We are currently on the move. We are heading towards Kenya and will be there in a couple days. We have had a very busy month. Some moments were difficult and others full of joy. We have many praises to share with you.
First is… the container is in Korogwe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We can’t believe it is here. The container process started in the US over a year ago and we have only been working on it from this end for the last three months. But those three months were difficult! We were blessed to have the funds donated to cover the ministry costs for getting the container released. The other fee we were waiting for was the taxes assessed on the container. We received approval from the government for the tax exemption and had to wait for them to release a check to cover the costs. Unfortunately, that process takes a while and our container was racking up storage fees at the port. The Lord answered our prayers and provided someone to loan us the money to cover the taxed amount and we’ll be able to refund them once we get the check from the government. We are so thankful for the timing of it all. George was assisted in wrapping up the container by Alan (leader of Africa Harvest of Hope) who is here with a team (more on that later). The container was delivered too late for us to unpack it before leaving for Kenya, but we are excited it’s here and will be waiting for us when we return after the baby is born. Thank you to everyone who prayed and held us up through the process. We feel a huge weight has been lifted off our shoulders. Although very frustrating at times, George learned a lot about shipping containers and working within the Tanzanian system.
Next praise… the team is here!!!! George went to Moshi to greet the team when they arrived in Tanzania on July 17th. Since their arrival, they have been a great source of joy for us. This team of nine from the US are a special group, put together by the Lord. They have been wonderful. Each person has been extremely flexible, patient and willing to do anything. While in Korogwe, they did VBS at the orphanage, worked on various construction projects at the orphanage and visited some widows and distributed some goods to them. On the 25th, the team headed to Moshi where they did VBS, construction projects and led Bible studies at a ministry called Yesu Anaweza (Jesus is Able). The team has finished their work in Moshi and headed to Arusha today. Tomorrow they will do a one day safari before traveling back to the US on Wednesday. The team has touched so many lives while they have been here. We wish you could see the smiles on all the children and adults they encountered. It is truly precious. We have been so blessed to spend so much time with the team. We traveled with them to Moshi and will get to do the safari with them before going to Kenya. We really love them and are thankful for everything they have done. Their presence here has really ministered to us as we were in need of a boost. To see photos and summaries of each day the team was here, visit our blog (www.thisisstaciesblog.blogspot.com)
Another praise… we found a house/dog sitter. Our friend, Lulu, is staying at our house while we are gone. We heard from her shortly after we left and she said she and the kids gave Nala a bath and walked her. Sounds like Nala is in good hands.
One more praise… Stacie’s pregnancy has been going well. She is in her last month of pregnancy and is due on August 31st. She has had a healthy pregnancy with very few issues. Only now is she starting to feel the normal pregnancy symptoms – back ache, puffiness and suddenly big belly!
Next up for us…becoming a family of three. We are going to be in Kenya in a couple days and have a lot to do. First up is finding a place to stay, then deciding where to deliver and before the baby arrives, finish my Kenya residency. Following the baby’s arrival, we need to get his passports and make arrangements to go back to Tanzania (once we are healed and cleared to travel) by the beginning of October, Lord willing. Lastly is working on Tanzanian work permits and ministry stuff from Kenya. George will probably go to Tanzania a couple times while Stacie remains in Kenya. Phew….. that’s a lot! As you can see, we would LOVE your prayers. We look forward to a couple months from now once all of these things are done and we are able to settle into life in Tanzania. For now, we are just trying to take it one day at a time and not get overwhelmed. Here is a summary of our prayer requests:
1. Safe travel back to the US for the team and safe travel for us to Kisumu
2. Wisdom when deciding where to deliver and a safe (and could I be so bold as to ask for easy?) delivery for Stacie and Eli
3. Finding a place to stay in Kenya for the next two months
4. Completion of Kenyan residency for Stacie and Tanzania work permits/residency for both of us.
5. Renewed vision and direction from the Lord regarding our ministry work in Tanzania. There are some challenging issues there to deal with that we need the Lord’s hand upon and guidance for the future.
6. Provision of a car for our family and ministry use.
A few of you are asking how our support is doing. We hope to give you a report in the next update since by then Stacie will have been away from the US for about a year and will better know our needs for the next year.
This was a long update! Thanks for hanging in there to read it all. We had a busy month, but a good one. A new phase of our ministry and family is beginning and we are so thankful you are with us through it all.
With love from Tanzania and Kenya,
George and Stacie
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