“We have only mosques, there are no churches,” one man told us as we turned off the road entering the Segeju (Seh-geh-jew) area. He was quite pleased with this.
Living in fishing villages along the coast of northern Tanzania, Segeju life centers around the tides of the Indian ocean. At low tide the men mend nets, sleep and relax, waiting for high tide.
Each family has a hand-built fishing boat beached in the sand also waiting for high tide.
The district council fish market where the fish are auctioned is empty today and no transport is waiting to carry fish to market in Tanga.
A group of passing women greet us, but can only answer a question or two. Laughing and chatting as they rush past, they don’t mean to be rude, but the tide is out and they are hurrying to tidal pools with baskets to collect shell fish which will be cooked for a meal that day.
Too salty for human or animal consumption, water from their local wells can only be used for washing clothes. Drinking water must be carried into the villages from wells further inland.
Primary schools can be found in some of the villages, but the secondary school is five or more kilometers away.
Bringing the gospel to the Segeju will be challenging. There may be hostility toward those sharing and persecution to any believers. But our mandate it to go and share even to those hard of heart that some may hear and be saved.
*Pray for the softening of Segeju hearts.
*Pray for wisdom in planning the best way to enter Segeju villages in order for the most receptivity.
*As God calls out followers to go to the Segeju, pray for obedient hearts and minds affording the Segeju the opportunity to hear about God’s gift of new life in Christ.