February 2008

ARRIVALS

The Owens'...
New long term missionaries from Canada, Pastors David and Judi Owens (with Justine and Zach, their two children), arrived December 12th and will be of great assistance in the Leaders College, follow up on the field, and Judi as my P.A. We commend them as worthy of your prayers and support. They write:
"Twenty six years ago, we individually received a call to mission. We were somewhat bewildered that our journey took a turn into church planting and marketplace ministry in Australia and Canada (we recognized this as "mission" but sensed our call was to the Developing World). Well, after all these years, here we are! - Tanzania has certainly captured our hearts and we are finding our fit here at Joshua and endeavouring to master Swahili." David's heart is in the area of pastoral equipping and unity, working part time with African Enterprise and local ministries as a natural extension to his work at TJF. Judi's heart is in the area of freedom for women to contribute their valuable part within the family, society and the Church. She will also be serving in the area of administration at the Joshua Base.

The Maxwells...
Mid-January saw our Sydney reps Grant and Anne Maxwell join us for three-months. As a successful IT company CEO, Grant will be developing our IT department and training programs. Anne will be assisting our under-pressure accounts department as we establish new computerised systems.

BIBLES FOR CHRISTMAS
IN MAGUGU
The new year for Joshua Schools started off with a buzz as we distributed Bibles, Bibles, and more BIBLES to Magugu students as late Christmas presents!! Huge thanks to New Zealand City Impact Churches!

THE ACADEMIC YEAR BEGINS
February 4th launches yet another four-month Leadership Module for over 30 pastors coming from 5 African nations. This module's theme is "Church, Family and Leadership", three vital integrated components at the heart of the kingdom of God.

AGRICULTURE...
The agricultural department has many exciting things happening! Our rabbit project is up and running and should provide meat for our teachers and pastors by February. We have also purchased 2 new pigs, one mature boar and a pregnant sow, so that we now have two pregnant sows. We are expecting many little pink faces very soon!

Our new Agricultural classes have been a real blessing also. "Farming God's Way". We have seen breakthrough already in the lives of those attending the classes!

PERSONAL CARE
Part of our mission is to extend a hand to those in need. Recently the wife of one of our staff members had a 2 months premature baby and was languishing in a local "hospital". Malnourishment there meant that mum was unable to produce milk and contracted amoeba and malaria. Thanks to some generous donors (and our own Josh Moose), we relocated the mother and baby to a fully equipped hospital. Both have now been released from hospital and are doing really well.