Shannon and Collin's trip to Tanzania-Ministry in Mwanza

The next day began 5 days of ministry in the city of Mwanza. Mwanza is the second largest city in Tanzania. It is located in the northwestern corner of the county on the southeastern shore of Lake Victoria. Lake Victoria is the second-largest freshwater lake in the world behind Lake Superior in the northern midwestern United States. The population of the city is aproximately 1.2 million and of the region(similar to a county) is aproximately 2.9 million.

We had 3 days for a pastoral conference. The conference was very powerful and by the end of our time there all of the pastors were on their faces before God, humbled and begging for more of God in their ministries. Rev. Debra had a prophecy for each pastor there. What a great and wonderful time it was and each member of the team was touched as well.

There were also 4 days of open-air crusades. These were held outdoors near Pastor Richard's church. Collin and I participated in the children's ministry doing puppets and skits. Each night there was a teaching given by Rev. Debra that included a skit. Then after that she would do an altar call and send members of the team out into the crowd to speak with people. There was a bar across the street from our meeting place and one of the team members went in there with her interpreter to bring people to the front. One night I, along with my interpreter Alex, were talking to a man that was hesitant to come forward. Alex was getting ready to move on when I told him to wait. I asked Alex to tell this man that this could possibly be the last time he would have someone ask him to do this. Also that he would be reminded of this night on judgement day. The man ended up going forward. By the end of the 4 days there were 522 new Christians in Mwanza and 21 people filled with the Holy Spirit. There were several healings. One was a woman that had a tumor on her stomache that we could literally see and feel. She had been told by the doctors she needed surgery and was in the process of saving money for that. She came forward for prayer and by the time she left we could literally see and feel that the tumor was completely gone.

We also spent a Sunday service in Pastor Richard's church. The building had been built since Christine's visit two years earlier. According to pictures that Christine and I have of his first church and this one, the new one is at least twice, maybe three times the size of his former building. The church was packed the day we were there. It was a good service and I miss their style of worship and their music already. In many ways, I can't wait to get back to Mwanza. The worship and the people are two very big reasons.

On another note, my bronchitis ended up being pneumonia but the antibiotics seem to be kicking it. I am feeling much better. Thank you for your prayers.