The Flippen's SERBIA

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Because of Him, Neal, Stephanie, Wyatt & Dylan

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Newsletter

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Elton & Barbara Cooke AFRICA www.called-to-serve.net

Sep 24, 2008 12:54:43 AM, ECooke@called-to-serve.net wrote:

“Making it count.” I love that line in the film, Titanic. He was on God’s good graces. He loved awaking to a new day and not knowing what would happen that day or who he might meet. That’s why we love . We never know what each day will bring or who we will meet.

Sunday, September 21, I was asked to preach at a preaching point near Mwanga. My friend, Fanuel Kiroka, whom I had met in 1989, invited me to preach in his church. I was looking forward to seeing Fanuel’s wife, Monika, again and his daughter, Paulina, who now has a two-year-old son, Junior. They lived, I thought, two hours east of Arusha where we now live.

At 3:30 in the afternoon on Saturday, I began the drive to Mwanga. At 6:30 P.M. it was very dark and I had not arrived at Kifaru (Rhinoceros is the meaning). I received a cell phone call and judging from where I had made a turn and the dark shadows of a mountain range on my left, I was only five minutes from meeting Fanuel in Kifaru.

He was dressed in white, wearing a white baseball cap, so I could not miss seeing him in the dark. That was the beginning of a weekend of surprises.

There is no describing African darkness. It seems to have weight. Engulfed with a heavy darkness, I was directed, “Pinda kulia. Pinda keshoto. Moja kwa moja. Simama. Hapa.” (Turn right. Turn left. Straight. Stop. Here.) Getting out of the car, I stumbled because the place I was standing was rough and uneven. In the darkness I could not see where I was stepping. I did see a large metal gate and we stepped into a courtyard. It was full of Muslim men in long white garments and Muslim caps. The ground was covered with colorful straw mats. We had to step carefully through men as they were seated on the ground. The entire village was present. It was a large courtyard and the noise of such a gathering was loud. Walking cautiously through those men, I was led into a house. Lights revealed about two hundred men seated on the ground. Women, dressed in colorful kangas passed out plates. Water was shaken from each plate, as it was distributed. Other women filled each plate with rice. Other women poured sauce on the lifted plates. Greens were put on each plate by still another young woman. Inside the house I was greeted by three Muslim men, and introduced to their wives. The three of us Christians were given the couch and wet plates were given to each of us. Across the room sat Monika and Paulina and Junior and smiles and greetings were exchanged.

I stood each time I met a new person. I was warmly greeted and welcomed. Curiosity prompted me to ask, aside to Fanuel, “Where we are and who are all these people?” He answered, “This is Monika’s family. We were Muslim before we became Christian, about 23 years ago.” I guess he saw questioning eyes for he continued, “Yes. We have had many problems, but they are welcoming us tonight. This month is Ramadan. They fast all day, but at night, they eat and pray. We are their special guests. They knew you were coming and they welcome you warmly to their home and they want you to be a part of their Ramadan celebration. They brought containers of rice and beef and noodles and soft drinks, and chapatti and donuts, prepared just for me.

There were five Christians present and one two-year-old. I have never been accepted and greeted by so many. No eating utensils were given to me. I ate the saucy rice and noodles with my fingers, as did everyone else. They brought me water to wash my hands before I ate and water to rinse my hands after I ate.

I just sat and ate and observed behavior and a cultural lifestyle quite different from anything I had experienced in my life.

After dinner Fanuel handed one of the leading elders a slip of paper. I asked about it and was told that Fanuel had lost his brother nine years earlier. Now his brother’s twenty-year-old daughter wanted to get married, so he was representing his deceased brother in giving permission to the Muslim community for the girl, his niece to marry.

We were asked to stay but we had at least a half hour’s drive ahead of us. Three of the older men walked us through the crowd, through the gate, to the car. Two could not speak English, but the one older gentleman spoke English very well. He said the goodbyes and he invited me to visit him and his family whenever I came to Kifaru.

The next morning I drove from Mwanga to Nyumba la Mungu (House of God), a manmade lake near Stillway and Kariat. There is no describing such a beautiful part of God’s world. It was unbearably hot. I preached. I met ten of the kindest young men and their wives, who Fanuel is training to pastor in Stillway, Kariat, Kelo Ketoni, and Kifaru, and surrounding preaching points. I volunteered to teach a four-day conference, what they call a , to help prepare them for a Christian Certificate program. Barbara will teach the women.

I took notes and it is a definite for a mission team.

Time does not allow the meeting, the warmth, the filling of the calendar to preach, teach and pray with these dear people. Quickly I list opportunities taken and to be taken.

September 14 – – Pastor Mwakajili

September 21 – Nyumba la Mungu – Kariat preaching point – Pastor Fanuel

September 28 – TAG (Tanzanian Assemblies of God) Pastor Timothy (You will hear more of him.)

October 5 – – Pastor Rabi

October 12 – Ngaramtoni Baptist – Pastor Abraham

October 19 – Grace Evangelical – Gervis Mwanyla

October 26 – Shidaro Baptist – Pastor Emmanuel

November 9 – Ngaranabor (a Masai church) – Pastor Lukas Sabore

October or November – a trip to Kyela – Pastor Dickson Mwankanda

November or December – Katumbeine – Pastor Timotheo Lekoja.

We are getting orphan’s and children’s names for the Kid 2 Kid International Sleepover. Pray for and – two new groups I just met today.

We are arranging for a couple to live with us as the husband writes Christian Curriculum for the African Culture.

We are teaching each Friday, two Bible classes, in a private school, the SOS school.

Frank Mganga, one of our interpreters and his fiancée, Edith, marry on Saturday, November 29.

There are new places and new people everyday.

Thank you. Continue to give. Continue to pray. Come and we will show you some of the most beautiful

country and people God ever created.

Making It Count! That is what it is all about.