Teleios Ministry: Home in Tanzania

Children Welcome Us to DBLCH

Kenny and Lynn Owen and I arrived on time in Dar. We were greeted upon arrival by our friend, Zuberi. He took us to our hotel for a short night’s sleep. Of course, Kenny and Lynn and I were serenated in the evening by loud music at a nearby bar and in the very early morning by the Muslim calls to prayer. Welcome to Tanzania.

Sadiki and Kenny Together Again

Our breakfast was to be at 5:45 am and as expected no one was at the restaurant or front desk. We waited on Zuberi and headed for the domestic airport for our flight to Iringa. Soon we were at DBLCH where we had our real breakfast.

We met the children and got settled in at Mpeli and Neema’s. Home again in Tanzania.

Bonnie and I spent our 39^th anniversary on separate continents. We did get to talk by phone.

Harvest Day Offering at Kidete

Sunday we worshipped at the Kidete Baptist Church, the mother church of all that Mpeli/Neema and Teleios Ministry has partnered in over the years. The first school was started here, the first church, the first orphans who became DLBCH, the farm, the first well, and, now, Bread of Life Secondary School. This morning was Harvest Offering Sunday. The people brought bags of corn from their farms to give to DBLCH. The corn will be ground and used for ugali (saltless, solid grits). A young boy and a older man made decisions for Christ.

We left for ACTS Fellowship worship. The congregation was down due to school holidays of local universities. Also, nine ACTS members left with graduation. The newest member was there, a doctor who lives near Nzihi, and teaches nursing at a local university. The worship was led mostly by the DBLCH young people. Those who know them, Ima and Rose also led part of the worship—amazing.

Boys of DBLCH praising God in worship

By the end of the day, we had all sat down and gone over what Kenny and Lynn would be doing over the next couple of weeks in specifics and over the next four months in general.

Since Sunday, the days have run together. Kenny and Lynn’s extended visa was approved (visa good for 90 days but they are staying 120 days.) Their “apartment” is being finished with a sink and stove. Great news is that Lynn received approval to “officially” teach at the secondary school. We are excited about this and she is the first. Kenny and Mpeli got materials to begin building beds for the secondary school dorms. To purchase the bed costs $150, Kenny and the boys of DBLCH with Maka and Sadiki joining can build them for $65 plus the boys learn carpentry skills.

Two dorms being constructed at
Bread of Life Secondary School

Monday, Kenny, Lynn, and I made an official visit to Bread of Life Secondary School. We met with the teachers, staff, and students. The students are improving in English and their confidence in expressing themselves. The teachers are looking forward to others from the USA coming and joining them in teaching the children. We took Kenny and Lynn on a tour of the secondary school. They were shocked to learn that the students have 13 subjects—yes 13 subjects. These are required by Tanzanian law.

Each day around 20+ workers are on site building

TEACHERS ARE NEEDED FOR SHORT TERM AND EXTENDED TERM TEACHING. CONTACT FLOYD OR BONNIE FOR MORE DETAILS.

A close up look at the construction. Kenny Owen, pastor
and builder, said they are doing a good job.

Prisca Greets Us with the History of BLSS in English

Quadrangle with landscaping at BLSS

Tuesday, Lynn began her teaching at BLSS. Kenny gathered his crew and construction began. Of course, the logistics of a workshop, power, tools and translation all came together for an eventful but fruitful first day. By the end of the day, Kenny was showing rather than doing. He “was proud of my boys.” In the afternoon, Mpeli, Neema, and I (Floyd) attended a funeral of the mother of our friend, Jessica. In the evening, Neema distributed clothes and undergarments that the FBC, Westminister, SC had gathered for the children. They were very excited by the clothes.