Steve and Barnabas in Tanzania

It is hard to believe I am already a week in and as promised I am not going to let too much time get by without giving an update.  The biggest problem this first full week is what I should include because there is so much to tell everyone about.  I hope not to bore those who have been here or other parts of the world on mission trips because some of this will seem old hand maybe but for those whose ministry is the support of those who go to these locations I feel called to share some of my life here.  First for everyone asking:  Barnabas is fine, his hibernation state is over and he is out and about in town.  We will start with him as a matter of fact.  He was worried because bears are not native to Africa (look up why Paddington Bear had to come from Peru-because the author first wanted him to be from Africa until they learned Bears are not native to Africa so poor Paddington got an address change). At William and Martha's trying to work the deve...

I am not one to normally write about everything that happens in my life-hence the reason I am not a great blogger.  I have made a commitment to do better both on Facebook and here on the blog to "talk" more.  That being noted I have been here in Arusha, Tanzania with William and Martha Makali for three days now and am getting into the swing of things.  Normally when I make these trips it is go, go and more go because we only have two weeks to accomplish a lot of tasks.  This trip is slower from the perspective that I am not working on tasks as much as a way of life change and that does take time. When I first got here after a full 24 hours of flights and layovers I was welcomed by 80 degree F temperatures at night after having a daily high of 40 at home.  The first day I spent getting adjusted to the heat and getting on the right time schedule which really meant falling asleep throughout the day as I tried to study my Swahili text.  Needless to say my n...

It is hard to believe that just over a year ago, I found out there may be a need for a full time missionary with Full Dimension Ministry in Tanzania.  A lot has happened since that moment. From being trained as a United Methodist Individual Volunteer Missionary, to our first public announcement in April 2013 at the annual banquet.  Just in the month of December I topped out on my fundraising need and the first third of the truck money needed was raised.   Pastor Smoke had a wonderful message today from the sermon on the mount talking about those who are blessed.  It is a word I have used a lot lately as I write thank you notes.  I have felt it too!  The wonderful support of my extended church family to get me funded so quickly.  The encouragement of my friends has been such a great boost to my life.   If all of this was not enough to make me feel completely assured that I was on the right path to do what God wants me to do, the send off ser...