Bridget Hathaway - Tanzania |
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Prayer Update January 2010
Dear Friends,
It’s almost too late to say “May you know joy, peace and fulfilment in this new year”….but I’ll say it all the same! I apologise for being late with my update, I trust it’s not a reflection on how the updates will continue the rest of the year!!
I am thankful to God for a few lovely days in Bukoba from 30th Dec – 2nd January, 3 nights in a self-contained room with hot shower (bliss!) and a TV ( a mixed blessing). I read books, wrote letters (yes, I am one of those old-fashioned letter writers!), and walked beside L. Victoria. I met up with a friend who was passing by, and saw the New Year in sitting by the lake, with an incredibly large full moon causing sparkling lines across the lake; so beautiful. Thankfully it didn’t rain! I felt a calm and thankfulness to God for his special treats for us.
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Give thanks for a good break over Christmas and New Year, we all returned refreshed.
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January is proving to be an extremely busy month already, with children and adults preparing for journeys to Uganda, Kenya and within Tanzania. This involves getting passports, which is quite a process as most people don’t have birth certificates, so letters from various officials to ‘introduce’ the person are necessary. Thankfully our Immigration Department have been very helpful at all times.
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The Land Rover, which I use personally mostly now, and especially for travelling to and from the office, is sick again, and awaiting repairs in Bukoba. This means I am getting fitter riding my bicycle 8km each day. It’s not exactly flat here…nor is it dry at present! Please pray the vehicle is mended soon. I enjoy the bike, but sometimes by the end of a busy day I am tired.
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Praise God for many opportunities to share God’s love with people both in word and in deed. When someone asks why we continue bothering with people with disability, it opens up small conversations that hopefully plant seeds of the Gospel.
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On Monday 11th, we are taking 2 children to begin school at the Special Unit in Bukoba, and taking another child for interview. In all we have 4 children accepted there, for which we praise God. Pray that ‘normal’ primary schools will be more accommodating for children with disability, and teachers more open to the rights of education for all children.
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Just before Christmas, we had a delightful team-building outing to the hot springs that are in our District. It was such fun, we dabbled our feet in the incredibly hot water (in fact it was almost too hot for me in 1 pool, with steam rising from the water!), then stayed the night at a Lutheran centre. Praise God for safety in all our travels; pray our team would continue to grow in faith and ability.
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Finally, pray I can balance my short time remaining between rewriting the Disability Handbook, ‘tidying up’ various issues, and sorting through all my belongings accumulated over many years here. Also visiting any prospective placements if that should occur!
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!…..Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.” - Isaiah 55:1,2
Thanks to everyone who has sent cards, they are just beginning to arrive now, 8th January, but it’s nice to continue celebrating! May each of you know the ‘richest of fare’ for your soul!
Love,
Bridget Hathaway