Salama, friends,

Over the past several months, I’ve been teaching a course at a high school downtown. Schools are required to offer a “dini” (religion) course to all students. Then, the students choose whether they will attend the Christian, Muslim, Hindu, etc. dini course. Obviously, just because a student chooses to be in my Protestant Christianity dini course does not mean they are a true believer, as I’ve been finding out this semester.

The students (upper level high schoolers) and I have been having a great time together. Among other things, we’ve been going through a number of passages as we explore how to know and follow the will of God.  This last week, I asked the students what their main goal in life was, and many responded to get rich, get a well paying job, things of this sort. I then shared with them from God’s Word what He said His purpose/will was for them. We have lively discussions and interactive elements which the students always enjoy since typically most of their teachers just talk at them for the whole time.

One thing I’ve enjoyed in getting to know the students is how very relational they are. They can’t stand not to talk to each other. When I break them into small groups to discuss an issue, the volume in the room gets so loud I need to stand outside.

Also, it was interesting that when I asked them what are the main ways we can know God’s will, instead of saying the Bible, or through prayer or godly counselors, they said things like miracles, dreams, and sensing the spirits. Each week I try to share the Gospel, since I believe many of these will go onto positions of leadership and they may well not yet know Christ.

This term will be coming to a close within the next month or so, and I’m thankful for the chance to share with and learn from these young minds. May God use them to help shape Tanzania into a God-fearing nation! Pressing on, Eric