Jarvis Journey - Missionaries to Tanzania

“You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O Lord” Psalm 18:28-29, 49.

In Africa, you learn what real darkness is; when the lights go out here there is complete darkness. Thankfully, we have a small emergency light that stays plugged in and charged for just such occasions. As soon as the power goes off, this little beacon of light comes on; although it is small it gives forth a great deal of light and we are able to see our way around the front of the house. We can gather candles and lanterns and get all the light we need to continue whatever we were doing until the power comes back on.

Also, in Africa, there is great spiritual darkness; but there are TAG(Tanzania Assemblies of God) churches that provide little beacons of light to show the way for those who are floundering in the darkness. We are privileged to be interim principals and teachers at our Mwanza Bible College; preparing men and women to be salt and light to the dark places in our region. We are helping to charge their spiritual batteries so that they can be light in the dark places the Lord will send them.

We are advancing against the troops of the “Prince of Darkness” and scaling the walls of fear, unbelief, superstition, witchcraft and evil that he has built to keep the “Light of the World-Jesus Christ” out and those inside forever lost in the darkness.

This week Tim has been working with the local TAG leadership in the difficult process of disciplining a pastor who is walking in darkness and is arrogantly and rebelliously determined to take the church with him. They will be relieving him of his duties and installing a pastor who will love and teach the congregation the truth of the Gospel. This is one of those tasks that we sometimes have to be involved in but that we would rather not have to do.

Also this week, we have had the painful job of reviewing with our Business Manager at the Bible College the list of students who have not paid their school fees and deciding what to do with each one. There will be one or two that we must send home since they have not paid any of their school fees at all; it’s not fair to all those who struggle and make sacrifices to be here if we allow those who do not pay to stay. We have given them half a term to make some type of payment on their bill and cannot, in good conscience, allow them to stay. This also is one of those tasks that we would rather not have to do.

However, on the bright side of things, we have visited with some of our pastors who are faithfully and sacrificially teaching and preaching the Gospel and building churches and congregations that will be light in their dark communities. We have visited churches that have been built, established and are growing in spite of great opposition. We are teaching students who spend hours in the chapel praying and seeking God for direction for their lives; it is a normal occurrence to hear students in the chapel every afternoon praying. The sound of their prayers are heard regularly around the campus.

We count it a privilege to be in the nation of Tanzania; God keeps our spiritual lamps burning and lights our way when we encounter the darkness. He gives us strength to advance against the troops of Satan and scale walls. We thank each of you for your faithful prayers and support; you are part of all we do here in Tanzania. You are part of our army; and because of you we continue to do the work that God has called us to do here.

Thanks to those of you who are specifically praying for the needs of the Mwanza Bible College; some of you have also provided funds to help meet some of these needs. The students and faculty faithfully pray for the churches and individuals in America who God has used to meet the needs of their Bible College. They are grateful for and humbled by the generosity and love from people who are willing to help them even though you don’t know them.

Please remember to check our website: www.timandjoycejarvis.com for regular updates and pictures that we post of our pastors, churches, congregations and Bible College.

May God richly bless each of you for your faithful love and support.

Workers Together for the Harvest,
Tim & Joyce Jarvis, Missionaries to Tanzania