Fulfilling the Vision in Dar es Salaam

By Joan, Dan, Priya, Julie, Patrick, Andrea, Mary, and kids, Tanzania

Activated. With the vision of activating Dar es Salaam, we asked the Lord for new methods of how to get the job done. As the Word says, "Activated is a way of life," and that's what we try to live. We also seek Him for new and fresh ways daily to fulfill the vision. One of the ideas that He gave us was to go through our stacks of business cards we had gathered over the years, and try to visit or contact each person with an offer for Activated. With this as our goal, we stepped out by faith. Since then we have had a number of Activated subscriptions added to our Activated readers list, who have given wonderful reactions to how this magazine has changed their lives. In turn, many of these people have decided to fund our work and become monthly supporters.

If all the Home's vehicles are being used but another team needs to go to town, we've found that hitchhiking works very well, as there is a lack of public transportation here. The Lord showed us to not only witness to those who give us rides, but specifically to present the Activated mags as well, and this has proved very fruitful, as there are usually several teams hitchhiking daily. Many wealthy people live in our area, and we have met potential and important people through hitchhiking.

Through this avenue we have also met people who later became supporters of our work. While hitchhiking to our follow-up appointment with our one-year-old, we met the Chief Executive Officer of one of the main transport companies at the Dar es Salaam International Airport. After talking with him on the way to our appointment, he offered his help and the next week gave us a very generous donation. We also met the chairperson of one of the Rotary Clubs this way, and through him we were invited to their next meeting and presented our work to all there.

Another time we met a lady from the Congo who has a designer clothes shop. She gave a donation for an Activated magazine, and prayed with us to receive the Lord. While waiting to get the bus after we were dropped off, another lady pulled out of the shop and offered us a ride. On the way to town we found that she owns a travel agency and that she was the sister of the lady we had just met. She asked us what we did and we began to tell her about our lives as missionaries.

This lady went on to explain that most of her family are Christians but she wasn't, as she didn't know what it would mean; if she would have to give up everything, and mainly that she was scared about what they had told her about the Endtime. All throughout our ride we talked to her about what the Endtime is really all about, and how the Lord will care for His own. At the end of the ride she was encouraged and thanked us for everything. We took out our Activated kit and explained to her what it was about and that an employee of hers was also subscribed. She said "Oh really, could I buy them all?" She bought twelve magazines! Since then she has bought quite a few of our products and loves them.

There are a variety of people who read the Activated mags and books and love our products, and are coming closer to us and the Family––these are local government officials and their wives, wives of the African diplomatic community, those from the local business community, and professionals such as lawyers, doctors, teachers, etc. There are also those from the local foreign community who love Activated, such as a doctor from Cuba and his wife and family, a French Canadian lady, some embassy personnel and many more.

People often visit and fellowship with us. It has been a real key for them to "come and see," as they love to interact with our children and see the sample in our Home. It's always a highlight of our week when people come over, and we try as much as possible to put a lot into it.

We are also involved in follow-up, and visit people in their homes and offices. We take our older children as partners, which is good for their training as missionaries, as they learn about the local people, customs, and culture.

Local magazines: The Lord has arranged two local magazines to include articles from us about our work and projects and this has borne great fruit.

We received an e-mail from a lady who wanted to present funds to the orphanage we work with. She is from England and only spent two weeks in Dar es Salaam on a visit. When we asked her how she found out about us, she said that as she was reading one of these magazines in her office, the article about us stood out to her, and immediately she was driven to do something about it. The end result was a large yearly donation!

Another man mailed us a letter saying that he too wants to support the orphanage after having read the article. Other people have offered their time and talents to help the orphanage.

Personal witnessing: Each week a team goes personal witnessing at the university, and the number of souls won per day has increased up to 90. Our OC, JETT, and teens' example of boldness and conviction for what they believe has been a big part in winning the many lost souls in the university. One young man commented, "I can see that you have faith in what you are telling me, you speak with boldness!" This has encouraged our young people to want to win many more to the Lord! During our time here, we have met and witnessed to students in the colleges and university, some have completed the 12 Foundation Stones course and are progressing.

Health: A private dentist has given us free dental care a few times a week and that is a big blessing not only for us, as a few people had dental needs, but also for the 100 children at the orphanage of our CTP. There are also sweet local doctors who help us with free medical assistance for the children at the orphanage and medical camps in the rural areas. They also help us personally, which is a big blessing.

Working with other NGOs: Recently, we met a man who arranged a donation of over US$2,000 towards a water pump for the orphanage. Originally we had planned to approach him to help with a monthly pledge, but after asking the Lord, He indicated that He had a different plan. Although it was a step of faith to not ask this man for financial help but to instead ask him to help with the pump, the Lord gave us the faith to do so, and this man agreed to it right away, even though he hadn't been to the orphanage! He then directed us to another man, who installed the pump for us.

After talking to the man who'd installed the pump, we found out he was the director of an NGO, and installing pumps was just a part of their income structure. They have been very sweet and offered their help in whatever way they could. Besides the pump, they have helped with goods and thousands of pens for our office and the orphanages. Shortly afterwards, on a follow-up visit with the man who'd paid for the pump, he indicated that he loves helping but has been afraid of helping the wrong people, or of someone running off with the money. He said that because of the way we approached him to not help us directly but to channel his help to the orphanage, he has gained confidence and is more than willing to continue to help our projects. He is also sponsoring 1,500 chickens for the project.

We had proof of the blessing of faithfulness with our CTP, as we received an e-mail from a man who wanted to come see the orphanage and check out the possibilities of his daughter coming to volunteer for a few months. This man had only been in the country for a few weeks and would be returning to the States shortly. Upon meeting the man and asking where he had heard about us, he explained that while talking with a friend about his daughters' desire to volunteer, the friend had told him about us. He'd said that we were a nice group with little bureaucracy, and that when money is given, it is put directly into the project.

We're not quite sure who it was that referred him to us, but we sure are thankful for how the Lord has helped us build a good standard with our work. Trust has been an important factor in winning the local community.

We are thrilled to be in Dar es Salaam, and thankful for all the miracles the Lord is doing for us in helping us reach the people here for Him!