Debrief at Vuma Hills and the journey home

Here are a few stories from our final week in Tanzania.

I was super glad to drive through the gates at the Mzimbasi centre back in Dar Es Salaam – we were ‘home’ again and were warmly greeted by our ‘family’ in the gazebo, where they were watching the world cup soccer game on tv. World cup soccer was the big event to watch and talk about- even in Tanzania. We planned to have sharing time from Jesus film in the gazebo, but didn’t want to disturb the Mzimbasi centre workers who were watching the game, so we broke into 5 groups with one or two members from each JF team. That’s when Betty told us the story of Mike and the squattie. My team in Tanga experienced the most spiritual warfare during the week, because we were in a heavy Muslim area on the coast. Christianity has spread more inland in Tanzania. The team in Iringa were able to do a lot of follow up with school children during the day, where they had shown the JF the night before. They also gave a few seminars on how to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The team in Moshi, up north near Mount Kilimanjaro, climbed up a mountain a little farther each night (in the back of their truck over very bumpy and rocky and almost impassable dirt roads). Many, many African people gave their lives over to Christ during this time. The team who went to Mbeya were able to complete a YJNK (you just never know) story.

While in the Vancouver airport, waiting at the gate, I turned to Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future", and read it out loud. Little to my knowledge, a lady, who happened to be a missionary in the west part of Tanzania, overheard me. The next day in the airport in London, she approached us (the Vancouver crew- she mostly talked with Stephanie and Brian) and invited us to her home in Mbeya. It turned out (of course God planned it this way) that Brian and Stephanie were part of the team that went to Mbeya. Somehow this lady found out that they were in town, and dropped by to invite them to her house for dinner. The team had originally planned to show a JF that night, but, as was the usual case in Mbeya, the plans were changed, and it was cancelled. Stephanie felt that they should persevere and show the film and share the gospel- why we all came to Tanzania- but God had better things in store for them. At this lady’s house, she shared with them some of the difficulties of being a full time missionary in Tanzania and very much encouraged the Mbeya team with words of wisdom that God had given to her. Stephanie told me that it was the way she spoke that really impacted her. So, in conclusion, you just never know who you’ll meet at the airport and what kind of impact or change God has in store for you if you step out of your comfort zone and chat with that person.

God is good! Response: All the time!
All the time! Response: God is good!

In Africa there was a definite difference in male and female roles. We weren’t allowed to go off the compound without a guy, for safety reasons (some girls actually paid one of the guys on our team to take them shopping) and while downtown, the guys really stepped it up and kept and eye out for the girls. The guys arranged for the cabs and took charge. It stressed them out a little, but I think they enjoyed their roles. In Africa, men show more leadership, authority, and take care of the women. It’s a bit hard to explain the differentiation of male and female roles, but a good example of how this effected our team was when the guys offered their seats to the girls. We were all in the gazebo for church on Sunday morning. There weren’t enough seats, and many girls were standing. As soon as Mike Woodard asked if the guys would offer their seats to the girls, they all got up right away, and the girls sat down. Everyone complied and was happy with the arrangement. Then the thought came to mind: in Canada this would never happen. Guys wouldn’t offer their seats to girls, and girls wouldn’t think anything of sitting on the floor.

On to Vuma hills in the Mikumi National park.

We loaded (the boys did the heavy lifting) the 2 rented buses with all our suitcases, and we CRAMED onto the buses for the long ride to the National park. I became a Grace and Brian sandwich, and all I could see was Ryan’s arm. There was much secrecy about where we were going and were we were staying. I had a map of national parks and guessed that we’d be going to Mikumi because it was the closest to Dar. It was confirmed on the bus that we’d be going there. On the way Grace pulled out her Africa tourist book and figured out which resort place we must be staying at. It was luxury camping. Set on the side of a hill, we stayed in nicely decorated tents with thatched roofs, showers and toilets, with a gorgeous view of the open natural grassland. It was a dream to be in those surroundings. I really enjoyed swimming in the pool also. Some cabins were visited by a hungry Elephant during the night. I was jealous. They were harmless, actually, just eating the foliage near the cabins. We went on 2 safaries. One early morning (at 5am) and one the next afternoon. We road in our buses and asked them to show us the lions, but no lions were seen. We did see many Giraffe, Zebra, Gazelle, Elephant, birds, and water buffalo. I took quite a few pictures. Jaqueline took the most pictures (about 4 gig), and I’ll be printing some of hers for my photo album!

Debrief was also a time for preparing us for life back in Canada and challenging us to continue implementing the changes God had instilled in our lives while in Africa. They gave us some hints on re-entering Canada. How to give 30second, 1 minute and 10 minute responses to people who ask "How was Africa?" I started jogging my mind on cool stories that I wanted to tell my friends back home upon my return, and I tried to get my mind ready for Canadian culture.

My favourite moments at Vuma hills were sitting on the porch playing guitar and singing to a captive audience. (I'm very thankful to Jenn for letting me learn the words to Johnny Cash's "Jackson" because it was a great hit in Tanzania) Sittin on the porch is always good. I just loved sitting or lying on my bed staring at the greeness around me. Ahhhhh So relaxing! I could live at Vumma hills!

At debrief, we were also challenged to join Campus Crusade for Christ staff. I have been thinking of joining staff since January, but didn’t want to make any decisions until after going on project to see if this was a kind of job/lifestyle I could handle doing as a career. I know that you can’t really base such a decision on one short-term missions trip and all the hype and glorification that go along with it. What really made an impression on me was my enjoyment of talking about God all day long and having one focus- on ministry. I find it difficult to balance ministry with school and work. When I doing ministry work, I’m thinking about school, and when I’m studying, I think about the bible. It was pretty frustrating some times, and compromises were often made. All this to say that I decided to fill out a staff application form upon returning home.

My reasons for joining: Campus Crusade for Christ is a good ministry that many of my supporters have admired for many years. I very much agree with its focus on discipleship and evangelism- something I find lacking in many religious groups. The vision has never changed since Bill Bright and his wife Vonette first started this ministry reaching out to students at the UCLA campus, back in 1951, and it hasn’t changed since Bill’s death, a few years ago. Spiritual multiplication has happened. It’s exciting to be apart of an ever growing, world wide evangelistic movement.

What does the future hold for Louise? That’s a good question. I’m still not a hundred percent sure about joining CCC staff and which ministry I’d be most effective in, and support raising would be looming if I do join. I don’t feel a strong call to go back to Africa for a year or two. Anne, the campus director at U of Dar told me she was praying for me to come back to Tanzania. I felt more called to witness to people of my own ethnic background (reading Corrie ten Boom’s story while in Tanga, triggered this desire again). I might go back to Tanzania next year, as a staff/intern, and lead a team of my own. It makes logical sense for me to do this, as I’m already familiar with the culture, the food and the language, and would be a good opportunity to gain some more leadership experience.

Back in January at a CCC leadership conference, I was challenged by Leonard Buhler to make this pledge. I’m willing to go anywhere, at anytime, do anything and at any cost for God. Pretty intense, I know!

In conclusion, I hope you found my description of Tanzania interesting and insightful. You really have to go and experience it for yourself to get an acurate perseption of it. I love the friendly people, their hospitality and their humility. They have such a passion for praising God! I miss dancing in church and singing all the time. I hope you have been challenged to take a step of faith. I pray that you will take every opportunity to tell others about God and how he's changed your life! because you just never know. (YJNK)

Louise