Hujambo! (Hello in Swahili)
Habari gani? (How are you in Swahili)
OK, I'm switching back to English now because that's about all that I know of Swahili so far :) Some of you are probably wondering, "Why is she speaking in Swahili anyways?", it's because I'm headed to Tanzania this June and that is what they speak there!
Greetings in the name of the Lord! I'm very excited about my upcoming adventure to my neighboring country (I'm in Uganda right now) of Tanzania this June with KidZ at Heart International! I just wanted to take some time to share with you regarding the ministry work I will be doing there. As you know I have lots of KidZ ministry trips on the horizon (Jinja in Uganda, Nairobi in Kenya this April, and other rural parts of Uganda like Gulu, Hoima, and Ngora later in the year) but I'd like to share more in detail about this Tanzania trip right now.
KidZ at Heart International traveled to Tanzania several years back to help train local Tanzanian children's ministry workers to better equip them to teach and reach kids for Christ. For 4 years, KidZ focused on the Hai District in Northern Tanzania and it was a great success. In 2008, KidZ at Heart Senior Editor for Training Materials, Valorie Eddy, was part of this trip and her heart for the local Tanzanians grew. She is now going to be leading a KidZ at Heart team to another area that hasn't had the opportunity to have children's ministry training. This year KidZ at Heart will be focusing on the East Kilimanjaro District and will continue to for at least 3 years. Many of you are probably saying "Kilimanjaro? That sounds familiar", that's because I'm referring to Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa! We will be ministering to villages under the slopes of Kilimanjaro :) I will be meeting up with our KidZ team there June 12th-29th. It's a wonderful team made up of 6 people from various parts of the USA that have a huge heart for children and training and equipping children's ministry leaders. I've already been skyping monthly with the team and I know we (Valorie, Corliss, Calissa, Kathleen, Rick, and myself) are truly going to make an impact in the lives of so many children and leaders throughout Tanzania. We will be holding a KidZ Ministry Equipping Conference for one week with Pastor Mtui's church. Children's ministry pastors and leaders from the surrounding areas (Marangu and Moshi) will also travel to attend. Together, we (me and you!) are going to be sharing the love of Christ with so many adults and children!
I simply couldn't do any of this ministry work without my sending team. So for this, I'm eternally thankful! Together we are making up the hands and feet of Christ to reach the nations! It is no small thing that you are doing, I want you to know and remember this. There are children on this continent that don't know the love of Jesus. There are children that don't have hope and are feeling neglected. There are leaders that have lost encouragement and want to give up because the work is so much and too hard. But your prayers and your giving are changing that. Through KidZ trainings, leaders are getting the skills and encouragement that they need and thousands of children's lives will be impacted and changed for the better through these leaders. Please don't ever forget this. God sees every integrated part of the work we are doing together :)
This trip is approaching quickly and I'm currently in need of $2000 to meet trip deadlines. Half is due April 12th, the remaining is due May 12th. I'm covering my own airfare costs to Tanzania ($600) and your monthly giving is still covering my living/ministry expenses for being here in Africa. Still, I am in need of raising as much of this $2000 trip cost as I can to cover the cost of accommodation, food, car transport, and ministry supplies for this trip to Tanzania.
Firstly, will you pray about this upcoming trip? Will you become one of my prayer partners and specifically pray for the team and the leaders/children we will minister to?
Secondly, will you consider donating towards this trip? I know together we can make this happen and I plan to put as much of the money I currently have towards this trip also.
I'm so very excited about being part of this amazing KidZ team to Tanzania!
Kwa heri (goodbye in Swahili) and Mungu akubariki (God bless you in Swahili)!
-Shannon
To Donate Online:
http://www.worldoutreach.org/donations Select my Name. The system can process USA and International cards. You can also set up automatic Monthly Gifts if you choose the "monthly" option.
Or Mail Checks to:
World Outreach Ministries, P.O. Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 (Designate for Routzahn, Fund Code #91)
