Bridget Hathaway - Tanzania |
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Prayer Update April 2010
Dear Friends,
I am sitting at my desk amongst piles of books, papers, boxes and many possessions marking 17 years in Kagera Diocese! It’s no easy task uprooting, clearing, burning and deciding to whom I should give this or that! Familiar things, although only possessions, somehow take on a meaning in themselves. It’s good to clear out occasionally!
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After a good beginning with the rains in early March, it all stopped and we had hot sun for weeks. That was a disaster for the crops, but in the last 10 days we have had some rain again. For sure the climate is unpredictable! Please pray the rains continue for a few weeks.
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I have had a true farewell from the utilities here in Kayanga: no water in the house for over 3 weeks and no electricity for 5 days! However, thankfully all is well now, and at least I do have a rainwater tank outside!
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Please continue to pray I decide wisely regarding dear Hippo, my dog. It’s a tough question, with few reliable options.
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I had hoped to complete the Handbook for Village Workers before I left, but due to sickness in our staff, the draft copies were returned to me very late. I doubt I can do a good job at this stage. Maybe I should take all the papers to the UK?!
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Clearing up and sorting out after 17 years in the Diocese is tiring; boxes boxes everywhere and not a place to sit! Well…it’s not quite that bad, but feels like it! Will I finish in time? Definitely a prayer point, as I have so many ‘little’ things that must be completed too.
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Please pray for Upendo, one of our Facilitators, as she leaves this weekend for Uganda to undertake 4 months study of CBR, the same course as Flavian took 2 years ago. She is nervous, so pray she finds a good church and supportive friends. Also pray for God to protect her family whilst she’s away.
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I am so thankful to God when I consider all that I have learned and all that we have achieved in the last 7 years. What a great God we have!
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Please pray for the various farewells, particularly 25th April, my Church farewell here, and 30th April, the Programme farewell. Also 2nd May, which is when I will be driven to Bukoba, these will all be emotionally hard for me. I have moments even now of feeling tearful, and just wishing I could stay. But it is right to leave now, however hard it is. I suppose I am more comfortable in this culture now than in the UK, and am inevitably nervous about returning to UK.
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Please continue to pray I would know God’s place for the next 3 years; I’m not ready to retire quite yet!! I still have much energy and enthusiasm for CBR work!
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the Glory., because of your love and faithfulness” - Psalm 115: 1
With my love to you all, and thanks for your prayers at this time of change,
Bridget Hathaway