Anita and I send our greetings from Tanzania and hope that this short report finds you healthy and busy in your labor for the Lord.
I’m a little late getting this report out as our in-laws came to see the work and experience the beauty of Tanzania. We have enjoyed watching our nieces' reaction to the culture and their interaction with the Tanzanians. They are fortunate to have been exposed to such a different way of life and we are grateful that we are part of a memory that we hope they will cherish for life.
I finally finished the Arusha Bible School work islands for the new resource room. Jessica McVeigh and Tiffany Gaines did a great job of getting everything organized and set up. We hope that local congregations will take advantage of this valuable source of written and visual bible material. You can see some pictures on our Tanzania Missions Facebook page.
Our next edition of the TEAM Magazine is shaping up nicely. Most writers have already submitted their work and Charles Heberth and I will soon begin our editing and translation work. The TEAM magazine reaches thousands of souls in East Africa and is a great tool for edification and evangelism.
GREAT NEWS!!!
You might recall that in our last report that we made a request for contributors to assist the Andrew Connally School of Preaching in paying for some very nice video equipment that was offered to us at a deep discount. We also requested help for the remaining funds that we need to finish the planned ACSOP recording studio. Shortly after we sent out the letter I received word that some generous brethren have covered the remaining balance of the camera equipment!! We thank God for such a wonderful blessing. In addition to the camera equipment we have also received several contributions toward finishing the studio. We could use another $3000 to wrap it up and get busy producing material specific to our East African culture. If you know anyone that could lend us a hand perhaps you could forward them this email or put in a good word for us - thanks in advance for so doing.
Anita is primed and ready for her exegesis class on 1st Peter coming up in a few days. She has really put a lot into learning how to properly exegete the scriptures and, from all accounts, is really helping the more spiritually mature Tanzanian women learn to do the same. If you have never taken the time to learn the basics of biblical exegesis let me encourage you to reserve some time to do so. It is very hard work but is worth every headache you may get from the mental exercise. There are so many treasures waiting for all of us in God’s endless biblical mine; so, dig in and enjoy the spiritual growth and fulfillment that’s waiting for you to discover.
Nester and Esther, our close friends, recently welcomed their daughter into the world. Nesta Hochdorf Naduwangi made her grand entrance on March 11, 2014 and weighed 11lbs. Nester and Esther payed Anita and I a great honor by including our surname as one of her names. We solicit your prayers that she will grow up healthy and enjoy the benefit of living in a Christian home.
As I close I want to share a quote with you from a book I am finishing up. As Christians we sometimes fall into the trap of being influenced by the world into thinking that we are less than what we really are. I hope this snippet will encourage you as it has me.
…We believe we are just fat, ugly creatures who will never grow beyond what we are now, when God knows He created us to be something else entirely. A lot of the time, we simply look at our circumstances and replay the negative messages in our heads that tell us we are failures, we don’t measure up, we will never be good enough.
What we have to do is purposely retrain our thoughts to line up with what God has already said is true. You are what God says you are. You can accomplish what God says you can accomplish. You have the same spirit in you that raised Christ from the dead. This is the life-changing Holy Spirit who lets you talk one on one with the Creator of the universe, the Lover of your soul, the Alpha and Omega. Meanwhile, Satan desires to destroy you with lies—lies from which, as Jesus said, the truth will set you free. Do you want to be free from the emotional distress that consumes you?
…The truth is that if you have accepted Christ as your Savior [and put Him on through baptism, Rom. 6:3-4, SH.] you are forgiven, pure, holy, and lovely before God.1
As God's children let us do our best to reflect the joy, comfort, and hope that is ours through Christ that we may positively influence the society around us.
Until next time, take care and God bless,
Sean and Anita
1Nelson, Tommy; Leavitt, Steve (2012-10-01). Walking on Water When You Feel Like You're Drowning: Finding Hope in Life's Darkest Moments (Kindle Locations 1252-1263). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.