One more speaking engagement on the east coast to finish off the tour. It’s amazing to be able to share our story in so many different parts of Canada and even more exciting to see people catching the vision.
We’re off to New Brunswick today so that means another few days on the road. Not sure how I’ll fare over-nighting in Quebec though. Everytime I open my mouth to speak in French, Swahili comes out.
I spoke with Mwasembe on the phone last Friday as he was on the last leg of his trip home. I caught him on a bus near a large town (Iringa) in southern Tanzania. He said that the trip had gone well and he was appreciative for everyone’s prayers.
It was an emotional good-bye to our friend Wiliadi Haridi Mwasembe as we waved him off last night at Pearson International Airport. Mwasembe has been an awesome guest and having him be a part of our family here in Canada for the last 3 months has changed us forever. I think it’s fair to say the same for him! I remember 5 years ago as part of our orientation to life in Africa, we had to do a home-stay in a remote village in Northern Cameroun for 3 weeks. It’s the closest thing I can relate to Mwasembe’s experience but I know it doesn’t even come close! He’s touched many lives here and looking back, we can say that the whole experience was definitely worth every bit of effort that went into having him come to Canada.
We were incredibly grateful to run into John and Glenna Peterson (missionaries from Mwanza, Tanzania) at the airport who were headed to Dar es Salaam on the exact same flights as Mwasembe. What a blessing!
Pray for Mwasembe as he completes the 4-5 day journey back to his home in Southern Tanzania. Check out some photos over at flickr that highlight his trip here.
Mwasembe is only in Canada for a couple more weeks and it’s been awesome having him share with us in so many places. A comment was made last Sunday in Bancroft by someone who said, “It just makes it all so real hearing him tell his story.” Anyways, here’s a short clip of him giving an introduction at Central Pentecostal in Fergus. He talks about his first impressions of Canada. It’s hilarious!
An Amazing Race for An Amazing Cause (via 100huntley)
Josiah makes his debut at Ribfest in Spencer Park on the weekend!
We had a great long weekend and shared our testimony in two churches on Sunday, first in Port Hope and then at Shepherd Village in Toronto. It’s so humbling when people approach us and tell us that they follow our updates and pray for us. Sometimes I think we’re the most blessed people in the world! That people are gathering together with the sole purpose of praying for us is so humbling. It reminds me that we are NEVER alone in this work and that what we do is just one part of a much larger team.
Mwasembe goes to the Dentist! As you can imagine Mwasembe and I are having a lot of fun exploring things that are new to him here in Canada… I really need to post more pics (and I will) but I had to get this one up! Last week Mwasembe got a really bad tooth ache and some friends at People’s church in Hamilton put us in touch with Dr. Stephen Hambly in Ancaster.
Dr. Hambly is no stranger to going out and providing dental services free of charge in developing nations but this might have been the first time the ‘mission field’ came into his office right here in Canada! Mwasembe was in and out in no time and couldn’t believe how painless it all was.
We’re incredibly grateful to Dr. Hambly and his staff for their generosity and wish them all the best!
