In cross-cultural work, it is inevitable that there are highs and lows, challenges and successes, victories and confusion. At times when we are struggling and confused, God sees it and offers just the right help in the perfect way at the right time.

As my Tanzania training time continued (from last blog), after passing through Dar I flew early in the morning to Mbeya to continue working with an established group, offering them workshop 4. However, right out of the starting gate the challenges began. I was informed by the coordinator that the first day of the training was cancelled, and no reason was given. The next day I showed up at the church and only six of the 18 original trainers were present. I was told that this is a bad time of the year for training since all pastors are out on their “shambas” (farms) doing work. I wish I would have known. In addition, the workshop had not been translated into Swahili, despite the fact that I had given the coordinator a laptop for that purpose. None of the trainers had completed the required “pre-assignment.” Also, no food had been arranged, so the training that day was cut short. While we could not do the planned Salvation Story workshop, we redeemed the time by studying the book of Jude together. The next day, the coordinator did not show up, and only four pastors were present. The fourth (and last) day I received a text saying the training had been cancelled, and the coordinator was unreachable. I showed up at the church anyway, and some of the pastors came as well, all of us equally in the dark, but we continued our study of Jude. The absence of the coordinator, absence of communication, lack of any explanation, poor preparation, all boded poorly for the continuation of the network. Although I’m quite used to ambiguity and details changing, I was disappointed that this network may not continue due to lack of adequate coordination and communication.

Perhaps the Lord knew I was down, because when I flew back to Dar,  God had two dear Tanzanian pastor friends of mine, Greyson and Michael, meet me at the airport. They are both very encouraging and spoke wisdom regarding the Mbeya struggles. I went with Michael to his village a couple hours outside Dar, and the next morning I preached in his church. In a primarily Muslim community, it was an encouragement to see a solid Christian church like a beacon of light in a dark place. During the service, a small girl (Yasini) who lives next door but whose parents are Muslims came in to our service, marched all the way to the front where I was sitting, and climbed into my lap like I was her daddy. It kind of surprised me since that doesn’t usually happen, but she seemed very comfortable with the arrangement, and my heart was encouraged as I remembered my own precious daughter and the days when as a little girl she’d sit in my lap during church services.  While I preached Yasini sat in my chair, and then after I finished and sat down, she promptly climbed back in my lap. I prayed that the Lord would save little Yasini.

Later that afternoon, in talking more with Michael and Greyson, they shared that the way the coordinator from Mbeya acted was not normal, and there likely was some problem with him that will lead to the network dissolving. The role of the coordinator is so significant in our Pathways trainings, and where we have a strong, healthy coordinator, the network flourishes. But the converse is also true. So I will entrust all to the Lord, and strive to faithfully minister to those He has given me.

So by God’s grace I will press on in the work He’s called me to do, weathering the discouragements and the encouragements, with eyes fixed on the Lord and gratitude for the opportunity to serve Him.