What fun it was in November 09 to visit all 1600+ children on the sponsorship scheme in Tanzania.

It's been amazing to look back over the years that the scheme has been running and reflect on how far we have come. In January 2010 the first child we enrolled (back in 1998!) will have completed his schooling and will have started his second year of training to become a primary school teacher. Without sponsorship this would have been impossible. It highlights just how sponsoring a child can help change the future both of the individual and the wider community.

2009 has seen many new developments. Programmes for farming cows and chickens have been introduced to produce milk and eggs; which is moving us towards sustainability. We have some land where we provide allotments so families can grow food. We have started developing a place where we will build a play ground.  There are now feeding centres operating in 7 locations- and the team is fantastic, organising the massive job of providing hot nutritious food for all the children.  Doctor Frank runs clinics in all locations off the back of the truck; which is a wonderful sight! We continue to develop links with the schools; providing water, desks and resource books.

If you have any worries or questions, do get in touch. The sponsorship scheme is still run from our busy home, but we will do our best to respond as quickly as possible.

We cannot thank enough each of you who sponsors a child! You are helping to change lives in Tanzania, one child at a time.

Thank you for being part of making a difference.

Hi Everyone,
Thank you so much for following the blog. We are now all in Dar-es-Salaam. To be honest the journey was tedious. We left at 7am this morning as the sun was rising over the hills of Mbeya. It was sad to say goodbye to our friends in Mbeya.
As we travelled the 14+ hours towards Dar the temp went up to well over 40. We encountered roadworks, and a missing bolt all adding to the length of time we were sitting in one position. However we did see lots of wildlife which was fab.
The coach driver kindly brought us to our accommodation for the night and promptly ran out of petrol as he entered the gate of the hostel we are staying in. Thankfully food was kept for us. Most of the team are now tucked up in bed. After a journey like that I often wish we had just gone to Blackpool!!! Still after a good night's sleep it will all be worth it again.
Thank you for praying. God has done some great stuff.
God Bless
Sharon

OK... we're there now (9.15pm). 15 hours on the bus! Now to eat and then , maybe, we'll feel human again.

No... that's not a line from a song in Eurovision years ago. We really are. (8.15pm here) We broke down. We are told that a bolt fell off and they had to wait for a replacement...

Don't ask how we all feel!

It will take a while (12+ hours on this bus, a day in Dar, then catch the plane tomorrow evening) but we are on our way back home.

Yesterday was fabulous. The morning service was packed and each of the 14 people being baptised told the story of how they came to know and surrender to the Lord Jesus. Lots of cheering and clapping. Then down to the river... amazing!

I am sitting in The Stable church service in Airport and enjoying the wonderful sunshine streaming through the windows and the gloriously worship! You should be here!

Later in the service, we will walk to the river together and there is a pool surrounded by trees 14 new Christians will make the good confession in front of many witnesses. Then pastor Kenneth with proclaim that he baptises in the Name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit and they will be submerged under the river... and come up rejoicing.

This morning we were able to start a little more relaxed, with a good team time, worshipping Jesus and prayer for all that's going on. There was no electricity, but you don't need that for prayer!

Then some got a chance to check out the market and get their artifacts!

The day started as normal with teams being organised to go in two directions... and more rain. One group went to Mabatini. the other to a small village that is way off the beaten track called Swaya.

Mabatini went well. The work that was needed got done and then the team set off to walk back to Pastor Kenneth's for lunch. The heavens then let rip and they all got soaked.

A number of years ago Grassroots ran a house for boys as they came out of Reamand School (prison to you and me). They were a rough lot but real characters. Eventually we closed it as we saw that it was much better to reintegrate the boys into normal life, and if it stayed open they would all have found reasons to stay. Even today we are still in touch with a number of them, they are foloowing Jesis and the lives have come together.

This week one of these lads was contacted by the police because, although his mother had disappeared before he could remember (3 years old), she had been found. So we are helping the police arranging a meeting. Please pray this goes well.

The new cookhouse in Nyibuko is fantastic. This is where all the children who are sponsored in this community come for the weekly meal, Christian club and medical appointments. The sponsorship programme here is still new and we have done it at the same time as the Christians have started meeting to worship. The combination of practical help and spiritual life has really started to impact the area

Airport, Nyibuko and Mwangelwa were the locations today.