First Few Days

Greetings from Arusha! After a day or so of rest and adjustment to East Africa time (which has gone well), Missionary Ohlmann and I visited the seminary and met many of the students, who are taking their first semester exams this week. On Tuesday we set out with Pastor Jeremia on a 2-day visit to TZ-CLC congregations and contacts to the west. These included the Masai congregation at Esilalei and various churches in the Karatu and Mbulu districts. While my main duties will be teaching here at the seminary, I will also assist in the ongoing training of our current pastors, and in the colloquy (doctrinal interview) process for pastors who may wish to join the TZ-CLC. 

At each stop we were able to meet and greet the pastors and people, and deliver an encouraging message from God's Word through a translator. Our last visit was a long 4-wheel drive trip to visit a family of the Hadzabe people, who have little outside contact and subsist on what they can gather from the wild. Missionary Ohlmann shared with them the message of the one true God, His Son, Jesus Christ, and the love shown to us by the Savior who died to take away our sins.

I am looking forward to Sunday worship at the Arusha church, where I will preach for Palm Sunday. T. Ohlmann and Lydia will be leaving on Tuesday, and then I'll have a good stretch of time to prepare for seminary classes. I have a comfortable room for the time being, and will be looking at options for long-term housing. I am thankful to our LORD for a good beginning here so far, and appreciate the many prayers from you all back home! 

"Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD;
We have blessed you from the house of the LORD." Psalm 118:26

PHOTOS (click to enlarge):

My first visit to the Wittenberg Seminary

Long travels by Land Rover

The Masai congregation at Esilalei

The congregation at Qaru village

Lydia Ohlmann with Bible pictures at Qaru

Visit to the Hadzabe people

Arrival

Greetings from Arusha, Tanzania! I arrived safely yesterday after a long but smooth trip. I was met by Pastor Jeremia and Missionary Todd Ohlmann, who will be here for another week. We have much to do while he's here. We meet the Wittenberg seminary students today, then run a number of errands. Tomorrow it's off to visit various TZ-CLC districts and outreach contacts, returning late Wednesday night.

The seminary students will soon be on their Easter break, and my teaching duties begin with their second semester on April 17. Meanwhile I have comfortable temporary accommodations, and will be looking at options for a long-term rental home. 

As I was leaving I was overwhelmed by the loving support of fellow believers in the CLC-USA. I appreciate the many prayers - Thank you! It's good to have easy and open communication with loved ones back home. All the preparations here will be of great benefit when Paula joins me here in August.

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Ps. 136:1

T. Ohlmann, his daughter Lydia, and Pastor Jeremia

March 12 Commissioning Service at Messiah

Yesterday was my commissioning service at Messiah. It was inspiring to have hundreds of fellow believers present, and many fellow clergymen participating in the service. Messiah's children sang, as well as the adult choir. A reception followed (thanks, Lynette and others). Paula and I are grateful for all the planning and preparation for this sacred send-off!

The children sang an English and Swahili version of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" - video HERE.

Pastor Nathanael Mayhew delivered an inspiring sermon - video HERE.

The rite of commissioning - video HERE.

A letter from Michael Gondwe, academic dean of the seminary in Tanzania, is HERE.

Traveling Missionary Todd Ohlmann presented an overview of CLC overseas missions, with a focus on the work in Tanzania - video HERE.

A new and excellent CLC Board of Missions video on our Tanzanian efforts is HERE.

Our entire family (except for Pastor Stefan Sonnenfeld) was also present.