Still thinkin' about A&W Root Beer..

Since coming here, I’ve found myself lost, found, humbled, and encouraged. An explanation to start with, though! What’s the haps at Pamoja? I don’t think all of you actually know what I’m doing out here, or what Pamoja Ministries really does. To start with, there’s a curriculum called ISOM that Pamoja has assembled, which is for training students in the ways of pastoring their communities. Pamoja has also produced an album and a photobook with a group of Maasai, and have done two albums with a local contemporary gospel band called The Sowers Group. They’ve also recently finished putting the final touches on their original musical film, by the name of Nipe Jibu. All of the work done here clearly supports their mission statement: Discipling cultures through media. This probably isn’t what most people thought when they heard I was “Going to do missions work in Africa”. And honestly, I didn’t really know what I was getting into either. But that’s why I came here! I came to serve my God, and hopefully learn, and walk away with a dramatically revised understanding of the life changing work being done through the people here in Tanzania.

Personally, I know I was kind of floundering when I first arrived here. I had this immense feeling of being such a child, and not knowing what I was doing with myself. I vividly recall Jeremy asking, “So.. Can you do this? Okay, how about this? Or this?” and having to answer with, “No, I don’t know how to do that. Or that.... Or that.” I felt soooo small and useless, it was not a great feeling, I gotta say. But work was found for me to do! And it may be the most mundane, unskilled work ever, but nobody else has the time to do it, and it badly needs doing. So.. I’m doin’ it! Taking all the information in the old Quickbooks financial system.. And entering it into the new one! Yayy! It’s not bad, actually, now that I’ve got a system down. And it’s also not like that’s all I do, every day. But that’s not the point! The point is that I came here with not much to offer, and I’m still being used for a larger purpose. If I wasn’t here to fill in and do all the little jobs that use up time, the missionaries who have bigger projects to work on would have to take time out to do the little things. That’s how great God is! He takes us average folk, with not a talent in the world, and pushes us past our comfort boundaries. Which actually doesn’t sound great. But it’s good for me, which makes it fiiine! Anywho. Perhaps not the most exciting stuff you’ve heard all day, but something to think about, nonetheless.... I hope. 

Well, have a good day, and know that I’m praying for you all :) God bless!