepherd, Rapid City, SD
• Sunday, June 14 - Preaching and presentation at Joint Mission Festival hosted by Prince of Peace, Loveland, CO
• Monday, June 15 -  Devotion and presentation at Grace, Valentine, NE
• Saturday/Sunday, June 20-21 - Preaching and presentation at Messiah, Eau Claire, WI

We appreciate your prayers for safe travel and fruitful fellowship, as we share the exciting news of what our Lord is accomplishing here in East Africa!

FOR MORE CLC Foreign Missions News,

See Missionary Todd Ohlmann's blog HERE

Easter's Last Laugh

In this blog I write mostly about the work we do. If you'd like to get some insights about our daily life here in Tanzania, see Paula's journal entry for March HERE.

"The last enemy to be destroyed is death." 1 Corinthians 15:26

To hear the hyena's eerie laugh, click HERE.

In her memoir about life in Africa, author Karen Blixen describes the hyena in this way: "The hyena, Fisi, is the one who has the last laugh. He is the scavenger of the world, and he knows that in the end, everything comes to him. He waits in the shadows of the night, and his laugh is the sound of one who knows the ultimate truth: that all pride, all beauty, and all strength must eventually fall to the earth and be claimed by him." Yes, people often laugh at Fisi's ugly and ungainly looks, but his powerful jaws are always there to crunch the bones of the fallen. In this way he is the same type of symbol that we associate with the Grim Reaper, Death himself.

Death certainly appears to have the last laugh in this world. God told Adam "You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Gen. 3:19). Moses wrote in Psalm 90, "The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away." No doubt Death and the Devil were rejoicing when Jesus, the Son of God, gave up his spirit on Calvary's cross. But Death and the Devil did not laugh last! Jesus came forth bodily from the grave, to live in glory forever. Our own hearts are now filled with sacred laughter, for "Our Savior, Christ Jesus...has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel." 2 Timothy 1:10

Your brothers and sisters in Christ here in East Africa share the joy of Jesus' resurrection with you! See the Easter photos below, as well some other updates. Mungu awabariki msimu huu wa Pasaka!- May God bless you this Easter season!

Easter worship in Tanzania (click any photo to enlarge):

Mbuyuni Parish - A Maasai village where Robert Loskira is pastor - banner by Paula

I sang a Swahili version of "Christ is Arisen" to open the service at Ambureni; the video clip is HERE. Translation of final verse: "Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Sorrow is past! Joy has arrived! Christ is alive!"

Easter worship at Ambureni church, which is attached to Wittenberg Seminary. To see a brief video clip of Pastor Jeremia preaching the Easter sermon, click HERE.

Recent and ongoing improvements to the Seminary facility, made possible through the CLC Mission Development Fund (MDF):

Members of Ambureni Lutheran Church in front of the completed facility wall, funded by the congregation

To see a reenactment of Jesus' Palm Sunday ride into Jerusalem, by the children of Hope Centre Orphanage in Iganga, Uganda, click HERE.

FOR MORE CLC Foreign Missions News,

See Missionary Todd Ohlmann's blog HERE

The Word of the LORD Grows

In this blog I write mostly about the work we do. If you'd like to get some insights about our daily life here in Tanzania, see Paula's journal entry for February HERE.

The book of the Bible known as the "Acts of the Apostles" is actually about the acts of the Holy Spirit, through the power of the Word of God. Beginning with the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost and continuing with the growth of the early church, key points are marked by the same idea: "The Word of God spread..." Acts 6:7; "The Word of God grew and multiplied..." Acts 12:24; "The Word of God grew mightily and prevailed..." Acts 19:20. 

We see the same gifts of the Spirit, working through God's Word, in our U.S. and overseas congregations and missions. Here in Tanzania, we have been blessed with sudden growth at Wittenberg seminary, with the expectation that God's Word will be multiplied through the men who are training for the ministry. At our November 2025 graduation there were 6 men enrolled, and now at the beginning of the 2026 term we are instructing 15 students! There are, of course, accompanying growing pains with the need for additional textbooks, meals, dormitory rooms, beds, classroom furnishings, and washrooms. These needs are being met with generous support from the CLC MDF and Kinship sponsorship. 

The new seminary school year began with retired Pastor P.D. Nolting serving as guest professor during my absence due to travel in Kenya (see the previous blog post HERE). Upon my return, the annual TCLC Pastoral Conference was held here in Arusha. About 40 men attended, and we heard presentations by Pastor Nolting, seminary teachers Robert Loskira and Thobias Mbise, and TCLC President Jeremia Issangya. As always, the conference was a great benefit for everyone involved.

Since that time our students have settled into their schedule of classes, Monday through Friday from 8 am to 1:30 pm, with plenty of homework to fill the afternoon and evening hours. We continue to pray that here, as well as wherever the true Gospel of the crucified and Christ is preached, the Word of the Lord will grow and multiply by God's grace!

[Click to enlarge]

TCLC Pastoral Conference attendees, January of 2026

Pastor Paul Nolting, presenting to the conference

Conference Communion worship service

Student body and faculty of Wittenberg Seminary, February 2026

A brief video, introducing most of our students
(with Pastor Nolting) is HERE.

Wittenberg opening devotions

With so many students, the main classroom is now in the church sanctuary (Thobias Mbise teaching)

One additional, special student is Christof Tillmann, a native of Germany whom I met at a local restaurant. He recently returned to the Christian faith and is eager for the Gospel and his studies here.

Occasionally I take the students on an outing. On February 20 we walked about 1.5 miles from the seminary to see Mangalia Falls

I invite your prayers as I prepare to visit our brothers and sisters in the CCRU - Confessional Church of the Reformation in Uganda. God willing I'll be flying to Kampala for a week including pastoral conference and congregational visits there. "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you." 2 Thessalonians 3:1

FOR MORE CLC Foreign Missions News,

See Missionary Todd Ohlmann's blog HERE