All Aboard!

For some personal insights into missionary life in Tanzania, see the latest installment of Paula Naumann's journal HERE.

February 28 marks the first day that all of our 10 students are present together at Wittenberg Lutheran Seminary in Arusha, Tanzania. We have four Evangelism students (1-year program) and six seminary students (3-year program). One of our evangelism students began classes quite late, and is working overtime to get caught up. Also, sometimes our other students have been absent for a time, for a family funeral or other necessary responsibilities at home. Here is the entire group; we are thankful to our LORD that our students are finally "All aboard"! 

L-R: Pastor Jeremia Issangya, Pastor Robert Loskira, Emanuel Boniphace, Dennis Musakali, Eubank Elijah, Marko Sapuro, Jacob Masya, Elinaja Bayo, Godfrey Mzoo, Jasper Musakali, Raphael Kinyaga, Missionary Bruce Naumann, Brian Mtika

The purpose of our seminary is to train men to call out "All aboard!" with the Gospel of Christ crucified for sinners. We are also developing an evangelism tool for that purpose with the "Jesus Film" outreach project. This is a 2-hour movie about the life of Jesus, with the script taken entirely from the Gospel of Luke. Versions are available in more than 2,000 languages, including Swahili and Maasai. 

On Saturday evening, February 24, we used a battery-powered projector and outdoor screen to present the "Jesus Film" to about 100 people in the Maasai village of Mbuyuni, some of whom were Muslims. This provided a good welcome to the community, with a Gospel sermon by Pastor Robert Loskira after the film and an invitation to find out more about Jesus through our sister church there. We hope to offer this same program to many congregations in the TCLC, and also perhaps in Kenya and Uganda. We are developing a follow-up Bible study on the Gospel of Luke in both English and Swahili. This would be an aid for local pastors to begin a weekly Bible study after showing the film. Paula and I spent the night in the village, in the guest room of one of Pastor Loskira's neighbors. The next morning I was the guest speaker for the worship service in Mbuyuni. Here are some photos (click to enlarge), and links to some video clips:

Arrival - Pastor Loskira and daughter Angel outside the partially-completed church.

Waiting for sundown - Paula and some local children

Learning about the life of Christ during the "Jesus Film"

Sunday worship, with a sermon on "The Poor Man and RICH Lazarus"

Video Clips:

• Pastor Robert leading the Saturday gathering in song following the Jesus film, click HERE
• The Mbuyuni ladies' choir at Sunday worship, click HERE
• The Mbuyuni children's choir at Sunday worship, click HERE
• Close of the Sunday sermon - TLH #429 vs 3 with Swahili translation, click HERE
• Mrs. Rachel Loskira demonstrates how Africans carry water, click HERE
• Pastor Robert's son Onesimus, our junior seminary student, singing "Listen! God is Calling" in Swahili, click HERE

It's a great blessing from our LORD to be able to train men for a lifetime of service in proclaiming all of God's true Word. It's also very exciting to be able to assist the pastors in our fellowship, with creative outreach tools, in their work of calling out "All aboard!" to the people in their communities. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to effectively call many hearts to Christ through these efforts!

 "I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth." Isaiah 49:6

One Door Closes, Another Opens

Acts 16:6-10 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

It may well have been perplexing for Paul and his companions to make plans for spreading the Gospel in Asia and Bithynia, only to be overruled by God's Holy Spirit. But when these doors were closed to them, they later saw that God had opened an important door to Macedonia instead. It was an open door that proved to be very fruitful for Jesus' kingdom! 

Our recent trip to Kenya and Uganda, January 26 to February 5, was met with many doors that seemed closed to us. Todd Ohlmann and Joel Krafft had to cancel portions of their trip due to visa holdups at the Liberian embassy. Teacher Ted Quade couldn't make the trip at all due to a very bad knee. Pastor Jeremia Issangya had to cancel because he was recovering from an illness. Even our driver had to leave us because his mother was hospitalized (though he provided an excellent substitute). Mission Board Chairman Joel Krafft injured his knee and hobbled through the week.  But God also opened many great doors during our visits, in spite of numerous setbacks. 

The two travelers

After meeting up in Nairobi, our travels first took us to Moi's Bridge, Kenya. There we were met by the headmistress of Emmaus School, Mary Sagala. On Sunday we joined in worship with Holy Cross Lutheran Church, which is on the campus of Emmaus School. [click to enlarge photos]:

Worship at Holy Cross in Moi's Bridge, Kenya

Joel Krafft addresses the children at Holy Cross

A video clip of a service hymn is HERE.

On Monday we were able to meet with Mary and the school staff, and we enjoyed presentations by the school children. We discussed a number of items of interest to the CLC Kinship Committee, which coordinates support for the school.

The children of Emmaus School in Moi's Bridge, Kenya

You may see video clips from their presentation HERE and HERE.

The staff of Emmaus School in Moi's Bridge, Kenya

Also on Monday we were the guests of Pastor Calvin Luvisha at his home in nearby Kitale. A number of the members of his church, St. Peter's Lutheran, were also present. We made plans for St. Peter's future cooperation with the leadership of the CLCK in Etago.

Pastor Calvin Luvisha (center) and some members of St. Peter's in Kitale

Tuesday was a travel day to Iganga, Uganda. We were met by Pastor Daniel Mugeni. We had a day-long pastoral conference at Pastor Mugeni's church on Wednesday, with eight in attendance including Joel Krafft and myself. This was in important gathering, since the formation of the Church of the Lutheran Confession in Uganda is still in its early stages. There was lively discussion, and all agreed that the next conference should be longer than a single day.

L to R: Absolom, Norman, J. Krafft, Milton, Wilberforce, Tanas, B. Naumann, Daniel Mugeni

Our day-long conference at Pastor Mugeni's church in Iganga, Uganda

We were given a tour of the Mugeni home, which is also the location of the "Hope Centre Uganda" orphanage which they operate. Besides the children of Pastor Daniel and his wife, Ida, they feed and house 20 orphaned children, while also raising them in the nurture and admonition of the LORD. 

The children of the "Hope Centre" Orphanage at the Mugeni home in Iganga

You may see a clip of the children singing HERE.
Pastor and Mrs. Mugeni with a message of thanks is HERE.

After another travel day on Thursday, we arrived in Kisii, Kenya which is near the small village of Etago. Friday found us at St. David's academy in Etago, which has an enrollment of 147 students in PreK though grade 6. We conferred with the headmaster and teachers about the operation of the school, and its religious curriculum in particular. 

The children of St. David's Academy - see a video clip HERE.

The teaching staff of St. David's Academy

Elder Pius, Pastor Fred, Pastor Enosh, B.N. and J.K.

On Saturday we met again with the CLCK leadership, Pastors Fred and Enosh, and Elder Joshua. Our focus was on the current activities and future opportunities for the churches of the CLCK. We also met with a new contact, Pastor Peter Ombogo, who leads an independent Lutheran church in Kisii. It was good for him to meet the pastors of the CLCK.

We traveled about an hour to reach the countryside CLCK church in Chotororo and to join them for worship. After a lunch at the home of Pastor Fred, we got back on the road for the long ride to Nairobi.

Worship at the Chotororo church - about 20 were present

Pastor Francis was the liturgist, and I preached on "The Poor Man and Rich Lazarus"

Pastor Fred, his wife Eunice, and their daughter. Their son Eubank (not pictured) is
a student at Wittenberg Seminary in Arusha, Tanzania. 

I am grateful for the opportunity to get to know our Kenyan and Ugandan brothers and sisters better, and to encourage them in their work for our Lord's kingdom. It was also very beneficial to have Pastor Paul Nolting of Valentine, NE in Arusha during my absence. He taught at the seminary, which was much appreciated by the students. See their brief note of thanks in the video clip HERE.

In short, there were many things about this trip that did NOT go as planned, that is, according to OUR plans. We are confident that everything did, in fact, go according to the plans of our gracious God, and we pray for His continued guidance and blessing for all our endeavors!

"A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9