September 2011
Open Your Bible
There are so many Biblical lessons that we are learning as we live and work here in Tanzania.
The lesson learned this month is:
Take your Bible wherever you go and be ready to give an answer. It is uplifting to see so many Tanzanian people with a Bible in their hand. As we drive on our way to worship on Sunday mornings you see many individuals with their Bibles in their hands, and some with their Bible on their head. Even though many of these individuals are walking the wrong direction, it is encouraging to see them with a Bible. On more than one occasion I have seen store owners/workers sitting in their shop reading their Bible.
You can be an example to others no matter where you are. On one occasion (while we were worshiping one Sunday in America) I saw a young mother with a newborn in her arms, and a toddler at her side. Her hands were definitely full, yet she was making the effort to get out her Bible and turn to the scriptures. This encouraged me to open my Bible, and not make excuses.
Be Ready To Give an Answer
There has been many times when Carey has gotten into a Biblical conversation with someone when he was "out and about" and needed his Bible. We try to keep an English and Swahili Bible in the car at all times. A few weeks ago Carey got into a conversation with a man regarding religious unity. The man was asking what the difference was between different Denominations. "We are all Christians, with a different faith, right?" Carey tried to encourage him by telling him that there is only one Faith, and he had his Bible to show him the scripture that teaches this. There are many Tanzanians that have lots of Biblical questions and openly ask. In America it seems that it is an unwritten rule that you don't talk about religious matters. Here it is not that way, a Biblical conversation is not seen as something uncomfortable to talk about.
Missionary Challenge
I encourage you to open your Bible more. Turn to the scriptures when they are being read. Read it each day. I also encourage you to try to start a religious conversation with someone this week. Put it off on me if you need to. Simply say, "Excuse me, but a missionary that we know in Africa wants me to ask people this week a religious question. "Do you currently worship somewhere?" or "What is your religious background?" Just something to start a spiritual conversation. Try it out and Email me to let me know how it went.
Good Luck !
Remember This Goal In Life...
To Get To Heaven and Take As Many People As Possible With You
