(CONTRIBUTED)
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 says: ‘Now there are varieties of gifts, but there is the same spirit; and there are varieties of ministries, and yet there is the same Lord; and there are varieties of operations, and yet it is the same God who performs all the operations in all persons.
Later in that same chapter it talks about the body with its many different members, it refers to the many different people that make up God’s organisation.
My experiences in Tanzania really helped me appreciate the trueness of the above words, I met so many people who do so many things in Jehovah’s service, the literal fulfilment of a scripture is not what I expected to be taking from Tanzania but I am more than happy that I did and for this one reason alone I would say to anyone to go and have the same wonderful experiences that I did.
Steve and Avril really looked after me and made me feel safe which was greatly appreciated but they also helped me go places and meet the brothers and sisters of Tanzania which made my time with them so special.
Whilst I was with Steve and Avril we attended the Kusini congregation, I went to both English and Swahili meetings and at that time next to the kingdom hall a new missionary home was being built and I expect that this is now finished and serving the needs of the missionaries very well.
Yes within those first few days of arriving I had met, Need Greaters, Pioneers, International Construction Volunteers and a Circuit Overseer who hugged me so tight that I think this is how Jehovah God would hug us if he could and of course I met those that make up the congregations of Kusini, its not an easy life in Tanzania and the brothers and sisters are poor and have many problems with health and generally just living but they serve Jehovah very faithfully and despite hardship love the truth.
I went on field service whilst there and it was amazing, so much respect for God’s word and such respectful people in general whilst working from door to door, I also went with Steve and Avril on their studies and that was for me an eye opener to the conditions that some people live and work in, yet they took time out of their day to sit and learn about Jehovah God, it was a real humbling experience, I shall never complain again about my life or anything trivial in it.
On one of the weekends we travelled to a small neighbouring congregation and stayed with Musa and Sarah and their two children Samwali and Gracie they have a small farm which they share with their close family, we pitched our tents behind their home and Musa and his wife looked after us with there meagre means but still they treat us with such kindness, again we went on service and on the Sunday Steve gave the talk in Swahili, we had 26 in attendance at the Kingdom Hall which consisted of a mud floor and walls made from wooden poles, polythene and vine arrangement we sat on small benches and I can honestly say it was the best meeting I have been too, I met some lovely people and those memories will stay close to me heart, our Sunday dinner after the meeting was a freshly killed chicken prepared with herbs and vegetables and the ugali bread, perfect.
Of course I did some touristy things also, a safari which included a lion killing a wilder beast and some days out swimming in some of the more upmarket hotel swimming pools relaxing and enjoying the sun.
But the things I enjoyed the most, the things I will always remember are those that showed me Jehovah’s wonderful organisation with its many avenues of service.
So, will I go back, I hope so with all my heart, would I recommend that you go, of course I will.
Thanks Steve and Avril for such a wonderful life experience.
Graham White
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