“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”  Isaiah 52:7

 I just returned from a two week mission trip to Africa and am trying to process everything I saw and heard.  To many, Africa is a land of mystery, a part of the world where disease and suffering exist and are never overcome.  But there is another side to Africa where Christians struggle to survive, but love for Jesus Christ is strong and worship is sweet.

Of the team I led, I was the only one who had ever been to Africa.  I tried to give them some indication of what was to come, but until they saw for themselves, my explanations didn’t seem real.  We drove through a Safari park, but didn’t see many animals.  A pair of zebras seemed happy to see us, also monkeys put on a show, but the five great animals of Africa were nowhere in sight!

As we approached our compound in central Tanzania, a large group of people waited to welcome us.  With our motorcade and flashing lights, they rushed toward us waving leaf branches and singing.  All were dressed in their best clothes running alongside the bus with smiles and waves.  They accompanied us into the compound and greeted us warmly as we descended from the bus.  What a welcome!  We were in tears!  All the school children were in uniform, standing at attention singing their national anthem.  Then the flags of our country were raised, and we were “home.”

We went to do a medical clinic, a Vacation Bible School, and a conference for pastors and wives which included teaching on Hebrews.  A medical clinic is so much more than just diagnosing patients and handing out medicine.  Love and concern for the people, respect given from the oldest to the youngest and prayers for each person who pass through the clinic play a big part.  The first day, we were inundated with people waiting to see the doctor, mass confusion and chaos.  People in the clinic and others outside the gate stood and patiently waited.  The Lord supplied needed translators and native nurses who calmed the crowd and told them where to wait.  After three days of clinics, we were running like a well-oiled machine, sending people to the hospital for treatment and handing out medicines with the help of two doctors and a pharmacist/pastor.  We were able to help 375 patients and send 6 to the hospital.  The Lord provided the funds!  We were privileged to be Jesus’ hands and feet!

The Lord always surprises us with special blessings!  One was Vacation Bible School which we originally hadn’t intended to do.  A team member was a child evangelist and knew just how to present the gospel to children in a way they could understand.  We were able to go into the compound school and teach them stories from the Bible.  One little Muslim girl told us she “loved Jesus” because she had learned about Him from her teachers.  She had a bright testimony!  One team member brought suitcases full of gifts for the mothers, pencil boxes packed with school supplies, pens, crayons and markers.  What a blessing to those children who learned subjects without textbooks, but passed all their government exams!   The “frosting on the cake” took place on the plane trip home.  A team member led her seatmate to the Lord while flying over the Atlantic Ocean.  A new creature in Christ!  What a thrill!  He was a young man from Tanzania, on his way to Scotland to study for his master’s degree.  He thanked my friend over and over for the gift of salvation.  She gave him her Bible.  “How beautiful are the feet are those who bring good news!” 

 Your friend, Jean