Our wonderful supporters often ask questions which indicate their genuine concern for our children. It is one thing for Joy and I to make a commitment to live in a third world country, but what about the impact upon our children? These issues have been the subject of many prayers and careful consideration on our part. Some time back Joy authored an article entitled: Are We Asking Too Much! The high spiritual standard we have set for our own children we also expect from any who might be interested in courting our children. One valid question arises: Can we expect to live far from America, and have exacting expectations, and expect our children to find a suitable mate?

Having read the title of this entry, you already may know where this is headed. God’s providential workings cannot be fathomed by the human mind (cf. Rom. 11:33). I firmly believed that even with the seeming limitations of living here in Africa, God would not be hindered in answering our many prayers to bless our children with a mate at the appropriate time. Those prayers have been answered for our eldest child, Julia. We thank God for allowing her and us to meet Lee Parish. May we trust God’s willingness to bless us (cf. Rom.8:32).   GJ

After two years of study, writing, memorizing, and reading a group of men are about to go forth to preach the saving message of Christ! Seven men have proved their determination by diligence in their studies. I must say that the hours invested in these men at the Andrew Connally School of Preaching has been challenging for them as well as their instructors. Even though instruction has been giving in the English language, English is not the native language for any of these men. Also, there is a wide range of abilities within this group. But it is thrilling indeed to see how they have grown during their extended learning journey.

Recently these men completed their final exams in the Missions class I have been teaching. One writing assignment required that they submit a vision plan for themselves. I would like to share some excerpts from their writings, which will provide a window into what some will go forth to do.

Jared – “After graduation my plan is to go back home in my village where I come from in Kenya, to preach the word of God.”… “My prayer is that, if it could be possible to move and plant another church in the city.”… “Most of the women in Africa are influenced by the western culture in that they are often working, while also the husband works.” He speaks of the Bible teaching of women being keepers at home. “As for my wife, she will do as the word of God says . . . so that she may have good example in the village…”

George – “I will go to Kenya after graduation. . ..” “In the village where I come from there is no local congregation ….” He goes on to say that “when some are converted, I will train them to be preachers and encourage the saints to support themin order for them to give themselves to preaching.”

Pius – I will “concentrate my activities in Lugari District…” “Matunda Township which has about thirty thousand residents,as per the 2009 census.” “This Township is practically mushroomed by over 25 denominational groups.” “To me, every person, from a herd’s boy to the President is a potential Christian.”

Raymond – he sets his sights on “some parts of Uganda but mostly in Democratic Republic of Congo.” “I thank God for having given such an excellent wife Prov. 12:4; 11:16.” “The idea of going with young men, I have taken it in, in terms of training them also. Paul also did this in his missions he took Timothy, Titus, Silvanus, etc.”

Included in this graduating class is Jane, who purpose for attending ACSOP is to gain more Bible knowledge so that she can be a more effective teacher of God’s Word to women and children.

We thank all our supporters for making this training effort possible. Please pray for these men as they
soon go forth.

The last couple of weeks have been particularly busy.  Earlier last week, George and Jacob came down with bad colds.  George was feeling very badly, with many symptoms of malaria, and I ended up driving him to the local hospital that night to be checked.  The test was negative, but the Dr. thought it would be better to give him the treatment just in case.  The guys still weren’t feeling too great, but they were able to leave early Friday morning on their scheduled flight to Malawi, where they will be spending the month of August helping Ed and Lina Crookshank in the work there.  Many of you may remember that our family spent a month there in 2006, helping with teaching in their Mobile Bible School program.  George and Jacob will be traveling to five different locations during the week, teaching the Major and Minor Prophets.  There will also be preaching appointments on Sundays, and Jacob will be teaching some classes for youth on a couple different Saturdays.  So, we covet your prayers for their safety and good health, and also for the rest of us who have remained here at home.

Yesterday, Aug. 1, I traveled with Cy and Stephanie Stafford, as well as Elly and Neema, Jane, Agnes, and Michael, out to Massai bush country.  It’s not a trip that women need to take alone, thus the male chaperones.  There is a newly established congregation in the Longido region which has been requesting a class for ladies.  Stephanie and I, along with Jane and Agnes, agreed to teach some lessons.  Another sister, Neema, came along to do much of the translating.

Our day was very interesting.  Stephanie, the first speaker, had been teaching for only a few minutes, when she spotted a rat running around.  She looked at me with eyes wide open and mouthed “It’s coming your way!”  That was not comforting.  I was able to get my feet off the ground and onto a wooden support under the desk, and looked down and there went the rat!  Let’s just say that I did not dare put my feet back down.  I was sitting near a wall, and the rat ran back and forth near the wall, by me.  He’d take a little trip to the middle of the room, and then come back.  Finally, he went to the other side of the room and climbed up to the window.  He played peek-a-boo for a while, popping his head up and down, in and out of the window, waving his little tail around to let me know he was still there, and then finally made his exit.  Whew!  Was I ever glad!

We taught four lessons, and provided lunch for them in between.  We did not want them to have the burden of feeding us, plus, we didn’t want them to be outside cooking when they could be in class, and so we brought lunch.  Even though you and I would think the food quite tasty - chicken sandwiches or chicken wraps, chips, bananas, and cookies, they really didn’t know what to think of it.  By the looks on their faces, they probably would have much preferred a plate of bland ugali.

The congregation has been in existence for less than two years.  The man who is working here is also a new Christian, doing the best he can in his limited way. Because the people are so void of biblical knowledge, one hardly knows where to begin.  Even though we asked, we really couldn’t determine who may actually be a Christian.  Stephanie, who taught a lesson on Eve, asked if anyone had heard of her, and one person had.  It is so unfortunate that many of their tribal customs and rituals are contrary to biblical teaching, not the least of which is polygamy.  As I was sitting there, I was wondering how many of these women, and even young girls, are wife number two, three, four, five, …ten?  Most of the young women have likely been through what no human being should endure, thanks to their tribal customs…  They need the gospel, which will both elevate their present life, and also give them hope for life eternal. Contrary to popular belief, our aim is not necessarily to change culture.  However, when culture and biblical truths collide, culture must give way to the Bible, and not the other way around.

This kind of situation makes teaching very difficult. For one thing, there is the obvious language barrier. We need both a Swahili translator, and then someone else who understands both Swahili and Massai.  We had to rely on a 10 year old girl to translate from Swahili into the Massai language for us.  In addition to the language barrier, many of them are illiterate.  When I asked how many owned a Bible, maybe three said yes.  Illiteracy greatly inhibits the teaching process.

So, we do what we can, and pray that God will open doors of opportunity, so that we can do more.  Thanks for reading.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers, as many of you so faithfully do.

In Christ,
Joy

This past Sunday, the 12th, our family traveled to Babati to visit and worship with the Lord’s people.  We were up at 4:30 a.m. and left our house at 6 a.m.  We picked up Ahimediwe, who came along to translate, and then we were on our way. Babati is 172 kilometers from Arusha (107 miles), and the trip took about three hours.

We got there at 9 a.m. and there was no one there yet.  Some of us needed to use the restroom, but there were no facilities where the church meets.  Ahimediwe found a neighbor who was willing to let us use theirs, for which we were thankful.  It was a typical African outhouse; a hole in the ground, but at least it was in a shack of its own, so privacy was greatly appreciated.  The neighbors seemed to find it quite interesting to see the three of us waiting in line!

The church in Babati has had many struggles.  Due to the ungodly behavior of a former member, many church members have fallen away.  However, there is a small group that is really trying to hang in there, and they were very grateful for us coming.  One of the graduates from ACSOP is working with congregation.  It’s wonderful to see former students and the various works in which they are involved.

George’s topic for Bible class was on Elijah, and his feelings of being alone.  George reminded them that though at times they may feel like they are alone, they are not, and that God knows and cares about each individual, including during their time of struggles.  George also preached during the worship hour.  The brethren were very happy to have us visit.  One of the first things that the preacher mentioned was their need for help in evangelism.

On this particular Sunday, there were only two women - an elderly woman, and another woman, who was there with her husband and children.  The younger woman asked us more than once if we could come live there, and when it was evident that we could not, she asked if we could come stay for two weeks and teach there.   She was very friendly, and was patient with my Swahili. [:)] Our plan is to make this one of the congregations that we visit monthly, and we hope to hold some special classes for them, to better equip their own members to share the gospel with others.

After worship, we said our goodbyes, and after getting down the road a little ways, we stopped for a few moments to have a bite of lunch that we brought with us.  We finally got home at 3:30, and after washing the road dust off, we got busy preparing for the other missionaries to come at 5:00 p.m. for our Sunday evening Bible class.  All of the missionary ladies pitch in so that we can share a light supper after our Bible study, and this time we had breakfast for supper.  My family is always happy to see biscuits and gravy!  Needless to say, we were all ready to hit the hay at the end of the day, but it was a day well spent.

Concerning other activities, Lindsey has started volunteer work at the medical clinic, which is operated by Dr. Smelser and his wife, Nancy, who are members of the church.  Depending on schedules, she will be able to go once or twice a week.  The clinic is about an hour’s drive from our house, and most of the time she will be able to catch a ride with Stephanie Stafford, who also volunteers her nursing skills. Julia also plans to help, as her schedule allows.

We hope you all have a wonderful week.  Let’s each one of us use our time in such a way that we bring honor to Christ.

In Him,
George and Joy

The last month or so has been quite hectic for our family.  We realize that there haven’t been many blog posts lately.  We have been so busy just trying to keep our heads above water.   Most of the month of March George spent going back and forth to Arusha, in between all of his other work, trying to get the house we are renting livable.  Without actually living there, it was very difficult to do that, so we decided to go ahead and get moved.

March 29th was our last services with the brethren in Moshi.  There happened to be a potluck noon meal and singing planned for that day, which we enjoyed with our brothers and sisters.  We have come to love our brethren here very much, and will miss them.  I think that some of the children in Moshi will particularly miss Julia and Lindsey.  March 30 a truck was loaded with many of our household belongings.  This was the first spent the first night in our house.   The 31st some of the family went back to Moshi to get another load, while Lindsey and I stayed behind to work on unpacking.  We still have a few things left in Moshi that we need to get, but for the most part, we are moved in.  We’ve had a lot of plumbing/water issues that need to be resolved, but there is no place in Africa that doesn’t have one problem or another.  We’ve been relating to our ancestors, and have been heating water on the stove in order to get hot water.  In spite of a few inconveniences, we really like the house and location.

The mission team is beginning to put planning in high gear, in preparation for campaign time.  On April 9th I hosted a brunch for the other missionary wives, and then we had a planning meeting for various upcoming events.

April 11 a small group from Bear Valley arrived.  They will be here for two weeks, and have been doing a variety of things to help the work here - Mike Hite teaching a short course at the school, as well as other teaching and preaching.  Mike’s wife Lynn Hite, along with Kathy Pollard, have taught some classes for ladies.  The missionary families have taken turns feeding them supper, and we enjoyed having them in our home Friday.

Yesterday, the 18th, Stephanie Stafford hosted a luncheon for the Tanzanian preacher’s wives.  We had several lessons geared towards various issues commonly faced by preacher’s wives.  Lessons were given by Trina Gee, Anita Hochdorf, Kathy Pollard, and me.  Everyone seemed to enjoy the day very much.  Afterward, the missionary wives met to have another planning meeting for the Bible classes for children, which will be taught during campaign time.  It was a full day for all of us.

Today we worshiped with the Kisongo congregation.  Their building is located near the school of preaching.  Julia had to stay home today, due to being sick - likely tonsillitis.  George and Jacob have been sick, but are better now, and I guess it’s Julia’s turn.

Tomorrow, the 20th George and I are celebrating our 24th anniversary.  George surprised me with plans for a little get away for the two of us, which we both desperately need.

We are gearing up for several groups of visitors, who are coming to help with the work.  We look forward to seeing and working with various folks who will be coming our way - some who are already dear friends, and others who are friends we have not yet met.

May the Lord bless you as you work for Him.
Love, Joy

Our family is overwhelmed with the outpouring of concern, and the many prayers offered on our behalf, regarding the recent accident.  George and Jacob are recovering, although George, especially, still has some internal bruising that is causing him a good amount of discomfort.  We solicit your continued prayers as we deal with various issues:  possible court, our vehicle replacement, etc.  Thank you so much for your love and concern for our family.

A few months ago, we borrowed a book called “African Friends and Money Matters.”  We only had time to peruse it briefly, but while in the states, we acquired our own copy.  This is a very interesting book, written by David Maranz.  While the author has not written from a religious perspective, this book is very helpful to missionaries in Africa.  If a missionary does not understand the very different mindset that most Africans have towards money and its place in society, he will not be equipped to deal with the many money-related issues that are sure to come up.

Here is a sample:  “Precision is to be avoided in accounting as it shows the lack of a generous spirit.” Mr. Maranz goes on to explain “Precision and rigor in keeping accounts show a lack of generosity.  It is nontrusting.  It is not what a friend does….Another part of the explanation for this avoidance of accountability comes from the fact that in most African cultures it can easily lead to suspicion, mistrust, and confrontation.  Such unpleasantness is to be avoided if at all possible.”

Another example: “Many products are purchased in very small amounts even though the unit cost is much higher than for purchases in larger quantities. An African would say ‘If I have extra I am obligated to share.  Sure I know that buying a whole sack of charcoal is cheaper than buying it by the little pile.  But if I buy it by the little pile and my in-law or neighbor or friend comes asking for some, I can honestly say I don’t have any to give to them…”

One can see how this thinking would affect finances in the church, and understanding the present mindset is crucial if we want to help the church mature.

This past Saturday was a special occasion for our family, due to the fact that Jacob took part in the
graduation ceremony for the Andrew Connally School of Preaching. Jacob has worked hard at his studies, which commenced almost immediately after we arrived in Tanzania, in April 2007. Unfortunately, due to our time of arrival in the country, he missed a few classes. He also had to miss a few classes while we were on furlough, and that means he will have to return to school in order to make up those hours. We are very proud of him for persevering in less than ideal circumstances, which have not been the most desirable, but have, however, helped to build his character. After he finishes in the Spring, he plans to work towards continue working with George as a missionary.

One of the things that our family has enjoyed during our trip to the States is experiencing the autumn season. Throughout our travels we’ve enjoyed beautiful weather, the changing of the leaves, and crisp fall mornings. We are getting ready to head back to Tanzania, and when we return, we certainly will remember with fondness the wonderful weather we’ve enjoyed.

More than that, though, we will treasure the precious memories we have made. We’ve relished the days of worship, which we’ve been able to enjoy in English. We will remember the good times we’ve spent with family and friends. We’ve had the opportunity to see folks whom we have not seen in many years. We’ve gotten to know some people on a deeper level than we knew before, and we’ve also made new friends along the way. We’ve experienced much laughter together, as well as tears of sadness when it was time to say goodbye.

Thank you, everyone, for making our trip to the States a special one. Hopefully we’ll see some of you in Tanzania! Please keep us in your prayers as we prepare to travel. We will be heading over to San Francisco on Wednesday, the 19th. We will worship with the Oceanview congregation Wednesday evening, and then we will depart from San Francisco Thursday morning.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, as you follow Him.

The Jensens