Africa Project

I have just returned from Tanzania, and I want to share with you an exciting report on the progress being made. I was blessed to have traveled on this journey with 16 others—Kristin, my wife, three elders from Scottsdale Bible, grandmothers with their grandchildren, and a family with three young daughters. It was pure joy to see: Don and Sue Petty and their daughters in a classroom in Mairowa reading stories to Maasai children and teaching them English; Barbara Uhlmann sitting in a dirt field teaching eight Maasai mothers a lesson from the Community Health Evangelism program before the ladies worked in their garden plots; and two of our elders, Andy Everroad and Kory Schuknecht building chicken coops with Andy’s daughter, Ashley (age 11). My wife Kristin and Rosanne Burck and her grandson Jordan (age 15) were able to visit the mud hut bomas of the children they have sponsored since the beginning of the project.

Without the help of Gail Schuknecht, a great teacher, I don’t think we could have accomplished all we did in the classrooms. She got us all organized and helped us understand how to present the many lessons we had. In Kondoa, one of the best parts was to work with the kids who have been in our school for two years and are now speaking English and can communicate with us. Our first-grade students were recently tested and are functioning equivalent to the third graders in the public schools. We had such an amazing time with the staff and students at the schools. When you see how difficult life is for these kids, and then see them at school—laughing and learning with big smiles on their faces—it’s a great reminder why we are doing what we are doing. These children LOVE their school! In fact, the headmaster told my wife that he has to shoo them off the school grounds at the end of the day because they hate to leave. What a blessing to know that the schools are enriching their lives.

One other major highlight occurred when the Petty’s visited the home of their sponsored child Pietro. We went to meet and encourage him and his single mother. What a surprise the Lord had in store for us. As Don and Sue shared their love for this single mother and their commitment to pray for her she began to weep. They were able share the Good News with her, and as they all kneeled on the floor together she prayed to receive Christ! Mission accomplished! Encouraged hearts and changed lives!

Keep praying, it’s working! —Fred Beasley, pastor of Outreach