In November, I (Michael) got to meet and serve some amazing people, as I traveled from Mozambique to Tanzania to work with our co-workers and receive further consultant training.
First I worked with our Tanzanian team, which now consists of seven families. It was really encouraging to see our first team member there reach what we call “capable-high” in language and culture. This does not mean that he is done with his lifelong learning of how to love the Tanzanian people in a way that they will understand can move forward. It just means that this learning will take place in the context of other jobs, like teaching and discipleship. The other families there are also doing a great job of moving towards this goal as well.
After these evaluations, I had the privilege of going, for the third time, to a consultant training course which was hosted by the Highlands camp in the beautiful Morogoro mountains (see attached picture). The Lord brought together an amazing group of people to lead and take the course. I was challenged and encouraged as I rubbed shoulders with believers from other countries and cultures. I wish you could have met the lady who is reaching out to her Somali people with the truth, or the wonderful person who nurtured us into her South Sudanese world for 10 hours of “real practice,” or the young man from Zanzibar who is living against the tide of over 97% of the people who practice the dominant Middle Eastern religion.
This time I not only led a table group but also did some up front teaching. Together we studied how to be “growing participators” in the many people groups around the world. We looked at God’s plan to fill the earth with the knowledge of his glory and how these people groups are domains of God’s redemptive activity.
After five and a half weeks away from home, I returned on Thanksgiving Day, thankful to have been able to do the work I had done and thankful to once again be home with the family.
P.S. I while in Tanzania I also got to go on a Safari. Check out the pictures on the photos page.