My Lifelong Goal

The following testimony is by Ethan Stalker a volunteer from Old Fort Baptist Church's June 2015 team. Thank you, Ethan, for allowing me to share your heart to our readers.

I recently had the opportunity to go to Tanzania, Africa for the second time. I was so excited to go back and couldn’t wait to see what God had in store for the team and I. We were asked to create a goal for the week and reach that goal everyday. I felt like Jesus was telling me to intentionally show love. His love. A simple smile was showing love because of the language barrier. All week I tried to intentionally show God’s love in all that I did. It was so much easier to show love in Tanzania than at home.

This is Baraka. On the last day at the second school he came up to me and said “Thank you for coming and showing us God’s love.” I was blown away when he said this to me. I had never talked to him before. He simply saw us teaching about Jesus and showing Jesus’ love. I reached my goal for the week, but that’s not enough. My goal for the week became my lifelong goal. To intentionally show God’s love in all that I do.

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13: 34-35

Silver & gold have I none....

As the team headed to Ngaresero they stopped at the foot of Oldoinyo L'engai (Mountain of God) to view Krismas Crater. A group of Maasai women sit here all day waiting for someone to come by and purchase their jewelry.

As we were looking at the crater the women came to each one trying to sell their wares. A small number approached the pastor's wife and noticed the "Witness Wear2Share Bracelet" (See previous post "The Song and the Bracelet") I had given her just the day before. She asked if she could share what the symbols mean. They agreed and she called one of our interpreters over to help. After she explained the gospel using the symbols they told her, "That is nice but we really want money." However, they then asked her to pray for them and she readily agreed.

Pray for these women that they will understand the real gift offered to them, the Gospel, and receive it's truth and accept Jesus as their Savior. Then, they too, can go walking and leaping and praising God. Acts 31-10

God's Sovereignty and Grace

When we went to church this morning God revealed to me that He answered our volunteer team's  prayers on our behalf.

When we were in Ngaresero many of them prayed for our quick trip to the states to be with Dan’s parents. Many of them asked that God give us great flights and even give us Business class so that we would be more comfortable and arrive well rested.

Even though God did indeed get us out in a timely manner and at great rates we were still in coach. We knew God was in control so we felt this was still an answer to prayer.

What God showed me this morning is that He answers prayer in the best way possible and in His timing.

As we were preparing to come back to Tanzania mid-February another huge snow storm was brewing for the northeast. We prayed and asked others to pray that it would not affect our flights since we were flying through JFK. The afternoon before our flight out of Charleston, SC I got a text message saying our flights were change. It was a little confusing to me because there were several times listed and all of them would mean we would not make our connection at JFK. We went to the airport to check it out and found out that both of our stateside flights had been changed and we were being routed through Atlanta. Relieved we returned to the Johnsons’ and finished getting ready for our departure.

When we got to the Charleston, SC airport we had to go the desk because we could not check in online due to the change in flights. The ladies at the desk were very nice and we even got to share about our work. When we started boarding we were confused since they were boarding by zone and our tickets didn’t have a zone listed. We asked at a desk and were told that we were Sky Priority and that we could go right on board. Wow, that was a first.

When we got to Atlanta and were waiting for our next flight Dan started looking for our seats online and discovered that on the next flight, the one over the ocean and at night, was actually in Business Elite. GASP! And to make it even more a God thing, these were the seats that lay flat not just recline. WOW!

So, God did answer our volunteers' prayers that we get Business Class but for the flights we needed it for. 

Since Dan was the most weary after our 4 weeks in the states is was a huge blessing because he was able to get a good nights sleep instead of just snoozing. 

We serve an awesome God who takes care of us in ways we don’t expect.

We want to thank each one of you for your support and encouragement during this time. God is so good and gracious to us that in His sovereignty He has even allowed us to have Mr. Johnson with us for a while longer and his improvement has been nothing short of a miracle.

Bush Dreams and Visions

2015 January

A team from Old Fort Baptist Church (OFBC) in Summerville SC came to work with us in the Ngaresero area of Tanzania near Oldoinyo Lengai (The Mountain of God).  Their travel was delayed one day in the USA so we had to adjust our trip schedule accordingly.

We arrived at our campsite on Wednesday instead of Tuesday.

On Friday morning, one of our Maasai partners serving as an interpreter, told us that he had a dream during the night concerning Pam and I and that something bad was going to happen.  He woke the other interpreter and told him about his dream.  The other interpreter said he had a similar dream concerning us.  They both prayed for some time concerning this dream/vision and then went back to sleep.

We continued with our work on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

On Sunday evening, the pastor called the church to check in and get any updates.

Pam and I went to shower.

When we returned, the pastor and his wife were waiting for us.

They relayed the news that my dad had had a massive stroke, he was in the hospital, that the situation was not good, and that we needed to contact my mom.

We called on our satellite phone and talked to my mom to get the latest news concerning my dad.

We asked when this initial stroke occurred.

She said that it happened at home on the previous Thursday at about 5 pm EST.
Then medical transport was secured and the events following continued until about 2 am Friday EST.

Then we pieced the interpreter's dream story together with the time frame concerning my dad's incident.

Their dreams/visions occurred when the stroke happened and their prayers continued during the worst part of the initial event and first treatments.

Dreams and visions -- they still occur today.

And God uses those who listen to pray and join Him in His work!

His avenues are unlimited even when we doubt the methods.

Acts 12 is a story from the first church concerning God, His ways, and doubting believers.
But God is always working.
Join Him.

P.S. We did make it to the USA to assist my dad and mom for a month.

 My dad is working through rehabilitation and is scheduled to go home on 03 March 2015.

We will be in the USA 15 June 2015 - 15 June 2016 to assist them in every way that we can.

Please pray for us to secure a home in the Charleston area during that time so that we may be near them to help out.

God sends dreams and visions and hears prayers from the bush to the cities!

Isaiah 65:24  NASV "It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer: and while they are still speaking I will hear".

Family Reunion

It was day 2 of our four days of teaching discipleship and VBS. There were over 80 women and children present and over 30 men. And, we had already welcomed over 20 new believers into the family of God.

We were taking a break between teaching and storying sessions. I looked around and realized it looked, sounded, and felt exactly like a family reunion.
The women were laughing and talking in a large group. The older men were in a group talking and playing a game of catch. The younger women and children were playing jump rope and tossing balls.

The Young men were playing a game of futball (soccer).
Who knows if all these Maasai are actually related or just live in close proximity of one another. But, regardless, a great time was being had by all in attendance.


As the family of God, even if we never see these Maasai brothers and sisters in Christ again on earth we will have a family reunion in heaven one day.

The Song and the Bracelet

There is an old hymn entitled "One Day" with words by J. Wilbur Chapman (1859 -1918) and music by Charles H. Marsh (1886 - 1956).  The first verse and chorus is:

1. 
   
2. One day when Heaven was filled with His praises,
   One day when sin was as black as could be,
   Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin,
   Dwelt among men, my example is He!
   • Refrain:
     Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
     Buried, He carried my sins far away;
     Rising, He justified freely forever;
     One day He’s coming—oh, glorious day!
     
     
     More recently, the group Casting Crowns, has recorded their version of this beloved song.
     
     
     This song came to mind while we were explaining the King's Witness Wear2Share bracelets put out by King's Witness.com. at 2 bomas in Maasaini.
     

     
     
     
     The bracelets utilize simple symbols as "triggers" for the wearer to explain the life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and return of Jesus to Earth one day.
     
     
     The bracelets are very colorful, easy to wear, and easy to use, especially for the Maasai who live in the bush.
     
     
     

     Many were taught how to use the bracelet to witness to others.
     
     
     After we finished 2 days at one boma, we traveled to our second boma location. 
     
     
     In this particular area, there is a main market day on the 10th day of each month.  
     
     
     We stopped there to give our volunteers a taste of a real Maasai market.
     
     
     While there, I waited at the vehicles while the others toured the market and made some purchases.
     

     
     
     
     Suddenly, a lady who had been at the first boma, approached me, saw my bracelet, grabbed my arm, and then explained the symbols on the bracelet to me to show she had certainly listened and remembered that particular teaching!
     
     
     She then went on her way to tell whoever she could about what she had learned in the last few days.
     
     
     Such a simple item, yet it has eternal potential in affecting the lives of people when shared at every opportunity.
     
     
     One day, He IS coming, Oh, Glorious Day!!
     
     
     Are you ready?
     
     
     Are you helping others prepare for that day?
     
     
     
     
     
     

Craaaaaack that Whip!

No, this is not about an ice skating maneuver, especially in Tanzania, where the only known snow is on Mount Kilimajaro and sometimes Mount Meru.

This is about cracking a real bullwhip!

Images of a lion tamer, Zorro, and of course, Indiana Jones come to mind.

I had an idea to get a bullwhip since the Maasai work with cattle and have to drive them at times.
They fashion their own whips (I am supposed to get one eventually -- promised) but I wanted to get one made by a professional.

I scoured the internet and found a man named Einar, who hand makes whips out of his home in Florida.  I sent him an introductory email, explained why I wanted a whip (mainly to attract the attention of the Maasai men to gather them for teaching), and inquired about placing an order for a whip.

He replied that my order had been received and "It is a pleasure to hear of your work in Tanzania I'm sure the Lord will bless your efforts... I would be more than happy to construct a whip as described in your e-mail for you at no cost. If it will be of assistance to you in leading someone to the Lord that is more than payment enough."

So, the whip was made, sent to my parents, and then taken to Tanzania.

We have had fun with it, have attracted men to our teaching time, and even use it to keep wayward volunteers in line {:-}.

Because of the attraction, people come to Christ and follow Him!

Who knew that a bullwhip could be used as a tool to bring people to Christ and disciple them?!