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This last weekend Felis and I went to Moshi to show Nipe Jibu THREE times. We had two school showings and a showing at an all night youth meeting. All three venues were very receptive to the film but our second showing at the Fountain of Hope Secondary School was the best crowd we have ever had. The classroom full of secondary students was actively engaged in the film from the very beginning. I have never heard or seen so many expressions and responses throughout a film before. There were multiple times where the students erupted in cheers, gasps, laughter, or shocked chattering to where we couldn’t even hear what was being said in the movie. The students reacted the way that was hoped and envisioned when Nadine and Sig wrote the script for Nipe Jibu. We also heard a lot of comments throughout the movie about the music. The students really enjoyed the original music that was created for the movie. At a key point in the movie Felis got up and spoke with the students, encouraging them to speak with their teachers about the issues that had been raised in the movie. He spoke to them about the importance of making good decisions and being in a good relationship with Jesus. The kids swarmed Felis and I after the film, wanting copies of the movie, Sowers CDs and Tapes and wanting to talk with Felis about the music in the film. Our time with the secondary students was truly one of the best times that we have had yet. I feel very strongly that Nipe Jibu will probably be most affective with this age group. Being in school has them in the mindset of learning already. The film has a lot to teach and their minds are prepared to learn. What better time to encourage the importance of good choices and their ability to make worthwhile decisions than right now as they are thinking about what it is that they want to do with their lives.

While Felis and I were in Moshi, Kim and Jacob were in Kenya doing more showings. In this last week we had 11 shows between the two countries with over 900 people having seen the film. We are discipling cultures through media!

Here are some pictures from the Moshi showings.

On Friday, January 21, we took Nipe Jibu to a small village called Manyire just 30 minutes south of where we live. Two of our staff are from that village and set up the showing with the local church there. We have pretty much got the set-up of our movie showing components worked into a nice system. We were ready to start showing films 30 minutes after our arrival. Record timing. We started an hour and a half later with about 40 people. The crowd steadily grew until the little cinder block church was full of 170 people.

Twice during the movie our staff members, Majanta and Wilfredi, got up to explain what was going on in the movie. The movie starts out with the main character, Ndoto, getting caught up in the fear of the ancestors because of a grandmother figures influence. Majanta got up and explained that things will get bad in the movie before they get good. He told them to be patient and wait for the good that is coming. This is probably the first full length film that they have seen in this village. At the end of the film, an evangelist from the church got up and spoke to the crowd about the meaning of the film and its meaning for them. He used the examples of the grandmother who was involved in spirit worship, Ndoto who was an orphan looking for answers, and another character named Kilele who chose to follow God’s plan over what society dictated as his duty, to explain that God can meet us wherever we are. He explained that God can give us freedom from fear, that He can be our Father and that He has a plan for our lives.

It was around 10 pm when we finished and not a person had left the church. The crowd heard the gospel clearly that evening and many seeds have been planted. The people know where to go to learn more about this God who brings freedom. Please be praying for the church in Manyire. Pray for wisdom and love and they follow up with the people in their village that saw the film. Please pray for a harvest to come from this showing. We have already been invited to come back and show the film again in their village.

Please be praying for me as I organize more Nipe Jibu showings over these next couple of months. Pray for timing and favor in meeting with different churches and schools. Pray for open hearts for the viewers.

arrival and unpacking

waiting for the movie to start

crowd during the show

view midway thru the movie from a front window

a little past 1/2 way the aisle was filling up with people

photo by Jeremy Feser

photo by Jeremy Feser

photo by Jeremy Feser

photo by Jeremy Feser

photo by Jeremy Feser

photo by Jeremy Feser

photo by Jeremy Feser

photo by Jeremy Feser

Even though being thankful is something that we should practice daily, it isn’t bad to reflect on it especially during this holiday season. I lost my Grandma (my  mom’s mom) this last Saturday and it is even more apparent the blessings that come from family and community. It was very difficult for me to not be able to be with my family during this time, but I was grateful for the support of the community around me here in Tanzania and the support from people back home via the internet and phone. I was so grateful to hear from my mom how everyone was able to come together during this difficult time and support one another. God created us to need each other. In our very independent society it is easy to forget that.

Regarding life and work here in Tanzania, there are some things that I am especially thankful for. I am thankful for the team we have at Pamoja and the support team that enables us to disciple cultures through media. I am so grateful for the technology that enables us to keep in touch with our family and friends, and enables us to share in each others lives even though we are separated by an ocean.  I am grateful that we are seeing fruit come from our showings of Nipe Jibu. I am thankful for the partnerships that we have with World Map, ISOM, the Sowers Group, and the Enkata Choir that are impacting this culture in real life giving ways.

I am grateful to be here. I feel alive in what we do.  I am blessed to be a part of this work. I wouldn’t be able to do it without my community back in North America or my community here.

My prayer for you this Holiday season is that you will see the blessings of community around you and that you will pursue all of the dreams in your heart.

Here are some of the highlights from the last few weeks.

Nipe Jibu

Nipe Jibu has been shown 4 times since the beginning of September.
Over 600 Africans have seen the film.
10 adults and 20+ children gave their hearts to Jesus when given the chance to respond after watching Nipe Jibu.
Through giving from the local churches here in Arusha we will be able to go to do two or three village showings depending on the distance.

The response to the film so far has been amazing. Please keep praying for continued open doors to show the film and continued open hearts for all that see it.

The room filling up

The overflow area filling up

The crowd after the film (Kim at the merch table)

The Sowers Group

This month has been a public relations push for the Sowers Group.
In a week and half they had 3 radio interviews with 3 different local stations.
They performed at the Colobus Club on the 9th (the owner, Christophe) loved them – pray for continued good relationship with )
They will be performing at a the Blue Heron restaurant this Friday.
We have the Sowers working on a Christmas set for a Christmas service at our international church here in Arusha.
We hope to have them perform that Christmas set in a couple of other venues as well.

Please keep praying for more open doors for performance and good interaction with the Arusha community. We are working to get them known in our own backyard before trying to see them known across Tanzania. Please pray for wisdom and good interaction with the media in our area and around Tanzania as we continue moving forward.

Performing at the Colobus Club

At Colobus

Nikki, Shannon and I at the Colobus show

My job in general

In the midst of organizing showings of Nipe Jibu, meeting with pastors, organizing interviews and arranging gigs for the Sowers, my boss, Jacob and I have been building relationships with radio managers and club owners. Two weeks ago we participated in a radio show at Triple A FM, one of the secular stations in Arusha, and had a great time. This is the station that I have done some short audio jingles for and that offered me my own radio program. In talking with our team we see the great opportunity before us in getting a weekly spot on the radio. For this next month Jacob will be going every Friday to join the radio manager, Borry, for the Drive Time show in the afternoon.

I am excited to see our team getting involved in our area of focus as a ministry, media. There are good doors opening up. Please be praying for wisdom for good content for a weekly radio show. The same station is planning to open a television station and we have been asked to do one show. So please be praying for that also.

Borry and Jacob during the Drive Time show

You can’t see me but I am sitting next to Jacob

From my personal life

On a personal note, Felis and I celebrated 1 year of being in a relationship this past Thursday (Oct 14). Things are continuing to go very well. Thanks for all of your prayers for the two of us. We definitely see God’s love, favor and grace on us. We appreciate your continued prayers.

Felis and I at our friends, Simon and Joanna’s engagement party

Things are hoppin’ around here. More to come!