Emmanuel - God with Us!

December 2013

A little more than a year ago we arrived in East Africa – in many ways it felt like we picked up where we left off 21 years earlier. The same area, same language, some of the same people, similar work. And overall it has felt good. Not a bad way to start our retirement!

With it all, we feel a deep sense of gratefulness. For good health, for meaningful work that makes a difference (we hope!), for safety in traveling many kilometers, for the opportunity to live with people who are so welcoming and hospitable. And through it all, a sense of God’s presence – “God with us.”

We arrived late September 2012. The first 3 months (October – December) we traveled to the 8 dioceses in Tanzania Mennonite Church and 7 dioceses in Kenya Mennonite Church, to hear what the bishops and leaders feel are the training needs in the churches. We heard that many lay leaders do not have training and are not able to attend Bible school. The next 3 months (January – March) we began developing and introducing a program with simple study materials that pastors can use locally to train their lay leaders. Then in April, we met a change, when the Mennonite Bible college needed leadership, since the governing board decided to replace the principal and Joe was asked to fill in temporarily as “coordinator.” That meant we put the training program on hold for 6 months (April – September) while we stayed near the Bible college. Since October, we have been focusing on the training program again. We will be traveling to conduct training seminars for the pastors and introducing the study materials.

The Mennonite church stretches from Lake Victoria to the Indian Ocean, about 500 miles (further by road), so that means a lot of travel. East Africa is a beautiful area and we have enjoyed traveling – Lake Victoria, Mt Kilimanjaro, Serengeti plains with its wildllife, the rolling hills of central Tanzania, the Kenyan highlands with the tea fields, the hand-tilled gardens and simple houses in rural areas. We are finding the roads are much better than 25 years ago. The main roads are nearly all paved, especially across northern Tanzania and southern Kenya.

It was a special time in November to take our annual vacation in the USA to see family. The time was too short, but we were able to spend quality time with each of our children and their families (12 grandchildren) in Delaware, Maryland, and North Carolina.

We enjoy working together as a couple, using our experience and training to resource and encourage church leaders. All of our travel has been together. We are both using our gifts to develop study materials, Joe focusing on biblical studies and church leadership, and Gloria on health and family issues.

We are grateful to see “God with us” in new vision and vitality emerging among churches. Leaders are beginning to talk about mission beyond their borders, some, especially youth, are searching for deeper spirituality instead of focusing on organization and positions of power. Africa as a continent continues to struggle with economic challenges, political instability, food shortages, civil wars, refugees, and occasional religious conflicts, and these affect us in various ways. But in all, the assurance of “God with us” gives hope – we are not alone, and Africa is not forgotten. We are grateful for your prayers, your encouragement, and your friendship.

Joe and Gloria Bontrager