VBS At First Baptist Church In Leasuburg, MO

What fun it was to spend several days with Pastor Tony and Lori Amato as they held VBS this summer at the First Baptist Church in Leasburg, Missouri!

Junior Church At Park Crest Baptist In Springfield, MO

The VBS children of Park Crest Baptist Church in Springfield, Missouri had a penny drive to help to continue Swahili Kid's Ministries in Tanzania. There were so many pennies, I couldn't even pick up the buckets. What a GREAT bunch of kids!

A Special Group Of Women!

The W.I.N.G.S Ladies Class at Park Crest Baptist. This is when I shared my ministry with the class this summer.

A Wonderful Visit With Two Incredible Ladies!

Please pray for Camille who is battling cancer and Nancy who is transitioning to a new job.

Swahili Kids Ministries

The past several years have found us meeting in this rented warehouse in the inner-city of Dar es Salaam. It is centrally located near to a main road. And it is in an ideal location for the ministries of our church.

The fact that it is a "rented" building has prevented us from building classrooms and renovating it to serve as a true worship center. After hunting for literally years to find an available & affordable piece of property, we are still without a place to call our own.

TOMMORROW my teammate and the founder of our church BBFI missionary, Mitch Calmes, will be meeting with the owner of our rented building. We have reason to believe that own landlord is now in need of money of will accept our offer to purchase it from him.

Won't you please pray right now that God will provide this building for our church. And as you go to your mid-week service this evening, please ask others to pray.

APRIL 2008 UPDATE

TANZANIA Shelly Henderson April 2008

A wise man once wrote that there is a time for everything. His words have certainly proved true during these first several months of 2008. What an adventure it has been watching God work out His purpose through these highs and lows.

A TIME TO MOURN: Fatuma was one of the cooks at our Manna Feeding Center. Recently I was called to her bedside as she was quite sick. I tried to pray for her as she chanted prayers to her false god, Allah. She begged me to forgive her, but wasn't interested in God's forgiveness. She knew Jesus died for her sins, but chose to refuse Him. She died with no hope.

A TIME TO SEW: My visit to the women's prison was unsettling as I accompanied a new believer to visit his mother who had abandoned him as a child. It was his desire to try to mend his bitter heart and to forgive her for going away one day leaving him alone--never to return. He was received with anger and scolding as to why he hadn't come sooner and with demands for money. Her heart was dark. She didn't deserve the forgiveness of her son, yet he chose to forgive.

A TIME TO BE BORN: With great anticipation we all waited for Mama Michael (a deacon's wife) to give birth to her third child. Knowing the risks of childbirth and the conditions at the local hospital, I must admit I was quite concerned. We've had babies and mothers alike not make it through. Yet, God answered our prayers and cute little Elizabeth arrived healthy and strong.

A TIME TO CAST AWAY: Essa, a witch doctor, started coming to our services last year. He was always late, had shifty eyes and had a distinct shuffle to his walk. After time he received Christ as his personal Savior. Then he disappeared for several weeks. When he returned he insisted on being baptized. On Easter Sunday his powders, potions, and charms were cast into a fire and burned once and for all!

A TIME TO DANCE: The 3rd Anniversary of Neema House Baptist Church was a day of great celebration! Many gave testimony as to how through the ministries of the church their lives have been changed through Jesus Christ.

A TIME TO KEEP SILENT: Practicing patience has been tough on me as I have struggled through water and electricity cuts and shortages. Even as I type this, the generator is running. Praise the Lord for the generator!

A TIME TO EMBRACE: My next furlough is just around the corner. Yesterday the children of our Kid's Bible Club gave me a wonderful send-off with hand-drawn pictures, hugs and handshakes. Please pray for a safe journey as I travel back to the USA next week. I so appreciate your prayers, support and friendship!

Shelly

Park Crest Baptist Church
816 West Republic Road
Springfield MO 65807

www.ShellyHendersonInTanzania.blogspot.com
Shelly@ShellyHenderson.com or ShellyTanzania@gmail.com

MANNA CARE CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PARTY

This past Wednesday our church held its annual Christmas party for the children of our Manna Care Feeding Center. You could see the anticipation on each child’s face as they came into our church. Upon their arrival they were given a new orange t-shirt.

Then they were directed to sit at their tables to wait for their traditional holiday meal of pilau (spiced rice with beef chunks), stir-fried shredded cabbage and carrots, a large slice of mango, a piece cake and a soda. The children wolfed down their meals in record time!

Wes and Zac, 2 college guys from Australia, led in a fun game of Zonk.

The youth performed an awesome Christmas skit.

Emmanuel Mathias taught a great lesson on The True Meaning of Christmas, and many responded to the invitation.

The party concluded when each child received a gift of new shoes, a backpack, Christian storybooks, pencils, and candy. (Gifts were sponsored by the Manna Worldwide Manger Offering.)

The children were ecstatic! The noise level in our concrete tin roofed building was at an all time high! What an incredible way to celebrate the birth of the Savior of the World!