Harold and Lana Pirtle:
We went. We saw. We’re in!
Lana and I both had the opportunity to go to Tanzania over the past several weeks. The purpose of the trip was for us to see, first hand, the need for Jesus and how responsive Tanzanians are to the preaching the Gospel. So we went. It took nearly 2 days to get there; from Jacks Creek to Nashville, from Nashville to JFK International Airport, from JFK to Amsterdam, Netherlands, from Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, and from Kilimanjaro to Kisongo, Tanzania, a district on the outskirts of Arusha. That’s a LOOONG trip but it has turned out to be one of the best experiences we have ever experienced. Now to what we saw.
We saw the hustle and bustle of a preaching school, Andrew Connally School of Preaching, with staff and students full of love and zeal for God and His word. I actually had the opportunity to help my dear friend and brother, Mike Benson, teach a class in 1, 2 and 3 John. The students are absolutely amazing and they captured our hearts. You could see from their faces how anxious they were to listen and learn!
We saw a group of students and a faculty member from FHU so excited to go out and spread the good news of Jesus to perfect strangers. Their excitement was contagious!
We saw a grandfather bring his grandson to do mission work for a week and safari for a week as a graduation gift to his grandson. Their zeal for the Lord was truly refreshing and encouraging.
We saw staff members of ACSOP that went over and beyond to make us feel comfortable and loved.
We saw our interpreter, a young man of 35 years, become so close to our hearts he now calls us mom and dad and we call him son.
We saw the Tanzanian people anxious to learn the bible with over 24 obeying the Gospel.
We saw a new convert cry simply by giving him a Bible.
We saw the hearts of Muslims, Catholics, Pentecostals, Lutherans, and Seventh Day Adventists change when they learned the simple truth of Christ’s church.
We saw an alcoholic obey the Gospel and persuade his alcoholic friend to do the same.
We saw the hospitality of our Tanzanian brethren welcome us into their homes to eat with them.
We saw little children in an orphanage being provided for by two brothers in Christ (who have very little themselves). It reminded us of the impoverished brethren in Macedonia giving much, even beyond their means, to support other brethren in need (II Cor. 8:1-5).
How could we, who have so much, NOT give as well?
And we heard some of the most beautiful singing, hearts full of the joy of Christ.
And, as an added bonus, we saw some of the most beautiful country and animals one can only imagine while on safari during the closing 2 days of our trip. Something we will never forget.
Yes, we saw and we’re in! You can expect to see more from God as He works through us to spread the Gospel and help with the needs of the people in Tanzania.
To God be the Glory!