Judy’s Africa Journal 2008 part 5
TANZANIA
January 23, 2008
We arrived safely here in Morogoro, Tanzania, and are very happy to see that internet is available here in our hotel, though with short hours. We had a good flight from Entebbe, Uganda to Dar Es Salaam and were blessed by a good road from there to Morogoro. Our Worldwide Crusades director for Tanzania, Daniel Mwangungulu, met us at the airport, and after a lunch meeting with several pastors and leaders, we had a pleasant drive with Bill and him catching up on the plans and arrangements for the week. We arrived there in the dark, but could see the outlines of rugged high mountains in the moonlight.
January 25, 2008
I was not able to write yesterday due to time conflicts while the email office was open for it’s short hours. The crusades are having good responses, but there are not as many people coming as the Tanzanian WWC organizers hoped for. The pastors here are struggling with unity and we understand that some decided to hold their own crusade at another location in town to thwart the WWC one. We have no clue why, but it seems it is a local problem. We are hoping that the messages being preached by Bill in the crusade, and by Cap in the seminars during the day will bring unity to the pastors and people as there is way too much oppression here for them to have success winning the lost if they fight the spiritual battles alone, let alone oppose each other. On a per capita basis, we are seeing more demon possessed people here than anywhere we’ve ever been. Many have been delivered the first two nights. Many people have asked the Lord to come into their hearts and lives as their Savior. Many have had prayer for healing, and we expect to hear testimonies coming forth of the results. There are only two more evenings here so we hope to see the Lord move on this place to bring the Christians together in a wonderful way. I have been very busy with the video project. I miss Derick! One of our beloved Kenyan pastors came all the way here to assist me with the cameras. That is a true blessing.
January 27, 2008
The computer room was closed for a few days, so we were glad to see the office open this morning. After my laptop died early in the trip it has been frustrating to only have access to a hotel computer when their hours dictated, and generally not on weekends. I think the poor computer room guy heard the whine in my voice and relented for a short time today.
The crusade finished here last night. We heard that the other competing crusade was cancelled. All the pastors finally got together the third night and it was wonderful to see all those brothers working together in one accord, especially the last night. The crowds were pretty big, I haven’t heard anyone estimate how many. This is the witchcraft center of Tanzania and we’re amazed at how many demon possessed people were there and were delivered. There was a continual stream of thrashing people being carried to a corral out behind the platform here at this place. There’s a lot I don’t understand about all this. We aren’t used to seeing this back home. All I know is that afterwards, once they are delivered, they have so much joy. Many people came for salvation, many for healing. Testimonies are coming in. Many we may never hear, but the locals will. Just having the pastors coming together in a spirit of oneness after there was so much division between them in this city was something that will continue to reap a harvest. We have ministered in other places with problems of denominations and pastors not getting along before, for various reasons, and the blessing of them working together afterwards has continued, so we pray it also will here.
The mountains that loom above this city are traditional places of blood sacrifice, both animal and human, from what locals are telling us. We have been involved in getting a radio station launched from here. The tower that broadcasts this new station is on top of one of these peaks. The equipment is to be flown into place by helicopter on top of the mountain some time in March. After that is installed and the station is operating the broadcast range will be eastern Tanzania and part of Kenya, the only protestant Christian radio station in this large area.
This last few weeks in these three countries of Africa has been an amazing experience, seeing so many thousands of people commit their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ. I am in awe of His power to change hearts and change lives, to heal bodies and emotions, and to deliver from demonic possession. It is wonderful to share in the deep joy of seeing God at work! We are going home blessed!
Previous: Judy's Africa journal 2009 part 1 -- Next: Judy’s Africa Journal 2008 part 4
Back to the Travel Blog