Monday, September 13, 2010
Going Home
Wednesday I board the plane here in Washington DC to start my long trip back to Tanzania. I have made a big loop from Washington DC, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, Rhode Island then back to VA. It has been 6 weeks plus and now I am gearing up to start my next flight to Arusha, Tanzania. I am anxious to return and continue the work in Tanzania. Our school has started the third term and I need to return to lead the staff and students to finish well this school year. I want to thank all the hosts and hostesses throughout my trip. God has provided and allowed me to tell many people about the field of TZ.
Friday, September 3, 2010
August newsletter 2010
Dear Friends, August 2010
Hafsa is a young married woman who is pregnant with her first child. She is Islamic and is living next to our city church. She has come several times to the church for special events, she has been visited by various ladies of the church, and she has heard the gospel several times . . . no decision yet for Christ. I have personally talked with her time and time again, with love and with trying to pave the way for her to hear the gospel one more time. She needs the Lord. Pray for Hafsa so that she will open her heart and ears to the Lord Jesus and to the “life- giving gospel.”
Mariamu is a young teen who is Islamic. She came to Arusha to help a young mom with her kids. Mariamu is quiet and very unassuming but she is listening. She comes to church each Sunday with her employer and she is aware of what is happening but no decision for Christ yet. I have personally asked her about her life and if she has any questions about salvation through Christ. One Sunday at invitation time, I leaned over to ask her if she understood the gospel. She says she does not understand yet and is not ready to make any decisions. Pray for Mariamu. She is listening and she is open but not ready for accepting Christ yet. Pray that the Holy Spirit will convict her of her sins and help her to “be open-eyed” to the gospel of Jesus Christ. She is blinded by the religion of Islam and her parents have a hold on her loyalties.
Mama and Baba Megan are the parents of one of our students at Bible Baptist Academy. I went with one of our faithful ladies to visit Mama Megan and was surprised to have both parents willing to sit with us. We talked about the school and about their two children. Then I turned to Mama Megan and started to share the gospel, but was surprised that Baba Megan was intent in listening too. I asked her if she wanted to accept Christ and she said yes. I turned to Baba Megan and told him that I was wondering if I should ask one of the men of the church to come and lead him to Christ, which is very cultural in TZ to do. He said no, he was ready!! I was thrilled as they both accepted Christ that day!!
Hope. The Bible talks about hope in Christ. That is why I am in Tanzania. To give the gospel to ones who do not have hope. Many are relying on family, government, friends, or religion to give them hope. Leading ones to the Lord is the heart beat of all of the varied ministries in Arusha.
Ministry opportunity. We are trying to purchase additional property in Arusha for ministry. It is $55,000 and we ask you to consider this and help us purchase this prime piece of property.
Thank you for your prayers and support of the ministry here in Tanzania.
Joanne Foltz
Hafsa is a young married woman who is pregnant with her first child. She is Islamic and is living next to our city church. She has come several times to the church for special events, she has been visited by various ladies of the church, and she has heard the gospel several times . . . no decision yet for Christ. I have personally talked with her time and time again, with love and with trying to pave the way for her to hear the gospel one more time. She needs the Lord. Pray for Hafsa so that she will open her heart and ears to the Lord Jesus and to the “life- giving gospel.”
Mariamu is a young teen who is Islamic. She came to Arusha to help a young mom with her kids. Mariamu is quiet and very unassuming but she is listening. She comes to church each Sunday with her employer and she is aware of what is happening but no decision for Christ yet. I have personally asked her about her life and if she has any questions about salvation through Christ. One Sunday at invitation time, I leaned over to ask her if she understood the gospel. She says she does not understand yet and is not ready to make any decisions. Pray for Mariamu. She is listening and she is open but not ready for accepting Christ yet. Pray that the Holy Spirit will convict her of her sins and help her to “be open-eyed” to the gospel of Jesus Christ. She is blinded by the religion of Islam and her parents have a hold on her loyalties.
Mama and Baba Megan are the parents of one of our students at Bible Baptist Academy. I went with one of our faithful ladies to visit Mama Megan and was surprised to have both parents willing to sit with us. We talked about the school and about their two children. Then I turned to Mama Megan and started to share the gospel, but was surprised that Baba Megan was intent in listening too. I asked her if she wanted to accept Christ and she said yes. I turned to Baba Megan and told him that I was wondering if I should ask one of the men of the church to come and lead him to Christ, which is very cultural in TZ to do. He said no, he was ready!! I was thrilled as they both accepted Christ that day!!
Hope. The Bible talks about hope in Christ. That is why I am in Tanzania. To give the gospel to ones who do not have hope. Many are relying on family, government, friends, or religion to give them hope. Leading ones to the Lord is the heart beat of all of the varied ministries in Arusha.
Ministry opportunity. We are trying to purchase additional property in Arusha for ministry. It is $55,000 and we ask you to consider this and help us purchase this prime piece of property.
Thank you for your prayers and support of the ministry here in Tanzania.
Joanne Foltz
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Nathan's wedding in the states
Well, as I write I am trying to get all of my affairs in order and start to pack for 7 weeks in the states. I hate leaving as I feel I have just arrived. So much to do here, but my youngest son is getting married, so it is imperative that I go and participate. I want to see family and visit a few churches and report. I am so torn between here and there. Tonight they had a small party for me and for Nathan's wedding. They hate to see me go and I hate to go. The last time I left, I left with Tom sick and prospects of not ever returning, but only God allowed me to return to my "home." I am happy to be here and minister with the ones God called me to. I am torn between my homeland and my home. I know I will return and He will give me the wisdom and safety necessary, Lord willing.
Home. It is a strange word. Now my definition has changed a bit since Tom's homecoming because now, Heaven seems more and more like home. As I think of my Lord and my "home" in Heaven, this earth seems not so much home anymore. I want to be faithful to Him as long as He gives me breath, but some day, I will breath new air. God is so good to give us eternal life with Him. Home. Home sweet home.
Home. It is a strange word. Now my definition has changed a bit since Tom's homecoming because now, Heaven seems more and more like home. As I think of my Lord and my "home" in Heaven, this earth seems not so much home anymore. I want to be faithful to Him as long as He gives me breath, but some day, I will breath new air. God is so good to give us eternal life with Him. Home. Home sweet home.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
March newsletter 2010
Dear Supporters and Prayer warriors, March 2010
I cannot thank you enough for all of your prayers in behalf of myself and my ministry here in Tanzania. God is so faithful and He has given me so much to be thankful for in this new year of 2010.
Bible Baptist Academy is going strong the first term and we have 31 sponsored children. Our student body is at 165 now and some of the classes are bulging at the seams. Our teachers have been faithful to the task of educating and nourishing the students of our Christian school. I, as headmistress, am very pleased with this good start of 2010. This year we will have our first government test of our Standard four, like grade 4 in the states. It is a milestone for our school. The community has watched us grow since we started in 2006 and they have been amazed at the quality of education we provide. It is a ministry, not a business, unlike so many other English medium schools in the area. God has given us a platform to give the gospel to the middle class Tanzanians of the community of Olorieni.
God has provided the funds to build a two story building for our school’s future use and for the church’s use. I teach the Bible classes for all the classes and I have been teaching about the tabernacle. The tabernacle was a place that was in the middle of the “camp.” We feel like we are in the middle of the “camp” and all eyes are on us. We want to please the Lord in our faithfulness and in our love of the Lord by giving the gospel in every way we are provided. God has given the church here in Olorieni the vision to reach our community for Christ. The school is one of those tools given to us to use for His honor and glory. This new building is an amazement to the community.
The church plant in Mromboo celebrated their 3rd anniversary last Sunday. We took four small vans and two cars to the church plant for the celebration. The tent was filled with children and the church full of adults with standing room only and some on the porch looking in. Amidst singing, skits, good preaching and great food, hundreds attended and praised the Lord for His faithfulness to The Baptist Church of Mromboo, the baby church. Pastor Moses and Mrs. Moses were honored for their faithfulness. They honored my teammates and me with presents to say thank you for the years of “raising “ them as our children in the Lord. The picture is me with the wrap they gave me. This was a great honor and it reminded me of Tom and his ministry to the church in Mromboo and to the churches here in Tanzania. God has allowed me to continue my ministry here and I thank God for His lovingkindness to me.
In His service in Eastern Africa,
Mrs. Joanne Foltz
I cannot thank you enough for all of your prayers in behalf of myself and my ministry here in Tanzania. God is so faithful and He has given me so much to be thankful for in this new year of 2010.
Bible Baptist Academy is going strong the first term and we have 31 sponsored children. Our student body is at 165 now and some of the classes are bulging at the seams. Our teachers have been faithful to the task of educating and nourishing the students of our Christian school. I, as headmistress, am very pleased with this good start of 2010. This year we will have our first government test of our Standard four, like grade 4 in the states. It is a milestone for our school. The community has watched us grow since we started in 2006 and they have been amazed at the quality of education we provide. It is a ministry, not a business, unlike so many other English medium schools in the area. God has given us a platform to give the gospel to the middle class Tanzanians of the community of Olorieni.
God has provided the funds to build a two story building for our school’s future use and for the church’s use. I teach the Bible classes for all the classes and I have been teaching about the tabernacle. The tabernacle was a place that was in the middle of the “camp.” We feel like we are in the middle of the “camp” and all eyes are on us. We want to please the Lord in our faithfulness and in our love of the Lord by giving the gospel in every way we are provided. God has given the church here in Olorieni the vision to reach our community for Christ. The school is one of those tools given to us to use for His honor and glory. This new building is an amazement to the community.
The church plant in Mromboo celebrated their 3rd anniversary last Sunday. We took four small vans and two cars to the church plant for the celebration. The tent was filled with children and the church full of adults with standing room only and some on the porch looking in. Amidst singing, skits, good preaching and great food, hundreds attended and praised the Lord for His faithfulness to The Baptist Church of Mromboo, the baby church. Pastor Moses and Mrs. Moses were honored for their faithfulness. They honored my teammates and me with presents to say thank you for the years of “raising “ them as our children in the Lord. The picture is me with the wrap they gave me. This was a great honor and it reminded me of Tom and his ministry to the church in Mromboo and to the churches here in Tanzania. God has allowed me to continue my ministry here and I thank God for His lovingkindness to me.
In His service in Eastern Africa,
Mrs. Joanne Foltz
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