Tanzania Trip

The above picture is of the Rob Howell family. Working from right to left, Rob and Kara are in the back row, Kaylee, Kelsey, and Kristen are in the middle, and Robby is by himself in the front. This past summer from June 23 to July 8 I had the privilege of ministering with the Howell family in Mwanza, Tanzania, East Africa. The Howell’s were sent to Mwanza in July of 2000 by our home church, Inter-City Baptist Church in Allen Park, Michigan. Their objective has been to start and build up local churches of growing Christians. The Lord has enabled them to start three churches, a Bible Institute, and an orphanage.From the time I left Detroit on June 23 and returned home on July 8, my trip was filled with many profitable lessons, though I will only mention three. First, the unforgettable highlights of flying on British Air and Precision Air were greatly overshadowed by the blessing of ministering with the Howell family and the believers at the Sweya, Shadi, and Nyakaliro churches. I was able to rejoice in our Lord’s goodness in using one of DBTS’s graduates and his family to faithfully obey the great commission and to be used as instruments in equipping the believers in these three churches as they persevere in the faith. Second, I was able on this trip to further develop my friendship with the Howell family. I have known Rob since he was in fourth grade at Inter-City Baptist Elementary School. Though I did not know Kara and the children nearly as well as Rob, this trip gave me a first-hand observations of Kara’s godly character and to see how she and Rob are raising their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Since Rob and Kara’s children are about the ages of my grandchildren, I felt like I was right at home. Third, the Tanzanian believers challenged me to a greater faithfulness in the Lord’s work and to diligently pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ in Tanzania. According to his gracious purposes, the Lord used the students at the Bible Institute to minister to me. While I marveled at some of the backgrounds that the believers in these three churches came from, I constantly reminded myself that all believers, from every tribe and kindred, have two things in common: we justly deserve eternal condemnation and God through his monergistic work of regeneration saved us from our total inability and just condemnation. My trip taught me, again, to thank God for grace.One of my purposes with this post is to introduce you to the Howell family. To stay current with their ministry, you should regularly check out their blog. I should also note that, while the Howell’s primary objective in Tanzania is to establish and strengthen local churches, it has also become necessary for them to start a children’s home. You can find out more information by clicking Tumaini (”Hope”) Children’s Home. Another purpose of this post is to call your attention to the pictures from my trip to Tanzania. You can view these photos by clicking the link Tanzania trip. If you would like to see a travel blog from Pastor Jon Trainer’s 2005 trip to Tanzania, follow the links at the end of the pictures.

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