The Eads to Tanzania

A Day of Babies

I had a couple of errands to run in town today, what I didn't know when I woke up was that one of them would be to bring Pastor Samon's wife to the hospital! She is expecting their fourth child and had gone into labor early this morning. She and a woman from the church in Shadi went along with me to town this morning. Samson stayed home with their three boys waiting until visitor's hours (I guess that at this hospital, they don't let the husbands in except as visitors). (FYI, Samson was able to go and visit her later.) I dropped them off and did a couple of errands. Then, I decided to call Lenard, one of the Bible Institute students, to congratulate him on the birth of his son who was born yesterday. They were just being dismissed from the hospital (a different one than the one that I was at earlier), so I told them that I would swing by before I left town.

So today was an unusual town trip. I went, taking one expectant mother who is in labor, and I returned, bring another mother who had just had her baby the day before. In between, I got a couple of the things done that I needed to.

Sunday in Shadi

I was invited to preach in Shadi on Sunday. I preached John 8:31-47 about Jesus’ confrontation with the Jews “who had believed in him.” I highlighted several of Jesus’ phrases that confront us starkly as we ponder true discipleship.

1. “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.” v. 31
2. “You will know the truth, and the truth is set you free.” v. 32
3. “Everyone who does sin is a slave to sin.” v. 34
4. “Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.” v 43.
5. “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires.” v 44
6. “Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason that you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” v 47

I tried to make the point that we need to realize what side of the fence we are on, on the devil’s side or on Jesus’ side; there is no sitting on the fence. All true disciples of Jesus must admit that they are slaves to sin and children of the devil. If we bristle at hearing that or struggle to admit it, it is because we are not truly his disciples. Many followed Jesus for a time but left him because his words were too hard for them (John 6:60,66). They had come to Christ for their own reasons, without realizing what he was truly offering. If we are truly his disciples, we will say with Peter, as he answered Jesus as to whether the twelve would abandon him too, “To whom else would we go? You have the words of eternal life” (6:67). Jesus had hard words, but they are words that give life and bring freedom.

 

Nane Nane- Farmer’s Holiday

Today, 8 August, is a Tanzanian holiday, commonly called Nane Nane, or “Eight-Eight,” and is known as the Farmer’s Holiday. In the larger towns and cities, there will be farming demonstrations, farmers’ rallies, and the like. Because it is a public holiday, all workers get to celebrate it . . . not just the farmers.

And in case you didn’t know, Moriah, our new arrival, was born on another public holiday, Saba Saba, or “Seven-Seven.” In Tanzania, 7 July commemorates the establishment of the first national political party, TANU, in 1954. Tanzanian friends have commented that Moriah’s Swahili nickname should be Sabasaba. We will see if it sticks.