The Global Body of Christ

Take a trip with me!?  You are always welcome but the physical form of a trip is not what I mean within this journey of words.  Just as we put on the Armor of God in the morning I ask that before you venture on this journey with me you take a moment and prepare your heart and mind.  It is my prayer as I type this entry that it will be a tool to open doors to of your heart for the Lord to work.  May you gain an understanding of the Power of the Body of Christ, this time, without leaving your house or packing a bag.

I have included in several entries here lately how IDES (International Disaster Emergency Services) gave us $41,500 so we can provide famine relief and purchase a water pump.  IDES a group based in small town within the mid-west has the ability to spread their arms all over the world.  We are just a portion of where they have reached and made a Mighty difference in the Name of the Lord.  From Indiana (IDES)  we fly here (with me) to Tanzania.    

 Walk with me from the Center just up the hill of Mount Meru you will find a group of Tanzanian women who make up a CHE (Community Health Evangelism) Group.  CHE is a format of teaching and training that is done by CMF to train the nationals to asses needs and how to respond to them with an evangelistic goal.  These ladies are concerned about the lack of protein in the children's diet within the area.  They also have a heart for the orphans.  Have a seat on a bucket and these women will tell you their story.  But, while your ears are listening your hands are busy

 for there is a great work to be done.  Making Ugi is the goal.  Ugi is a poorage like item that the kids mix and eat the majority of the time.  To increase the nutritional value, the ladies will tell you, that they put additional protien and nurtients within the Ugi mixture.  It is then a dry mix packaged by hand and sold.  The proceeds are to cover the cost but additional funds are to support the growing number of orphans within the village area.  The mommas will tell you that they also know that all children who receive this Ugi have a greater chance of having more of the nutrients needed.  Because of the funding from IDES we were able to purchase the Ugi needed to supply several schools with a daily meal for several months within the Maasai area.  We also purchased Ugi to hand out to the orphan group that WEPA (Women Education Project in Arusha ) organizes.  This group of ladies is a short walk back down the hill and just up the road from the Center.  The Ugi was taken by truck out to Maasai Land to the Schools.  And a load taken just up the road to assist with relief within our village area where we live.  If you are keeping up with your map we have now been to IDES in IN.   

 Landed at the CMFI Center in Tanzania.  Walked up the hill to the CHE Womens group.  Gone by truck to Maasai Land to the CCCT (this is the name of the registered church in Tanzania that many of our church planters lead) where churches provided Ugi for schools and Maasai Famine Relief (previous blog entry.)  Come back by truck where we have gotten an additional load and dropped it off just up the road from the Center at the site where the WEPA ministry takes place.  Famine Relief was given in our village area to the widows and elderly of five local village areas (also a previous  

 blog entry.)  Ok, are you keeping up!?  The Ugi is ready to distriput to the orphans in the area.  But, as the kids gather it is more than just a hand out.  In tattered school uniforms they gather with sweet but sometimes shy faces.  Eager they come.  But, first before anything is given they sing.  Oh they sing!  Close your eyes for a minute.  Can you hear them sing!  Poor and tattered with no mom or dad to love them but they sing.  There is no course only scripture to prepare you for this humbling sound.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me (and you) to proclaim

good news to the poor.  He has sent me (and you) 

to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim

freedom for the captives and release from 

darkness for the prisoners"

Isaiah 61: 1-3   

With the sound of the orphan children singing we my friends are not the only ones proclaiming good news to the poor.  For the physical faces of poverty before us are teaching the poor areas of 

my heart a great many lessons today.  We pray yours as well.  The children begin to wash their hands as we take our places to serve them a meal of pilau and cabbage.  Pilau is a rice mixture with a bit of meat in a curry flavoring.  The children enjoy a meal and play together.  Prayer and lessons are given before the Ugi is passed out to each child before their departure.  Where they go I do not know but in as many ways as we can fill their body, heart, and soul they are fed today.   

Hundreds have been fed because of these funds.  Young and Old 

they have come.  Our prayer always is that they are fed
physically and spiritually as they walk many miles with empty stomachs to the distribution spots.  Hundreds were given a bag of grain that might last their family a week or two.  Kids have been fed everyday in school for months.  Orphans given a good meal and take Ugi with them.  Many, many mouths but many many souls.

As we walked the dusty roads of these words did you see how many parts of the body where at work.  From different parts of world to many tribes of the world!  Funds were given not only for relief but because of the CHE ladies we were able to invest in our people who intern help with nutrition intake on a regular basis but out of the fruits of their labor orphans are supported through school and needs.  Because of WEPA we are able to know the people to help.  Because of IDES we have the funds to help.  Because of you I am here to give.  Because of the Church Planters needs are met and the love of Jesus is given.    

 All the parts of God's Global Body are vital to expanding the Kingdom.  I know you are tired from the journey but I pray with a humble heart that you are a little more aware of how God is moving in the world and how if you are open He can use all of us to make a Mighty Difference!  Ventures like these are happening all over the world because people have willing hearts.

IDES we thank you for your ministry!  The partnership you have with us here is a blessing to all the ministries that are alive and working here in Tanzania!

To God be the Glory!