Moshi, Tanzania

We are thankful to the Lord for the privilege to continue a little longer in His service. Over the past few months we have been able to visit several district assemblies and enjoyed this very much. In only a few places it was not advisable for Maria to come as they were semi-desert districts and too hot for her. A Tanzanian brother and I went.

We have been involved in the secondary schools ministry as we enjoy sharing the word of God with the many students and their interest to learn more of His Word. Remember in prayer the students at 'O' and 'A' levels final years. We have been able to supply more and more students with substantially discounted Bibles. Still, more requests come from students for more Bibles. It is encouraging to see so many students at the lessons, with their Bibles open and taking notes. At one school I was invited to address their general assembly with over five- hundred students and staff members. The students were respectful for such a gathering and the sharing of the word of God and worship.

We had joy and sadness of teaching two classes of O-Level students in two different secondary schools. It would be my last visit with them. After exams are over, they leave the school and do not return. On stressing the importance of reading the Word of God, the students gave me great joy when six of them declared openly before their fellow students that they had read all four Gospels during the last term. It is a good note for them to leave on and a great personal joy for Maria and I to observe their sincerity. Prayer is valued for these students that they will grow and be a blessing to all whom they may meet and with whom they may share God's Word.

In the Manyara Region, there is a dam for holding rain water from nearby mountains. It was destroyed but we were able to repair it. There are seven villages around the dam site. The local assembly there has an active outreach to these villages. At Wareta village there are now over twenty baptized believers and a soon- to-be established assembly. We had the thrill of witnessing the baptism of two young people from one family - a brother and sister. This was after a few weeks of Bible teaching of what the Word of God teaches about this great event in the life of the Church. Thankfully, Maria was able to come for the occasion. The believers were baptized in a part of the Karanga River which comes flowing down from the ice cap on top of Mount Kilimanjaro - some 19,000 feet high.

I was able to visit a small fruit market where a number of ladies were set up for a few hours to sell. On this occasion they asked me for some gospel literature to take with them to a much larger fruit market. Some, on their way back, would ask me for gospel tracts to take with them higher up into the mountains to share with their village people. I always enjoy this contact and to share the Gospel.

Maria continues, despite her years, to be very active in spreading the Word of God to sisters in the Bethel assembly and other villages. She helps poor children who are not able to have an education and endeavours to see they have an opportunity for school through a special fund she operates. She also takes a special interest in albino children and caring for those who are members of the local assembly at Katesh. Please do pray for this specialized work and Maria to have the health to continue in the work amongst children. We value your continual prayer fellowship for the Lord's work in Tanzania and we, His servants.

Winter 2013 Written by Ron & Maria Cunningham - Tanzania rm-cu-nningham@elct.org