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
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):
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):
To see a reenactment of Jesus' Palm Sunday ride into Jerusalem, by the children of Hope Centre Orphanage in Iganga, Uganda, click HERE.
No comments:
Post a Comment