I attended a TBA (Training Birth Attendant) Seminar today with our Nurse Adoneth.  Each week Adoneth leaves her family sometimes twice a week to set up and host Two day seminars in remote villages to teach on Safe Baby delivery and how to detect when it is critical to get the mother and baby to a hospital.  Today we traveled by one taxi, to catch another taxi to finally take a motorcycle to our destination, taking 1.5 hrs. Upon finishing this journey I tried to imagine what it would be like for a mother to have to take this journey while in labor with critical complications, and finding the funds to get there…and to boot the transportation can be rather frightening! 

But, back to Adoneth: Adoneth has been doing this ministry on her own for over a year now.  Something you should know about this woman, she is a Silent Giant.  That’s what I named her two weeks after having met her; she is humble, yet powerful! In our staff meetings she sits in the back always listening never commanding or needing accolades. And with out any support she each week set’s out to meet with strangers and teaches them what she knows, she shares the gospel and she tries to meet as many of the medical needs she can with in her reach.  And she does this all by foot!  Adoneth is ambitious to say the least, and I know single handedly this woman is saving lives!  At what rate I do not know, but boy do I ever want to be standing next to her when God shows her all she has done for HIS Kingdom!!  So until we both get to Heaven ~ come this May, on a regular basis I have the privilege of supporting Adoneth in her work!  I am most delighted that GOD would find me worthy of such a ministry.   

Back on Today, it was a Good God day!  We where able to share from the word on God’s love for Continue reading →

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Update! I’m home!! Getting settled back into the house, its rather turned upside down right now.. with critters pacing my floors!. I’m quickly entrenched into Kigoma life, and back to walking the street in a full down pour. Searching for the Internet guru, since my Internet is on the Fritz. Little children are running after me yelling Muzungu (white person)!! YUP, this is KIGOMA and I love it, its so good to be home!!

I’ll try to write more tomorrow! It will be an office Day!!

LOVE YOU!!

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Family!!  Friends!!! 

Travel Update: I’m just one nights sleep and 3 hrs away from Home.  Settled in Dar es Salaam for the night!!  Have a feeling with the College starting up on Monday, no one will be hearing from me until school has gotten under way!!  I have so much to say, but currently trying not to get to emotional…so I will keep this  light – I love you and can’t believe how many angels GOD sent to get me back here!  Miracles do happen…they happened every day…and through all of you!!  Never have I seen GOD MOVE in such a way!  Boy when HE gets going …ya just have to try to stay out of HIS way and HANG ON!!  Well that about all I’ve been doing for these past few months and once again, its been a fast moving, outrageous ride!!   I have endless stories on how GOD has showed up, when things settle down…I look forward to  journaling it all and share some of the most extraordinary moments, as if any were ordinary at all!!  My mom was amazed the other day and said,  “You know Michelle, God  just keeps doing miracles in your life and it doesn’t even phase you anymore, its as if you expect them now”.   She is right!  I expect them simply because it Continue reading →

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A Video Message for YOU!

Travel Dates:

Leaving Kigoma 3rd of October (firm)

Leaving Dar es Saleem 4th of October (firm)

Arriving NYC 5th of October (firm)

Arriving SFO 13th of October (est)

Arriving SAN 19th Of October (est)

More location dates to follow:  

I AM SOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!   LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!! 

Return Date to Kigoma, Tanzania:  (tbd)

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Farwell!! Iowa team is leaving 1st week: Landed and jumped right in to help with the last week of preschool and set up for HNBC graduation, (on free days speaking in various churches – and doing door to door outreaches..all awhile sleeping in tents…and taking bucket baths), 2nd week: working with 125 teens (let me repeat 125 TEENS) for H of N youth camp outreach. 3rd week: One night of sleep in a real bed and headed down south to sanuka village for a H of N Kids Club outreach; Final week: One more night in a real bed, then headed out for a well deserved 2 day safari. Just got home for thier send off diner. Tomorrow morning they will leave for thier 6hr drive to Burundi for thier flight home! Wow! They have been movin’ and spreadin’ the Love of Jesus through out Tanzania!!   We have ALL been blessed by thier hearts to serve, youthful energy and special time with us!!       Thank YOU Team TZ 2011!! 

To read more on thier indiviual stories and journey through Kigoma visit http://teamtz2011.wordpress.com/

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[Show as slideshow]

Graduation was AWESOME!! Tearest moment was when Bahati our Degree graduate…offered thanks to his wife and family for their continued support of him while living away from them 9 months out of the year (3.5 years total)! He stated that since they were unable to travel the journey for this day…his wife is back at home wearing the same colors as he!!! Probably a girl thing, but that chokes me up!!

Bahati – made us all laugh, when he said. “I came to Hope of the Nations thinking I had some bible knowledge, quickly I learned I had none!” (Doesn’t that seem true for all of us?). Bahati has left back for Congo where he will be planning the planting of a Church, but knowing that this will require support and accountability….he will be sending 6 students to Hope of the Nations Bible College to be trained up in the word, and come back to serve with him in Congo!! What wisdom!

 Each of our graduates expressed gratitude to our Lord for all they have accomplished and their appreciation that God had placed this vision for HNBC on the hearts of Harold and Coni Knepper. We have all blessed by them and their time here at HNBC and we are so sad to see them go, but beyond excited to see ALL that the Lord will do in and through them!! Keep them in your prayers~~

                      Alex! Bahati! Boaz! Evelina! Evelyn! Jafeth! Moses! Peace! Sara!

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We have a team in from Pella Iowa…very cool. Yesterday they spent the day immulating an average day as a national man or women: Ladies started by each having to catch thier own chicken, kill it, pluck it, gut it…and finally cook it – along with traditional bean and rice. The men where offered the option to do manual labor or play checkers (many men opt to have thier wives do all the working and the cooking). All men from Iowa choose manual labor so they could buy thier food from the ladies (since non of them are married to the ladies - they would need to pay for it) So given the average day labor rate they all recieved 3,000 shillings which equals 2 dollars and 6 cents. ALL WORKED EXTRA HARD FOR THIER MEALS!!!

2 Thessalonians 3:10 (KJV) For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

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