December: We had a wonderful Christmas dinner and time of gift giving with the children. There were about 150 people in attendance and all had a good time. Every child was thrilled with his/her gifts. Each child got a new MANNA t-shirt as well as other age appropriate gifts from backpacks to building blocks to dolls and toy cars. It was a super fun day.

January: Because of the outpouring of love in the Christmas offering, and because toys are fairly cheap here we were left with a surplus of money. We decided to use this money to buy all the students' school uniforms, shoes and books.
The new school year begins in January here instead of September so the timing was perfect. Since mid-January Mitch began a contest with the parents. For every two weeks they attend the teaching time they may receive something pertaining to their children's education. The response was incredible. Typically Tanzanian children have no schoolbooks and wear only one worn out uniform. The mothers and fathers have been so thankful for this plan. The first little girl who received schoolbooks was completely overwhelmed with gratitude. She curtsied and thanked Mitch and then went home to read them well into the night. The next day her mother came and expressed her thanks and amazement for this wonderful gift. One seemingly hard-hearted Muslim man has sought Mitch out on the street on two separate occasions to thank him profusely for the help we've given his family.
The contest will be over the end of March. In the 11 weeks over 35 mothers and a couple of fathers have been hearing the gospel. Most of our children in the center now have new uniforms and school shoes, and for the first time in many of their lives they are proud owners of brand new schoolbooks. The hugeness of this gift in their lives cannot be overstated. We do not yet know how God is using all this in their lives. Thank you all so much for your generous giving which is helping these people in such a tangible way. We have never been thanked for Christmas toys in the same way we are being thanked for the school items.

February: Beth held another mini camp for the mothers in February. Over 40 women attended and had a great time playing games, eating, doing a handcraft, having a cooking lesson, and of course, hearing the gospel. Mama Safi, our director was an indispensable help in making this meeting a success.

March: We experienced a huge blessing when two of our parents, who had been living together for about 10 years, were married. The marriage was a testimony to many people in our community of how Jesus changes lives. These two people were so lost and joyless before Christ. Then they found Christ as a result of the MANNA center. Now they are so happy and in love. Their two children, who eat at the center, are now in a secure Christian home and have a much better hope for the future.

This is all from this side of the world for now.

By His Grace,
Mitch and Beth