JOSHUA SCHOOLS

Joshua Schools are forging ahead, appreciating the new curriculum materials we are writing, and maturing in their ability to be self-governing and self- monitoring. Our secondary school administration block has taken another step ahead with the roof now on!! With the huge increases in building costs we are running behind budget with this project, but believing God for His provision to see the job fully completed.

We are also excited to have ‘new’ desks and text books which have arrived in a container sent by King’s Church in the UK. Along with that they raised a donation from a local school which is now going towards completing our computer lab in Magugu. All these things are helping us to offer an opportunity for young people in Magugu to get ahead in life.

PRACTICAL NEEDS
We are praising God for the arrival of the long awaiting container from the U.K., which contains the bridge to cross the river into the promise land. The enemy has done everything possible to stop that container from reaching EnGedi ground, but our God is faithful to deliver. Thank you so much for your prayers!

It’s also been tremendous to see the response to our “Famine Relief” project in the local area. Each week some 1000 people are being supplied enough maize to carry them over a very trying time. Many have come to the Lord, while our local staff, student leaders and teachers, plus mission team have been involved in the distribution, prayer and preaching accompanying the project. Difficulties however will continue until the September harvest, so your prayers and ongoing support is coveted!

We are thankful for the port arrival of the Perth container carrying the donated well drilling rig… pray for its quick release.

WOMEN'S MINISTRY
The last Sunday evening of June found 30 excited ladies sitting in the café at the En Gedi campus feasting on a lovely chicken dinner. This was like a shadow of the “Feast” the Lord had prepared for us all during our week-long annual Women’s Leadership conference.

We began with a time when the Holy Spirit encounters us and we exchange our hurts, pains, abuse, rejection, etc for His love, forgiveness and acceptance of us! Many women present were visibly changed as the Holy Spirit brought new life from broken vessels.

Over the next four days the ladies discovered the Grace of God. Trying to please God and others always leads to frustration and condemnation. They learned to hear God’s voice and respond in faith. This released them, as it has us, from ‘striving in the flesh’. They experienced Jesus love and goodness in new and beautiful ways. They were built up in the inner man and inspired to spend time with their Lord and Saviour.

WEDDING
Jeremy Stephenson’s wedding to Kendra Woods! The Stephenson’s oldest son’s wedding was celebrated in Zanzibar in the place where African girls were bought back from slavery by Christian missionaries in the nineteenth century, and then educated and given their freedom.

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.

CELEBRATIONS!
Our Joshua Colleges held their Annual Graduation Ceremony this month! 6 of our leaders donned caps and gowns to be awarded their degree in Missions after 4 years of extensive study! While many others received diploma's and certificates for their endeavours. Hard work and determination brought these leaders this far and we were thrilled to be able to share in the celebration of their success!

WEDDING!
Patrick Lubilanji had a double celebration this month! Not only did he graduate from Joshua Leadership Missions College with his well-deserved Bachelor of Missions, but he also got married to Rebecca Bell, one of our Teacher Trainers! Big congratulations all round!

GOODBYES
Paul and Liz Scouller and family have served with us for the last 13 years, but are now moving on to establish their own business in Tanzania and beyond. Their contribution has been outstanding and they will be missed greatly!

We also wave goodbye to Hannah Allen, who has devoted the last 3 years to establishing the P.R and Media side of The Joshua Foundation. Another loved member of Joshua, she returns to the U.K this month.

RABBITS
Our Rabbit Breeding Project has now begun, with the first bunnies due at the beginning of December. By mid February, we hope to be able to provide a continual source of meat for our leaders and teachers in Joshua colleges.

LAND EXTENSIONS!
We are excited to announce that 14 acres have now been purchased across the river from our En Gedi base for our upcoming “Community Centre”, model school, and agricultural college! This now gives us a total of 31 acres for our ministries, enabling us to reach out more effectively across Africa.

OUR FIRST RABBITS ARE HERE!
Our Agriculture rabbit-breeding project is set to begin, with the arrival of our first 7 rabbits. The initial purpose of this project is to provide a continual source of meat for the leaders and teachers at our training colleges. Here's hoping these bunnies live up to the old saying and 'breed like rabbits'. See Agriculture for more info on this project.

TRUCKING BUSINESS
After months of planning and preparation to get the trucking business up and running, we are now seeing healthy monthly returns which are helping to finance our ministries and projects. Thanks to all those who contributed to help us get this business started!

NEW TEAM MEMBERS!
New Zealanders Richard and Jenny Wagener along with their daughter Grace, joined the Joshua Team this month. Richard will be handling new sports and business aspects, while Jenny will be "seconded" to Selian Hospital as a surgeon.

EN GEDI PRESCHOOL UPDATE
En Gedi Preschool has now completed 2 months of great teaching and learning. From initial tears, fears and general disarray the little student body is now a happy thriving learning community!

JOSHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL OFF TO A GREAT START
Joshua Secondary School opened as planned on March 5th with 61 students and 4 staff. We have already seen 4 kids give their lives to the Lord and just know that this is only the beginning! Download our latest Joshua Report to read more!

EN GEDI PRESCHOOL OPENS!
Our latest education initiative has just been launched! En Gedi Preschool opened on the 28th May!! One of our very first Joshua Teachers Training College (JTTC) graduates, Celina, joined our TJF staff to be the teacher of this school. Our students include Talia Carstensen, one of our TJF team kids and 6 of our En Gedi staff kids.

JOSHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL
Joshua Secondary School is well on it's way now, with it's first two classrooms almost complete for the opening on March 5th. We have two beautiful laboratories, a real luxury in Tanzanian secondary schools, and a long list of applicants for positions in the school! Two more classrooms will be underway this month.

TRUCKING BUSINESS UP AND RUNNING!
Since the purchase of Joshua's Fuso truck, it has now been significantly modified to handle African roads and is now out there, hauling freight on a regular run from Arusha to Lake Victoria every week. This business will soon be placed under Joshua Holdings, enabling the ministry to earn valuable Africa-based funds.