heading for home ..

The team have arrived at Makumi National Park where they will stay overnight and enjoy a safari.  Enjoy the fun guys .. you deserve it for working so hard the past 2 weeks

most recent photos from Tanzania

Tom sent these last night by email .. hope you enjoy them

The Welcome at Kitelera

Tom just called to tell me that when they got to Kitelera this morning there was a welcome celebration for them.  The elders and the children were there and they sang to them.  Tom said I'd probably have cried my eyes out as it was so touching.  I could cry just thinking about it.  I wish I was there!

More tonight when Tom gets a chance to call me again.

blessings ...

I cannot wait for an update from Tom on the Church Service yesterday in Kitelera.  He told me that it was a wonderful service and that there was so much blessing.

He said that there were two baptisms - GLORY to GOD!

moving on ....

Tonight the team are resting in the Twiga Hotel in Dodoma!  They have moved!  Tomorrow they start work in Kitelera and for many reasons including the bad weather and the road conditions, Tom has decided that it will be closer and safer to make the base in DODOMA.

Sleep well team.

Please continue to pray for them and the new challenges in Kitelera.

Jesus Christ is Risen today .....

Siku ya Mbingu kujawa na sifa,

(One day when Heaven was filled with His praises)

Siku ya Mbingu kujawa na sifa,

Dhambi zilizidi duniani;

Yesu akaja azaliwe mtu,

Awe na watu ulimwenguni.

Alinipenda, alinifia,

Ameondoa na dhambi zangu;

Alifufuka nipewe haki,

Yuaja tena Mwokozi wangu.

Na siku moja walikwenda naye,

Wakamkaza Msalabani;

Aliumia, aliaibishwa

Ili atuokoe dhambini.

Siku hiyo wakamlaza chini

Kaburini alipumzika;

Matumaini yetu wenye dhambi,

Ni Mwokozi, kwake twaokoka.

Kaburi likashindwa kumshika;

Jiwe likatoka mlangoni,

Alifufuka kwa kushinda kwake,

Naye yuko mileie Mbinguni.

Siku moja atatujia tena;

Utukufu wake tutaona;

Atawaleta na wapenzi wetu;

Mwokozi wangu tutaonana.

Easter Sunday in Kitelera

He is Risen.  All over the world today Christians are celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Some members of the team celebrated at dawn as the sun rose in HOMBOLO.

They all attended the church in Kitelera for morning worship and sang several pieces including 'One day when Heaven was filled with His praises' in SWAHILI!

This little church was filled with the presence of the RISEN LORD.  There was truly 'showers of blessing' today.

new photos from Tom

bye HOMBOLO

Tom decided tonight that the best thing to do because of the roads, weather and distance that needs to be travelled to Kitelera next week to move the base to DODOMA.

Everyone is packing tonight and leaving tomorrow morning for Easter Sunday morning services in Kitelera. They will set up camp for the next 5 days in DODOMA.

Then it all starts again.  Another school, new kids and working against the clock to make a difference.

finishing off ....

Although the team have completed 7 classrooms apparently that's only half the school!  They were at school today putting on the finishing touches.

Tom reported today that they had heavy rain yesterday in HOMBOLO.  That makes it very difficult to travel as the roads will be treacherous.

On top of that today one of the vehicles broke down and some of the team were held up in Dodoma.  Tom needs your prayers for the wisdom to make decisions necessary to the work planned for next week.

Playtime ..

Good Friday in HOMBOLO.  No work today.  Instead the team spent the afternoon with the children.  They played games - football was the favourite no doubt!

At this time I'm not sure about tomorrow's plans as I didn't get to speak to Tom tonight.  He's away to bed early - still got the cold and feeling poorly.

Continue to pray for them all please.
 

last full work day in HOMBOLO

Well seven classrooms are fully painted!  What an achievement in such a short space of time.  The team are to be congratulated and I know that that's not what they want but how wonderful it is nonetheless.

I hear that they painted a large 'twiga' on the wall of one of the classrooms and a 'hippo' on another.  Twiga, in Swahili is giraffe.

They have also painted educational artwork in the form of numbers and words on other classrooms.. Won't the kids be thrilled when they return to school?  It is a completely different learning environment now.  I cannot wait to see the pictures the team bring home.  I'll post them as soon as I can.

Tomorrow afternoon the team are throwing a games session for the kids - it's party  time too!  Alison brought balloons, Chris brought footballs and some of our friends and sponsors sent frisbees.  There's gonna be some fun there tomorrow.

The team have been practising a hymn to sing on Sunday morning in Church.  It is 'One day when Heaven is filled with His praises' and they will sing it in Swahili!  Tom is preaching.  They will be worshipping in the little Church at Kitelera on Easter Sunday.

On a more serious note Tom has been unwell most of this week with sore throat and aches and pains - 'flu-like symptoms.  Please pray for him and a speedy recovery.

keeping at it ...

Day 2 - lots more work done today.  Lots of kids at school and lots of fun too.

Tom reports that they will complete the work at HOMBOLO tomorrow because there will be nothing like that done on Good Friday.  Hopefully that will be a day of more fun and games with the kids.

April has been busy with the camcorder and hopefully Jemma has had her note book out.  She is our journalist for the trip.

Tom made the dinner tonight to give Jeff a day off and a visit to the school.

Tom is not sleeping well as he said that there is a 'creature of unknown origin' in the roofspace overhead.  At about 3.30am it makes noises like scratching and dragging something!  He thinks it might be some sort of lizard! Anyway he borrowed ear-plugs from Jackie and he is hoping to sleep tonight.

Please remember them all in your prayers:
Tom Robinson, Alison Robinson, Chris Lindsay, Joan Rankin, Jim McILroy, Brendan McIlroy, Iris Henderson, Judith Bell, Jackie Robinson, Nicola Spiers, April Matchett, Jeff Higgins, Ivan Crowe, Jemma Higgins and Tim Matchett,

1st day at work ....!

The team have just completed their first day at work.  They painted 2 classrooms at the HOMBOLO school and met some of the kids.  Tom says that not all the kids were at school today.  April was able to shoot some video. Jeff is doing the cooking and served dinner to tired and hungry people following a busy day.  It's quite warm - Tom thinks in the 30's.

Iris was in charge of the devotional tonight.

By the way this is the first day they have had electric at the compound.  Apparently a storm took out overhead cables the other night.

They are all in bed now as I write this.  The time difference is 2 hours ahead of us.

We're here ... finally

The Team are spending their first night at the compound close to the school at HOMBOLO.  It's very basic living quarters that will be home for the next 11 days.

Tomorrow they begin the work with the children and teachers and they will make a start painting classrooms, drawing murals and finishing off a classroom that needs further construction.

I heard that there had been some rain in Hombolo, necessary for the crops, but it will make travel difficult especially on the dirt roads.

Pray for their safety please and that the work they are doing will be blessed by God and Him glorified.

Happy birthday Tom xx

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear Tom
Happy birthday to you
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

They have arrived!

The team, tired but happy, arrived safely in Dodoma for their first night on African soil.  We look forward to daily reports from the Director. 

2 days to go ....

Won't be long team .. then up,up and away!

3 days and counting

The team members are getting so excited about the trip.  What an opportunity and life-changing experiences await the '15'?

Team Members from April Work & Witness Trip

Jambo!

Tonight was the last class of the crash course in Swahili that some of the team members attended.  As far as I know they all passed with flying colours.

Thanks to Sheila Long their tutor - she was brilliant.

The Work & Witness Team - April 2011

Pray for the Team: Tom Robinson (team leader), Alison Robinson, April Matchett, Jim McIlroy, Brendan McIlroy, Ivan Crowe, Jemma Higgins, Nicola Spiers, Chris Lindsay, Jackie Robinson, Jeff Higgins, Tim Matchett, Joan Rankin, Judith Bell and Iris Henderson. Pray for their safety and that God will be blessed and glorified as they work alongside the kids and teachers.