A Triumphant Procession

By the grace of God, Paula and I arrived safely at our home in Arusha, Tanzania on Monday, August 21. It was a long trip! We drove to Chicago for our flight of 14 hours to Ethiopia. After a layover we had a 3-hour flight to Kilimanjaro airport in Tanzania. Pastor Jeremia picked us up for the last leg, which normally is about a 45-minute drive.

Packed into Pastor Jeremia's little SUV

On this day, though, the journey took much longer. We, along with all the other drivers, were waved to the side of the road by the police. We waited there, on that hot afternoon, for a good long time. The reason was that a motorcade was coming for the president of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Tanzanian presidential motorcade on Himo Road

At long last the flashing lead cars flew by, followed by several presidential SUVs and many other staff cars. Finally, after about 90 minutes of roadside waiting, we finished our journey to our Tanzanian home:

Since arriving, we have gotten used to the time change, and have made quite a few improvements to our home. We are within walking distance of most things that we need, and are looking at other transportation options. Meanwhile, classes at the Wittenberg Seminary have resumed:

Seminary teacher Robert Loskira, and student Godfrey, Marko, and Jasper

When I told the seminary students about our experience with the presidential motorcade, it brought to mind the much greater and more glorious procession that Paul described:

Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession! (2 Cor. 2:14)

I told the students that they should expect to be “sidelined,” as far as the world is concerned, as they go forward proclaiming Jesus as the only Savior. That takes nothing away, though, from the true glory of serving people with the Gospel message of the crucified and risen Christ!

It’s perfectly proper for us to wait on the side of the road for the president to pass. After all, the Bible tells us to “Fear God. Honor the king.” (1 Peter 2:9) But even when we’re outwardly on the sidelines, we are always proceeding on the path with Jesus that leads to eternal life, as we gladly point out that path to others.

Paula has received an especially warm welcome from the seminary students, as well as all the members of Ambureni parish, where we attended church yesterday:

View from the front door of the Ambureni church, following worship services

Pastor Jeremia, Bruce and Paula Naumann, 

and seminary student (and preacher) Jasper Musakali

We are looking forward to many more of God's blessings here among the people of the TCLC!