(In the above photo: “Nazareth” is standing beside the Chimala School of Preaching sign in one of the class buildings.)
This is written on our last night in Chimala, Tanzania. We will attend the 7:30 am devotional at the School of Preaching where Simba will speak and then finish up our duties. We will have an early lunch and then drive to Mbye where Simba, Gif, Cheryl, Bill, Cindi and I will board a flight to Darr es Salaam. We will stay in the Darr airport until we check in and board the flight to Amsterdam at 11:00 pm. Bill and Cindi will go with us as they begin their return to Texas. They will begin flying in Darr and not overnight until they arrive in Texas—a very long day for sure!
Today we visited more of the Chimala Mission compound. Carol Rogers showed us the sewing room that she and Richard have helped establish. This is where students are being taught sewing and hopefully will be able to earn money as tailor’s as they graduate from the Bible School. They were able to buy 4 new sewing machines for the class with funds donated for the project. There was also a new iron that is coal heated—the top opens and you put coals into the space and the iron is heated.
And now the highlight of the day for me…In one of today’s meetings we met with three brothers about the registration of the School of Preaching. Two of these had graduated from the School of Preaching in 1955 and have been active in preaching throughout the region. As introductions were being made, one said to me, “There is word that has spread that in your group you have a man named ‘Lion’ and that his name is in Swahili. Tell me is this so?” I then stepped back and said, “It is true and here is ‘Simba’.” So now our group of three is renown throughout the region as the group with one named “Lion.” With this much interest in Simba I am sure that Gif and I can leverage some advantage.
A note from Gif…“I am notorious for being someone who hates meetings. Why should we sit and listen for hours to one person talk when I could read it in an email in a few minutes? I have always appreciated the mantra, “We have meetings because one of us is not as dumb as all of us.” Naturally then, you would think I would have hated the last 24 hours because we’ve had 4 different meetings with the promise of more tomorrow. However, these have been quite enjoyable. We have learned a ton of information and really started fulfilling the purpose of our trip to Chimala. I think the fact that everyone in these meetings is concerned above all with saving souls is what makes them much easier to bear. So here I sit ready for bed actually looking forward to more meetings tomorrow. But don’t ask me for any meetings when we get home – email will do just fine.”
A note from Simba…“It’s been almost a week since we arrived here at Chimala Mission. It has been a wonderful experience and I’ve enjoyed the relationships I’ve made with the people here. The Tanzanian people are so kind, and their love for the Lord is evident. I’ve enjoyed spending time in worship with Howell and Mary as we visited a few different congregations of the church around the area. Using a translator was a new experience for me, but it was encouraging to see the people interest in God’s Word. We’ve been blessed attended the daily chapel of the preaching school every morning as they allowed each of us to speak a different day. I look forward to telling the stories about all of our experiences here, and I hope to one day see these good Tanzanian people again, whether here or in heaven.”
There is a Photo Gallery of our Tanzania trip available! Go to the Missions web site and click on the top button that says “Tanzania” and scroll down to the photos. By clicking on the first photo you will begin a slideshow. Or click this link and then go to the first photo: https://www.kachelman.com/ukraine/blog/tanzania/
Continue to pray for us as we continue in this mission. I’m not sure exactly when I will be able to send another report…the next 3 days are going to be a blur!
John L. Kachelman, Jr.
