March 2015 Newsletter
The intense, blustery winds of these months preceding the long rainy season in East Africa also seem to represent the level of activity of TCC workers trying to finally get TCC’s birthing center open. From the state-of-the-art delivery bed donated by the generous folks at Compassion Now (CA) to the lovely hand-made cloth diapers and moms’ bags, plus babies’ knitted caps made by women at Sylvan Hills Church of Christ (AR), to the medicines and supplies bought locally, all is in readiness. Lacking is only one more staff nurse-midwife that will be placed at TCC by the Tanzanian government at the earliest possible time. Even announcements are ready to be posted in public places as soon as TCC can start delivering those precious little ones. Below we are including a picture of Mariam, one of the TZ government midwives that will deliver babies at TCC.
Mariam, new nurse midwife at TCC
Besides intense work on the Labor and Delivery ward, the construction of Alpha Omega Christian Secondary School (AOCSS) located adjacent to the clinic continues at a rapid pace. Also, we are pleased to welcome Janet and Fielden Allison, who have served over forty years as missionaries in Africa. Janet will serve as headmistress (principal) and Fielden will be a faculty member for the new school. We are honored and blessed to have the Allisons at Monduli. Being constructed are a dormitory, faculty duplexes, and classrooms to accommodate 80 students. Building a secondary school in Africa can be compared to constructing a college since housing, administration, dining areas, and classrooms must be provided for headmaster, faculty, and boarding students.
Construction of faculty housing at Alpha Omega Christian Secondary School
Yet, all this activity would be in vain were it not for several people coming to Jesus. Five with whom we had worked made Jesus their Lord and were baptized into Him from January to March, and one became a Christian right before we returned to TZ. Some of these are pictured, including a Bible study with pretty Upendo and brave Sailepo, one of our Maasai guards (in red, in front of baptistery) who a few years ago protected us by killing a leopard lurking behind the guest house! Thanks for praying for them.
A group from the nearby mountain village stop
in to introduce two new Christians (in red).
Home Bible study with Upendo (left) and Mary (center).
Sailepo, a nightwatchman at TCC, ready to be born again.
Other visitors were a 5-6’ fat, black forest cobra one of the other bold Maasai guards discovered, and a hyena found wandering at night near our bedroom window by Phlebie, our fearless German Shepherd. Needless to say, both were given a “special” welcome. But we were thrilled that Judy and James Cook, nurse practitioner and son (AR) came to help hold a very busy mobile clinic at Mto wa Mbu, as well as a men’s seminar at the Monduli Juu congregation. Soon afterward arrived Ralph and Twyla Williams (TN), who have been in Tanzania before and returned for 3 months to share Jesus while creating a water harvesting and delivery system for clinic and school. In addition, we happily welcomed Sammi Lewis, a nurse practitioner (GA) who worked clinic and Bible studies. Also Michael, a medical student from Denmark, helped out in the clinic.
Projects Abroad volunteers Michael from Denmark and Sammi from Georgia.
Amazed at the doors God is opening, we praise Him for the Kingdom growth in East Africa. We are humbled to get to play a part like a “little stone” mentioned in the conversation between Jesus and Peter. But it is certain that Kingdom growth in Monduli is occurring because “Mungu anajenga”(God is building) His eternal structure on the bedrock stone of Jesus, His beloved, unique, and only Son.
With love and thanks for all your help,
Danny and Nancy Smelser