VICTORY LIFE-TIME FLIES

The time just flew by and it was time to head back to Texas.
But not before a quick photographic safari.



To experience a little "wildlife"

And a break on the beach

And then it was time to go.

VICTORY LIFE - SAFINA STREET NETWORK

The team moved on to work with the Safina Street Network for only one day.
The ladies painted hallways to bring new light into a dark and dreary building.

The men worked to construct and raise a basketball goal for the boys.

In the afternoon as the boys gathered for a Bible lesson, the team shared the plan of salvation with them.

And then it was time to serve the meal which Safina provides daily to the street children of Dodoma.

Matthew 25:40 (NLT): "I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"

VICTORY LIFE - HONORED

At the end of the week at Nghon'ghona, the people of the village honored each team member with traditional gifts of shukas for the mean and khangas for the women. They were humbled by the generosity of the villagers.

Many came out on the last day to dedicate the church and bid the team a loving farewell.

VICTORY LIFE-CRUSADING

When the Victory Life started planning their trip to Tanzania, their focus was always to proclaim the Good News.
Well, they certainly partnered with the right pastor. Pastor Erasto Mwambeje immediately grasped their vision and planned a crusade for the week the team was working with his church.
Over loud speakers, the Word of God was proclaimed as Charles Abuyeka preached and Pastor Erasto translated. They were definitely a "dynamic duo".

Every afternoon the crowds grew.

And every afternoon there were more and more responses as people received Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

And every afternoon the celebrations became more exciting and joyful.

VICTORY LIFE-PROCLAIMING

The team members had no hesitation about sharing the love of Jesus Christ at every opportunity.

The children were captivated with the stories and songs telling about Christ.

Language was no barrier when it came to the Prayer of Salvation.

Adults loved the sincerity when a heart was shared.

 

VICTORY LIFE--AND MORE WORK

The team met every day with renewed energy and tackled their work vigorously. The Tanzanians who worked alongside them admired their fortitude. The job was truly "manual labor". All the cement for the floor was hand mixed with sand and gravel and then carefully poured. After the first rough layer of cement was dried, a second layer was applied to smoothe out all the imperfections.

The ladies did their part too.....

Even the water had to be retrieved and hauled a distance.

VICTORY LIFE--PLAY TIME

It's not "all work and no play" for this team from Victory Life.
Chris demonstrates his batting skills.

You don't need a translator to tell kids how to kick a ball.

Balloons by the bunch.........Billy was huffing and puffing by the time all the kids got a balloon.

Teaching the kids to color was great, but seeing them excited about taking the crayons home with them was even better.

VICTORY LIFE-THE WORK BEGINS

The Victory Life team raised funds to raise the walls and install a floor on the Beroya Church in Nghon'ghona. This is the church before the walls were built.

Pastor Erasto so wanted the building to be near completion by the time the team left, so the actual walls were erected prior to the team's arrival, leaving only the floor to be poured.

So the work begins........

VICTORY LIFE-HEADED TO DODOMA

There were 15 of us to get to Dodoma, so after the Landcruiser was loaded, 4 traveled with Ed and 11 of us went by the prestigious SHABIBY bus line (a 7 hour ride).

The beginning of the ride was all smiles.

A rest stop in Morogoro introduced everyone to Tanzanian "rest stop facilities"

Finally arriving in Dodoma, we were greeted at the bus stand by Pastor Erasto Mwambeje....with whom the group will be working during the next week.

VICTORY LIFE TEAM-ARRIVAL

The team from Victory Life Church in Lubbock arrived safely in Tanzania late in the afternoon. After over an hour getting through customs and gathering their luggage(minus one piece that was left in Houston) they exited Julius Nyerere International Airport with smiles and laughter ready to meet the challenges of the days ahead.


With 16 of us in all, we had to use a bus to reach our accommodations for the night. Rather than take a shorter route to the hostel, the driver chose to drive through downtown Dar es Salaam in 5 o'clock traffic. We arrived nearly 3 hours later........just in time for dinner..........and to get to bed for an early wake up call.

TO VICTORY LIFE TEAM FAMILY MEMBERS

Dear Loved Ones,
I know you are anxiously waiting for some posts about your friends and family who are on the Victory Life Team in Tanzania. Tonight is the 4th night they have been in Tanzania and we have had a great time. With the early mornings/late nights we have had, I haven't gotten anything posted on the blog. Tonight I have been on the internet for an hour and it is "SUPER" slow, so that's why there are no photos on this blog. Please bear with us and know that your loved ones are all safe and having a great time. I will try again tomorrow.
But for now am signing off at 12:08 Sunday morning.

Blessings to you all.
Ed & Debra Lloyd and the Awesome Victory Life Team

VICTORY LIFE TEAM-GETS SOME PRESS

The OMEGA team from Victory Life Church in Lubbock is due to arrive next week. We have been cleaning house, changing sheets, cooking, getting building materials are on site, making arrangements for meals in the village, and probably some other things I didn't think about. As excited as we are for the team to get here, it cannot compare with the excitement that is building in the village of Nghon'hona, where the team will be completing the building of a church, witnessing in the community, with culmination of a 3 night CRUSADE.
Recently Pastor Erasto Mwambeje asked for a photo of the team so he could make a poster announcing the team's arrival and the nights of "CRUSADE".
We picked up the finished product yesterday.


On Sunday and Monday before the team's arrival, we have been recruited to transport a gentleman around the community, armed with a loud speaker, bearing a "Come One...Come All" announcement.
Stay tuned for more updates as the team arrives and gets to work.
This is gonna be good!!!!!

Getting Ready-Victory Life Baptist Church

Well, it's just a few short weeks and we will be welcoming OMEGA's first team for 2010. Victory Life Baptist Church (Lubbock) is bringing a group of 13 to work at Beroya Church. They will be erecting walls on the church and doing evangelism in the community, as well as partnering with the team from Book of Hope.

Pastor Erasto is calling the work they will be doing: "Building & Proclaiming"
There are lots of preparations to make prior to a team's arrival.

#1 IS PRAYER
But there are lots of other things.

Yesterday we spent the afternoon at Beroya Church at Nghon'ona measuring and making estimates for the building materials needed for the project.

The church members started early with the construction of a "choo" (outdoor toilet facilities). Bear in mind....there will be more to it than just this hole.

The children in the area are aware something exciting is going on as they gathered to practice some songs.

I haven't been very faithful with my blogging recently, but check back in.
The team will arrive June 2, so stayed tuned to see what they will be doing in Tanzania.