Kigoma, Tanzania

Sitting on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, Kigoma, the largest town in northwestern Tanzania, is the regional capital and the location for government offices of the region.

Kigoma is also steeped in the history of the colonization of East Africa.  Ujiji, a small town adjacent to Kigoma is where Stanley met Dr. Livingstone and the famous phrase, “Dr. Livingstone I presume” was uttered.
While in Kigoma, we have the opportunity of visiting the museum in Ujiji telling the story.











We can see that while standards are trying to be kept, let’s face it, this is still Africa, thus it is very basic. The exhibits are interesting but not special or unusual for a person familiar with African culture.
It is notable that they continue to plant a mango tree near the spot where this plaque is placed.

Another plaque reminds us of two other colonial explorers, Burton and Speke, who, attempting to find the source of the Nile River mapped Lake Tanganyika as well as the existence of Lake Victoria, naming it for the then current Queen of England.

The hub for much of western Tanzania, Kigoma is also a port town for vessels crossing Lake Tanganyika from D.R. Congo and cargo vessels that run from Zambia up and down the lake.

Kigoma is the arrival town for ministry among the UUPG’s in this part of Tanzania. Churches ministering to the Vinza, Holoholo, Wagoma, and Tongwe people groups would begin here.

Kigoma is also the town to get supplies while ministering in the outlying villages.

These young fellas ran up to get their picture taken!

As is the case in the south, the western side of Tanzania is less developed.  There are fewer services available – only Kigoma has somewhat reliable electric and water services. The roads are in a very poor condition with some villages totally inaccessible by car.  Medical facilities are very basic and sparsely spread throughout the area – you want to stay healthy if you live out here!

However, folks are happy and enjoy life here.  The weather is very nice, not too hot, never too cold – wonderful.

Pray for the UUPGs in and around Kigoma.  The people groups living here are blinded, mostly by Islam.  They need to understand the truth of Jesus Christ.  He is not just a prophet – He is the Son of God – the way to salvation – and believing in Him is eternal life.

To Him who is able!

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen"             Ephesians 3:20-21


God gives us opportunities of service and uses us in unusual ways if we are willing to be used and flexible, allowing Him to do it His way.


Asked to preach part of a crusade – two nights of a four-night crusade – just on the outskirts of Kibera, the largest slum in East Africa, Jerry agreed.


Currently we are in the dry season here in Nairobi.  The short rains come soon, October and November mostly, and as we start out for the crusade venue, the sun is shining.  It is 4 p.m.  The praise team, standing on a wooden stage-like structure set up toward the back of a crowded shopping area is singing, the volume cranked up – it is time to get out the cotton that we use to stuff our ears!

As we walk toward the crowd clouds roll in and it begins to sprinkle a bit – ahhh well – perhaps a sprinkle or two, maybe a light shower, soon to be over.  The rain increases and before long everyone is running for cover as the sky opens up with a cloudburst. Running into a small hoteli (café), we shake the water off our clothes and order a cup of hot chai (tea) determined to wait it out –of course, we brought along no rain coat or umbrella.

Two hours later the rain begins to subside. Asked if we are willing to keep going, “of course” is our reply and we wait another 30 minutes or so while the electronic equipment is dried off.


The meeting, while down in numbers as people fled the rain, is good – the preaching, excellent – of course I am a bit bias, and we count the night a success – however, for us, it wasn’t  the actual crusade that made an impact, but a conversation over chai during the deluge.






Sitting down across the table, an older pastor begins to share his life story – a God story, and as we listen, we see the life-tapestry that God is weaving in this servant’s life.



Encouraged in our knowledge that God is faithful, we see afresh that He will do abundantly more than we can possibly imagine as we walk in faith.
Usually we won’t see the whole road ahead, but He only requires the next step from us. Walking by faith, leaving whatever is around the corner to Him, He will do far more abundantly than we can ask or think – and He will give us a peace that surpasses all understanding – Philippians 4:7


Isn’t God good?
Who could possibly refuse the incredibly awesome gift of His love through Christ?

However, not all have heard – not all have been faced with the choice yet.

Will you do your part for the Kingdom?

Will you do your part of the mission, helping mankind understand the matchless grace of Jesus?

Encouraged!

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.   Matthew 28:19-20

Do you remember this picture from a couple of weeks ago?  This was the end of the week-long school of missions for nine participating nationals with a heart to reach those who have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ.


Today we met again with seven of the students in attendance.
We wanted to meet to encourage them (as if they needed any encouragement!) and touch base to find out how to pray for them and to hear about the direction God is leading each one in their individual missions call.
Having already organized themselves, they have been meeting together regularly for prayer and planning since the end of the school.  They have also been going to churches as a team and sharing their burden to reach the unreached and unengaged people of East Africa.

Instead of us encouraging them – they were so encouraging to us.

Lawrence, at the far right, is praying about four unengaged people groups, three in Tanzania and one in D.R. Congo.

Julius, in the middle, is praying about a specific place in Kenya – Sege village in Nyanza province.  He made a research trip to this area and returned saying there are no churches at all in the area.

Alfred, pictured on the left, is praying about three things; a village in Kenya called Dalani and two people groups one in Tanzania and one in Rwanda.  He has also made a trip to Dalani to see for himself that there is no evangelical work in the area.




Jane, on the right, feels that God is calling her to work in the slums.  She has already begun work in Githogoro slum and has organized a group of non-believers who want to meet together to hear stories from the Bible. She is also interested in working with the Samburu of Kenya.


Millicent, seated in the middle, is interested in working with either the Suba people in Tanzania, or the Samburu in Kenya.  She also has heard of the need for workers in the North Park area of South Africa and is praying about that door of evangelism.

Fleming is seated on the left of the picture.  He is praying about God’s direction in ministry among the Taabwa people of D.R. Congo and the Tongwe people of Tanzania.  He also is praying for people groups in Burundi.

Unfortunately, George did not get into a picture.  He has been going door-to-door in Dagoretti, a slum area of Nairobi. He has had six people pray to receive Christ already and is forming a Bible study with them.  This area is notorious for crime and violence; a place where criminals stay and are recruited.  He is also praying about ministry among the Samburu of Kenya.


Are you not encouraged as well?
These young Kenyans have taken their training and are putting it to use where they are while they continue to pray for direction and the leadership of the Holy Spirit for the next steps.

Would you pray along with them?  You can use this post as a guide, praying specifically for each one and the area or people groups God is laying upon each heart.  You can refresh your memory about the School of Missions by clicking these links.  School of Missions pt. 1       School of Missions pt. 2

Light to the Tongwe

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”      Matthew 5:14-16


Due partly to the slave trade in Tanzania’s history, Islam is fairly well ingrained in the western part of Tanzania. Some of the people groups migrating from the Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo)  crossing Lake Tanganyika, settled on what was then the Arab slave routes; becoming involved in the capturing of other tribes, they worked with the Arabs to transport slaves to Bagamoyo, Tanzania for shipment out to Europe.  Back in the day, this was a big enterprise and many different people groups were involved.  This explains why, today, there are so many Islamic people groups in Tanzania, even in the interior.

Rural Mosque among the Tongwe people.

Living along the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika in Western Tanzania, while not specifically part of the slave trade, the Tongwe are an Islamic people group.

Our plan, as we set out today, is to travel along the eastern lakeshore road, hoping to meet some Tongwe people.


As with most people groups in Tanzania, the Tongwe live alongside other people groups. So the villages we visit will not be exclusively Tongwe people – there will be a mixture of people groups within them.

The drive is beautiful along the lake, even though the road is rough – poor Jerry, he does not get to see much as the driver must keep all of his attention on the road so we do not break an axle.

How would you like to wake up to this picture every morning?
Beautiful, isn't it?

While the Tongwe grow the food they eat, those living along the lakeshore are fishermen as well. As we pull into the village of Lubengela (Loo-ben-ghe-lah) and look out across the lake, we see them at work in their hand-dug canoes.

Evangelical congregation.

There is an evangelical church in this small village but the Tongwe do not attend. To be Tongwe is to be Muslim.

Living in relative harmony, the members of this small congregation do not understand the importance of witnessing to their Tongwe neighbors, not even just a little bit.




*Ask God to burden the hearts of believing villagers for their Tongwe neighbors, that they would let their light shine forth.

*Pray that God would visit the Tongwe with dreams and visions, that they then would seek council among believers, asking questions about the God of the universe.

*Pray for God’s appointed messengers to gird themselves with the armor of God, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit/Word of God to minister to the Tongwe.