November Update

Dear praying friends and family,

We are thankful for all that the team from the US was able to accomplish in September. They did all the electrical wiring for the workshop and the office block out at the new discipleship school property.

Soon after that our family drove to Kenya to be with our daughters Esther and Emily for their midterm break from Rift Valley Academy (RVA). We were able to spend a lovely extended weekend together, including a boat trip to an island to see animals, a national park, a fancy pool and some eating out. We were thankful to hear of God’s Spirit working on campus during RVA’s spiritual emphasis week. As a result, our daughter Emily decided to be baptized, and this took place at the end of term (November).

Here in Kigoma we have been able to visit a few people in their homes. I (Luke) went to visit an old Muslim man (Mr. Nyamweru) who I witnessed to and read the New Testament with. I had not seen Nyamweru in a while and he would often come to our house. I decided to go to his house and when I arrived his wife told me he had died 5 days before. It was a sober reminder to make the most of every opportunity we have with unbelievers. I was able to read the Scriptures with them and talk with the wife and son and another old man about the importance of knowing where we will go when we die, and that Jesus is the only one who can give us that assurance. Please pray for the family’s salvation as they are all Muslim. As a family we were also able to visit and Aroni and Prisca, a young couple from our church who just had their firstborn son. It was a nice time of fellowship.

At the beginning of November we were able to visit the village church of Kalinkungwe. We took 2 young men from the town church. We were disappointed to see a decrease in number but we were able to share some gifts with them and encourage them after the service to press on in the Lord’s work and to be consistent in meeting together. This coming Sunday (Dec. 3) we plan to visit the village church at Ilagala. Pray for God to raise up faithful elders who will fulfill their calling of shepherding the flock. Pray for safety on the roads as we travel and that we won’t get stuck as there has been a LOT of rain for the past month or so.

In the middle of November we were able to host, along with the Kinlaws (our CMML coworkers) the youth from the Gungu town church. There were about 20 of them and we had a time of games, singing, and a message, followed by snacks. We plan to meet again with them this Friday (Dec. 1). Pray for their spiritual growth and that they would have a desire to serve the Lord.

Esther and Emily made it back home safely from boarding school on Sat. Nov. 25. We are so happy to have our girls back for the whole month of December. We plan to celebrate Esther and Gina’s birthdays, go to the beach for swimming and fishing, go on some hikes and runs together, and of course decorate for and celebrate Christmas together. 

We are making preparations for a new year of studies at the Disciples of Jesus school. We have sent out most invitations to the village churches and we are getting the new schedule made up. I (Luke) have been working on the desks for the Discipleship school as the old desk legs kept breaking. I had 15 new metal desk legs made with a storage shelf underneath. Now I just need to secure the wooden tops to them. Pray that the students who come next year would be hand picked by God and eager to study and grow.

We appreciate your partnership in the gospel as you lift up these items in prayer to the God who sees and the God who is able.

Blessings in our Savior's name,

Luke and Gina Johnson