Almost done traveling for this furlough

I have been from MO to Louisiana, Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Arkansas, and back to Missouri.  I have one more trip to Rhode Island and Massachusetts and then back to Missouri.  I have driven over 8000 miles so far and I am not done yet.  Thank you all for the prayers because I know God has helped me keep alert and safe because of the faithful prayers.

I am with my family, most of them, in Missouri since this week is a whirlwind of activity.  My son and daughter in love are getting approved by the BBFI as short term missionaries to Tanzania on Wednesday.  Thursday, my twins and Nathan's wife are graduating from Baptist Bible College with parties afterwards with extended families and friends.  Friday is my daughter's wedding rehearsal with a flurry of activity.  Saturday is the big day for Megan and Jeff Jones.  They are getting married here in Springfield MO and they will be living in Arkansas where Jeff is a youth pastor in a church in Springdale. 

I praise the Lord for His provision and His guidance over the last few months.  I miss my ministries and the people in Tanzania and know that He will continue to strengthen me as I go back on June 16th. 

My sweet grandson, Trevor

Click on the picture to go to the blogsite above.  Joanne

Mission Revival

I have just been in a tremendous missions conference in Florida.  The pastor had already preached and taught his people about missions, their responsibilies, and about faith promise.  The conference was all about us; the winning of the lost to Christ.  The mission conference was really a revival to encourage more giving, going and praying.  We each had a night to share our ministries and our hearts.  It was a great week!  The people were excited and ready for us.  They had been praying for this week and looking forward to the missions week.  We had great attendance each night and we increased from Wednesday night to Friday! ( Most meetings actually go down in attendance.)  Part of the reason is that each night the ladies of the church brought different ethic foods and we all enjoyed Mexican, Italian, and Chinese (which was mostly bought through a local restaurant).  During this time, the people talked to us missionaries and asked great questions and got to really know us. 

God truly blessed and on Sunday morning, Faith Promise Sunday, the goal was almost met and now, it will go over and above the goal!!  This is an area that has lots of retired persons on fixed incomes in a bad economy.  Go figure.  God has blessed them and they are trusting God for the future not the stock market. 

I am still on the road but with meetings like this; it is a joy!  Keep praying for me as I travel and make my way down the road to more meetings in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Missouri. 

Newsletter March 2011

Dear friends and supporters, March 2011




Thank you so much for all of the prayers for me the last few months. I am in the states now on a short three month furlough. I was privileged to go to the Philippines for the BBFI global meetings in Cebu City. I was blessed by the ministries at Bible Baptist Church in Cebu. I had nine unbelievable days being ministered to and ministering to others. God has truly blessed the faithfulness of the BBFI missionaries and the national pastors/Christians in this truly remarkable church lead by a national pastor since the late 60’s. I was able to be part of their visitation ministry, taught a Sunday School class, talked with many Bible College students about their futures on the mission field, counseled several young ladies, and prayed with several about Tanzania as their future mission field. God truly blessed all of the fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ in Cebu. Thank you to those who helped me go to Cebu, for the ones who prayed for my travels to the Philippines and then to the states for furlough. I return to TZ in June.



I am in Florida at this time and will be in supporting churches until the first part of April. In April, I make my way to Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan for the whole month of May. The first part of May, I will be traveling to Missouri for Fellowship Week when my youngest son and his wife will be approved as TEAM missionaries to Tanzania through the BBFI. Then in the same week, Megan, Nathan and Tiffany, Nathan’s new wife, will be graduating from Baptist Bible College. And if that is not enough, on Saturday after graduation, Megan is getting married to Jeff Jones, who is a 2009 graduate of BBC Springfield.



God has given safety on the road, provision in my needs, and a peace that guides me daily from His Word and His Spirit. I appreciate your prayers as I continue this short, but intense furlough. This is the first time for me to travel by car alone without Tom. I know that some drivers may think I am talking to myself when they pass me in the car, but the Lord and I are having lots of good conversations as I travel down all the highways. My dad always said, “There is no love on these roads, but only the love of the Good Lord.” I agree.



Joanne Foltz

Missionary to Tanzania since 1997

P O Box 191, Springfield, MO 65801

On the Road Again, Furlough

In the past, Tom drove the long miles of deputation and then furloughs.  As he drove,  I talked, watched for signs, looked up things on the map (before the days of GPS) , and would give him a break from driving so he could take a nap.  I now appreciate his willingness to drive more than ever since now I am doing the same but without him.  I have driven from Missouri to Louisiana and now I am driving around Florida.  Long miles with the radio, gospel CDs, and the Lord to keep me company.  I talk to the Lord out loud now days more than ever.  I am sure some drivers think I am talking to myself but I keep an "open line" of communication going with the Lord.  Since most states frown on cell phones being used when driving, I try to keep that to a minimum but they cannot stop me from talking to the Lord!

nine days in the philippines

Here are some pictures of my trip to the Philippines. 

A sweet family surrendered to the Lord

This family has been so active in our ministries here in Arusha.  Baba and Mama Paulo are such sweet people and good parents.  They love the Lord and God called Baba Paulo a year ago to preach the gospel.  He was called to Morogoro to pastor the church there.  They are thrilled to go but on Sunday, His commission service, we all had tears.  The picture tell you that the kids were a little sad but all are ready and happy to go to their "Ur" to spread the gospel.  God has called them to a new area, a new weather, a new home, but they are ready to follow the Lord and obey His call on their lives. 

We are praying God will bless them with souls!  We will miss them but our best busy people are who God calls.  We need to train and then release them to God's will, which may include them going to a new city, new state or a new country to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Here are the girls, Eliza, Neema, and Agnes with their teacher and friend, Mama Sabina. 

Here is Baba and Mama Paulo with two good friends, Filberto on the left and Abraham on the right.  The blue outfits are from a choir they are both in.  They sang for the last time with the choir that Baba Paulo started a few years ago.  They did a superior job with the song.  We will miss them.  They have been an important part of our ministry in Arusha but now the Lord has called them to another ministry.  May God richly bless them in Morogoro.