Dear Cherished Interested’s,                                                                                                     October 24^th 2024

Hilda has had over ten days of a bug.  Wisely she took antibiotic we acquired here where self-care is required and there are no legal impediments to such care.  She sounded not only better as she went to sleep Tuesday night Colorado, but very nearly great.  This at about 4 AM my time Tanzania.                  She has weathered well, in spite of illness, several long days and two very late evenings of Parent teacher conferences.  She met many parents, even a few she really needed to meet.

Thank You for the time and effort to pray for us.

One of our editor/translators is now in school.  She is in her thirties and this hoped for Music degree will be the second following History.  She is starting from zero with music except for a remarkable gift of pitch and sensitivity to parts in choral arrangement which pours out in her singing.  About an hour before dark last night she was here singing the TZ national anthem into my ear so I could get the tune and timing into my computer.  This for an assignment ahead. 

This is something you have done by praying too.  Thank you

-------------------------------------

Thank you all of you who have continued to give.  I am thankful.  We did not know what to plan for.  We only sought not to leave anything unused in what we have been brought into and through by God and your praying to use even people like us.  I know many of my fellows at home would not approve of the skin of our teeth serving wherever we are.

In fact, I don’t approve entirely either, but I am still learning.  Learning that tomorrow brings more than I can do and yet, God does everything I am supposed to be part of anyway.  I only get to participate and watch.

Like children’s choir at church..  Too many littles to count..  Not a single microphone among them and yet they filled the Cathedral with sound like the grown up choir often doesn’t.  Can’t wait until they come to English service again.

Like new local ones coming to English Service.  Young little ones coming with other young little ones and caring for younger little ones with them.  Somehow choosing not to be afraid of me, even without Hilda.  Then sitting in the same pew so I can help guide them through worship.

Right now just the simple goodness of fresh hot cooked food lovingly prepared by the same chef who three years ago would leave her kitchen, come outside and help me learn the various abbreviations of Swahili names for the books of the Bible.  Hilda told them I was supposed to be fat when I get back to America..  Most often, I don’t eat supper because no one is around and I have already eaten enough before Hilda’s minions depart.    

Like bringing the occasional literally starving student to eat with us during the day.

Your prayer does things like this too.  Thank you.

------------------------------------

Last messages are now within the capable efforts of the editor-translators.  Hoping to have the help of some of those desperate and fearful with regards printing house that supports servants of God’s people.  We’ll see. 

Also need help here with some other issues regarding funds owed this tyrant who trusted.  Hoping to turn those debts over to a more remote mountain church near to and related to the borrowers.  That church is striving to do entrepreneurial enterprise to feed widows, shut-ins, and support educations.

Please pray, I can’t take credit for success but must strive.  You do your part please, it is amazing how willing God is to hear you.  Thank you.

Closing Africa house and returning to Hilda I pray will be easy, no matter how impossibly hard.   Deserting the loved ones there/here is extremely painful.  Perhaps, with today’s tech, it won’t be as complete a desertion as it was in the past.  We’ll see if there is interest here for connection in the face of perceived rejection. 

Long way to go, still..  Your prayer deeply sought for this work too.  Thank You.

------------------------------------

Keep our feet to the fire, please.  Thank You!

We may live dangerously, but we are alive.  Thank you for praying us the courage to live this way, if dangerously.  We don’t see it that way.

-------------------------------

You who read and pray and suffer along with us.  Please believe what we get to see.  Thank you for praying our strength and guidance for each moment with each face.   Folks like you are beyond precious. 

vwilliamson@sprynet.com

Really blessed while deeply under attack..  all of it is spiritual..  I wish I could teach that to everyone so they could truly know it.  I didn’t know it for far too long. 

Please keep crumpling us up and throwing us at God.  That is where we need to be.  God will sort us out.

One day at a time.  Just like how you each live.  Just one day at a time. 

Thank you, each of you.

                -------------------------------------------------------

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?.. 

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 our health to stay ahead of whatever is before us –

For each and every one of you –

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

Prayers, Your Prayer, Even your groaning prayers 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