Dear Cherished Interested’s, February 27th 2022

Bible study at Silverleaf Academy is more like a midweek Sunday school or afternoon recess. 2:20 pm local western time for two Thursdays now Hilda and I have been on the large green in front of the primary school within easy sight and sound of the main office. There little ones are brought by teachers to hear from such as us. They come single file.

Last week they came cautiously. They came looking up at me, someone they have all waved and yelled happily at from afar, and carefully punched my outstretched fist. This week was all smiles, some getting a run-up before trying to knock my fist out of the park.

Last week it was the first day and the creation of light. We had them cup their hands tightly then look inside to see the darkness. Then had them lift a finger to let light leak into those cupped hands. We were then able to talk about how strong light is and how nothing darkness is. How light is strong, always wipes out darkness, and reveals everything we get to see. How darkness is lazy revealing only itself, nothing. Then we walked, about half of the school, 125-ish littles, single file sort of with them following hand signals they could see from my raised hands. We walked around the campus to see what light revealed to our eyes. Yes God knew what he was doing when inventing light first.

This week it was water being separated; what was above from what was below and dry land and water each in its place. I introduced someone else they all know from walking campus twice a week to observe classes, someone they all wave and yell hello happily at. I introduced Science Teacher Hilda to talk at an elemental level about where water is found outside them and inside them. Then we tried another campus walk but the noise level was too high to go among the classes. We went towards the dining hall away from the classes crossing water courses getting quiet to listen and watch. Then next to the dining hall where local farmers hands have cut irrigation trough’s we stopped to see what light and water together can do. That, of course, is grow food.

Two Sundays now we have had a Sunday School on Campus too. All ages, all littles, all boarding students both boys and girls, about 40 total, plus some keepers. We get help with Sunday School from a couple 13-14 year old boys and their slightly younger sister, last week. The younger of the two boys has been in TZ his entire life so is fluent in Swahili, Meru and English. He also shares words in Spanish with Hilda as we travel in a car from place to place. He stands with me in front and translates my English on the fly, stone cold on the fly with no prep, as the message for the littles comes to me from the scheduled readings.

Silverleaf boarding students get their time of teaching and lots of song, almost all their strong-hearted and full-throated doing. Hilda and I just get to watch most, Hilda leads some. They get a blessing then..

We drive up the hill to The Children’s Village and do it again with the littles living there, another 40-ish.

Something put on me from no where but God to do is to leave helpers in charge of the littles up at The Children’s Village, take my amazing young translator out to where the Mama’s are doing laundry for all those 40 kids and give a more adult message just for the Mama’s. Last week I sang a prayer/blessing setting I wrote several years ago for them. This week they sang “On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand” in Swahili to me. I was able to read out from Numbers 7: 23-25-ish that most ancient of blessings we all hear in service. This week I read it out in Swahili.

Full Sundays indeed. Then yesterday morning, Saturday, I got a call from Reverend Dr. Justin of the Cathedral in Usa River asking me to preach at 7:am for the English service today. We made it in spite of car trouble. We made a new Taxi driving friend, a rare woman who joined us at each Sunday school participating, helped us locate a full bottle of stove gas for the home of our helpers, and treated us and our helpers like gold. Her number is in my phone.

The house still has issues. The thoroughly paid for little truck has issues. We still have health struggles. There are demands out of nowhere like another Pastor I’ve written about before who brought to our door last night, Saturday night, a document in Tanzanian English and needed the logger to rewrite it into North American / European / standard English. He departed happy. We have another supper invite sometime. I am also trusted with his PHD Thesis too..

Blows ones mind. These folks who have only each other and the likes of us and are eager and thankful.

I wish everyone such company. Company of folks who have oversize beds made for you, oversize mosquito nets too. Folks who cook a huge meal for you after letting you take their children to help teach Sunday school. Folks who send you home in their own car so you can rest, they insist. Folks who know you will come day or night when called. Folks who won’t think twice when the need is there.

Folks who don’t care what you look like, what languages you speak or don’t speak, what school you have or haven’t attended. They only care that you care. Unbelievably that’s enough.

Please keep it up! Your prayers are breath-takingly effective. Your hearts are touching our Heavenly Fathers heart and I can’t be more overwhelmed with humility and deep deep gratitude.

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What to Pray for:

Our armed forces families, our leadership, our people, whole world round, all of Gods kids -

All the tough and blessing expressed above –

The love of folks –

Whatever is on your hearts and minds for us –

For our children and grand-children who miss us.. we miss them too.. for the Army family on the move..

For Makumira Secondary School looking to share stories and partner in some way with a foreign school, Great leaders, teachers, students, programs, strong backs, minds, and hearts –

For that person to write with my dear friend Reverend Dr. Justin Mungure -

For our health to stay ahead of whatever is before us –

For a way for us to invest with our experience and even financially in support of local industrious people so we can afford to stay and continue to make a difference one face at a time –

For those who have braved the donate button to discover Kajun Crofton, our daughter who helps getting each one of your donations to us and every blogpost to where you can read it -

For each and every one of you –

Each and every one of your prayers, your precious conversations with God –

Prayers, Your Prayer, makes all the difference..

Vern W

May Life be as Music to your Heart - May Music be as Heart to your Life 

- May Heart be as Life to your Music -

Dear Cherished Interested’s,

Different computer.. Mine is flying to the UK late this week for re-repair. Taken by willing hands traveling there.

A child was taken back to the hospital last night. This dear one has been having a very difficult post-tonsillectomy. Poorly prescribed pharmaceuticals leading to becoming unconscious and unresponsive midweek and a long night for all involved. Being prayed over by someone who scared her deeply, not me.

Beyond a CT Scan scheduled for today, I don’t know details from last night as I was intentionally left uncalled with the intention that I sleep.

Well, why write about a sick child? Why write about a driver who got partially crushed by the bus?

Firstly, you folks are praying ones. That is the biggest reason to include you.

It has been a rougher week than most.

Second is to explain how there was a timely blessing as part of these very recent and difficult events.

That is the arrival of Hilda’s little truck. I got it to the house determined to never drive here after dark.

I was almost in bed, in the dark, when the midweek call came about the child. It was a long night on some unfamiliar roads after dark with a good used but unfamiliar vehicle. Driving on the left not on the right.

The truck paid for itself the first night it was here. Then got loaned out to a family we work with whose car was unavailable. The truck was in the right place for another medical transport on Saturday. One of the drivers got pinned while working on the bus, thankfully the sternum was missed but broke a clavicle and dislocated a shoulder.

That imperfect little truck has mechanical/electrical issues but has been perfectly placed for two events that make its expense seem as nothing. It also has four doors. Four doors that I can get through and get seated beyond. Not everyone’s struggle but limits my options some. It also comes with good people.

It comes from a local family of gearheads. Gearheads who didn’t want to let the truck go but needed to so the owning son could keep his business going and get a smaller city car for his wife. The former owner’s father and I spent a morning comfortably talking about important things, even hard important things. This we did while the truck and another needed vehicle were worked on by the former owner’s brother. Yet another Islamic family who are glad we are here, glad we read scripture, glad we bought the truck, glad to consider us.. trusted.. friends.

A vital member of the vital inside team at the Children’s Village and beyond is heading to the UK this week. There was a death in the family there that needs time. While that member is gone, my imperfect efforts will be in higher demand.

A Teacher at Silverleaf Academy brought her two young children to our door so they could meet us. The people/staff of this Academy want Hilda and I to start a Sunday School. It may be on Saturdays. It may include the Islamic children too as Friday is their important day leaving them free for Saturday. We’ll see.

The best part in all this is we made ourselves visible. We made ourselves available. They had time to get to know us. All of the staff has gotten to know us not just the teachers. The littles who board on site have decided we are to be waved and smiled at. They chose to ask us. It is their idea.

The Spirit has been and is at work, we just need to say yes. When I tell them that the science teacher, they’ve seen active on campus taught Sunday School for 30 years, jaws drop. Again, that is longer than most folks here have been alive, 30 years is older than many get.

Yesterday, Sunday, we went to English service down in Usa River at the Cathedral. Then we drove up the hill to Nkoaranga and went to a Ki-Meru language service with three teenagers, born locally, adopted or in process together now as the children of a diverse family. A family glad for us to go to church with their children.

One of the boys is the one I stood up for at his Baptism and Confirmation those first couple weeks here. Children who have survived things no children should. Children who have been loved softly and firmly enough to trust again. Children whose survival comes with joy and empathy that lovingly, at times laughingly, comes out. It is unconscious for them. They can’t help it.

There is another introduction to make. Reverend Doctor Justin Mungure is a recent graduate with his PHD in Hebrew from Tumaini University at Makumira. He runs the Cathedral and leads the English service. He’s been aware of, helped and included me/us since my first Sunday here when he was given the unfortunate job of translating Bishop’s sermon on the fly for two old folks from the U.S.

He was scheduled to return to Germany to complete his PHD there but COVID changed that. COVID also took away his pen-pals, friends. He sat in our living/dining room this week Friday and decided to trust us enough to ask that there might be someone reading this who would like to communicate with a Tanzanian Pastor. A highly educated Tanzanian Pastor whose linguistic ability includes English, but is not limited by it, I would add.

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What to Pray for:

All the tough and blessing expressed above –

The love of folks –

Whatever is on your hearts and minds for us –

A beloved Mentor at home whose lifelong cousin companion co-mission-ary and brother in Christ went home Friday a week ago –

For our children and grand-children who miss us.. we miss them too.. for the Army family on the move..

For Makumira Secondary School looking to share stories and partner in some way with a foreign school, Great leaders, teachers, students, programs, strong backs, minds, and hearts –

For that person to write with my dear friend Reverend Dr. Justin Mungure -

For each and every one of you –

Each and every one of your prayers, your precious conversations with God –

Prayers, Your Prayer, makes all the difference..

Vern W

May Life be as Music to your Heart - May Music be as Heart to your Life 

- May Heart be as Life to your Music -

Dear Cherished Interested,
Computer is back!

We found an affordable, unsold from the Emirates, computer too so we each have one.

There is an English language service at the Lutheran Cathedral in Usa River not too far away. It has been a pleasant respite for two Sundays now. I haven’t had to preach, though I understand that it is my responsibility and my joy to talk about and proclaim Jesus Christ and all the intricate intimate and public ways God loves.

So far we are the only native English speakers there. Reverend Dr. Justin Mungure heads the Cathedral staff. His PHD is in Biblical Hebrew but his demeanor is kind, very kind and inclusive.

Since last posting we have gotten a fan. A fan. Simple but profound blessing that I understand makes no sense in the context of winter north of the equator as faced by so many of you.

We also have hot water, or cold water, but not both except in one sink just outside the shower room. The Shower room is the same size as the room with the western toilet. It has a tiled floor and walls up five feet or so. So is the room with the toilet.

An electrician came by motorbike replaced half a dozen outlets and got the hot water tank working. More work to do and he insisted he would be back to do it. The kitchen sink and the shower mixer faucets only flow water from what should be the hot water supply. Turn on what should be cold water supply and nothing comes.

So, we turn on the hot water tank and wait for it to heat up. Timing has been everything until very recently because wait too long and even the dribble from the shower head will scald. A fixer(Fundi) from the Children’s Village came down and got some cold water supply to function.

Another plumber came by motorbike a couple days ago and in spite of no common language he and I communicated well. Seeing and showing problems is universal. That and I know the word for crazy now and it fits this houses water supply issues.

There is a spigot in the shower room beneath the cold water supply intended for filling buckets and tubs. Since the fundi from the Children’s Village came down that spigot flows water, cold water. Logically the shower should too but it doesn’t. No matter.. we have a bucket. The dribbling outfall of scalding hot from the shower falls just six inches from the bucket fill spigot. Perfect! One bucket to blend then pour over your head.

Nearly heaven in an instant. Silly, but so very true.

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Hilda is head to toe drying up sores. Those mosquito bites got infected. Then she reacted to the antibiotic. All swelling is down. She is nearly off all meds. She took only part of one day to rest. She is amazing.

I am thankful that the computer died at just the right time for her NOT to be on it all the time while sick. She couldn’t work at home. That is except for observing classrooms and going to meetings here at Silverleaf Academy where the house is.

She could borrow a computer up at the Children’s Village and work lesson plans and dialogues for translation up there. So that she did, around meetings there whenever she was there. Which is whenever she isn’t here. Yes busy..

Basically, it’s complicated, three NGO’s(two mature one just forming up) the churches, several families, lots of dear ones have us at their disposal and believe it or not are glad for it. God is. God does. Us lucky ones get to see.

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I am ashamed to admit that we have help with the house. Heriheti has less English than I have Swahili. My brain is miserably slow yet I am eternally thankful for every miserly word it holds on to. I get to ask about her children and how she is too. She answers but never stops moving.

One of the grown ones aged like our children insisted we get help from Heriheti. That dear one who sent us Heriheti was right. She comes starting this week 2 times a week on the days Hilda is scheduled to be on campus where the house is. We thought she was coming to help with laundry, an old school process of tubs of suds and hands, but she also moves and mops and makes certain everything is spotless. She also finds and brings us good fresh eggs, free range of course.

Later we learned that we are the reason her children are now in school. The help is huge. The result for a young family bursts me.

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This week while up at the Children’s Village a young indispensable teacher came to find me reading scripture in a quiet place. He was very glad to find me reading scripture. He sat with me and then with a huge smile said he needed to tell me something.

He wanted to tell me what the people in the community had decided. Decided, that is, after seeing me at funerals of both Lutherans and Catholics. Decided, after seeing me driving Pastors in their vehicles, driving pastors vehicles. Decided, after me walking and daring to greet glances with what few words and kind gestures I can muster.

He wanted to tell me that the folks, of the mountain on which The Children’s Village is built, have decided that I am good to have around. That I have come not to be a problem but instead to be a help. This quiet, capable, teacher bubbled as he told me.

Like most he calls me Babu(grandfather). He knows and doesn’t care that I am a Christian. This indispensable one who calls me grandfather is not a Christian but Islamic.

Scripture is as scripture does? Or, is The Spirit ever stirring among any who long to talk with God and serve his littles, even the grown ones. Maybe both?

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YES! Your praying efforts show! I pray I can let you see through mere words..

Thankfulness for what you have read thus far –

Thankfulness for Visa’s granted, without us visiting the office, by the head of office before leaving on vacation, certified in writing by the head of office in his own hand, a hand all others including local police know and pay attention too, certified by head of office with a portion of the cost waived –

Thankfulness for Our Children who served and are serving in the Armed Forces who gave us a Navy Federal Account. Thankful that Navy Federal has gotten some money shifted from the U.S. to Tanzania for us –

Thankful for the wheels those shillings will bring to us, hopefully this next week –

Thankfulness for Heriheti –

Thankfulness for Hilda –

For our children and grandchildren who miss us.. we miss them too –

For our children’s helps.. you mean the world to us –

For the Army family moving assignment from Georgia to Colorado in this winter -

For everyone everywhere with winter –

We pray you have some of our heat –

We are thankful for the rain –

Thankfulness for teachers who care more for people than religious barriers –

Thankfulness for busy-ness –

For Makumira Lutheran Secondary school and her students, teachers and helpers –

For Silverleaf Academy and her students, teachers and helpers -

For The Children’s Village, her many faces, hands and hearts –

For whatever is on your hearts and minds for us -

For each and every one of you –

Each and every one of your prayers too -

Thank you, Thank You, Thank You.. Prayers, your prayer, makes all the difference..

Vern W

May Life be as Music to your Heart - May Music be as Heart to your Life 

- May Heart be as Life to your Music -