Can you believe that June is over?! The year is half over already. Looking back, it doesn’t seem like we have been in the States 3½ months already. God is good and has been good to us these past months.
Our Family
For the month of May and a little of June, we have been going to numerous doctor appointments. Twice a week, our schedule was filled with appointments. I am grateful, however, for the healthcare system here in the States. You can’t compare it to Tanzania. There are obvious differences, like the buildings, technology, and cleanness; but the most important difference is that the doctors who have been taking care of my wife here actually care about her and want what’s best for her. In Tanzania, all the doctors want is money—money is first, not the patient. On June 11, 2019, at 10:45 a.m., Benjamin Mshama Kinyonga made his way into the world. He was 7 pounds 9 ounces, and we couldn’t be happier that he was healthy and his blood sugars were excellent. Esther is excited that she is a big sister. Martha is also doing well and recovering nicely from her C-section.
Ministry Stateside
We are always glad when we can be used of God no matter where we are. The Lord has given us the opportunity to be involved here. The Bus Ministry on Saturdays is fun. It’s been awhile since I was Stateside in college and in the Bus Ministry, so it has been good to be involved in it again—soul winning, knocking on doors, singing songs, preaching to them, etc. Good times! The opportunity also came about to preach during Junior Church and Sunday school. Hanging around good solid Christians is always delightful and fun.
Ministry in Tanzania
I’m always glad to report the news of what God is doing in Tanzania and glad that God is always faithful, even in my absence. I constantly preach to our people that the head of the church is God, and they need to be faithful to God for their sakes and for their families’ sakes so God can continue to use them and grow their faith. Well, since my family and I left, the church has continued to grow. New folks have joined, and baptisms have continued. Souls are still being saved, and discipleship is still going. Last week they had 320 in church, with no special promotion, just faithful folks. We are excited to go back and continue to see what the Lord would have for Grace Baptist Church.
On a little different note, please pray for our church specifically because Shadrack, one of our teenagers, was found dead in his home. They say it was suicide; however, I’m not so sure. The details were “fishy,” but as a church, we did all we could do and have to leave that up to the Lord. Our church members made sure he had a proper funeral/burial, and the Gospel was presented. I am happy that our church stepped up and kept a good testimony.
Prayer Requests
• Please pray that Benjamin will stay healthy.
• Please pray for Martha’s blood sugars to get back to normal; they are still a little high.
• Please pray for Grace Baptist Church in the loss of Shadrack, one of our faithful teens.
• Please pray, as we will start traveling in the upcoming months of August and September.
Thanks again for your love and support. We appreciate all the notes and cards that we receive. Please know that we pray that God will continue to show favor on your families and ministries. Please let us know if we can be a help to you all. We love you guys.
Your missionary friends,
Mshama, Martha, Esther, & Benjamin Kinyonga
