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COMMITMENTVERSUS CONVENIENCE
Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy,
to offer your bodies as livingsacrifices, holy and pleasing
to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not
conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you
willbe able to test and approve what God's willis - His
good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1 &2, NIV
remembered the witch doctors from Zaire and expected them here,
and maybe more. We had heard also that many of the people here
were Muslims, and that brought pictures to our imaginations also.
Mostly pictures of bombed out buses and suicide bombers and
religious fanatics? We came with preconceived ideas about what
the people would be likespiritually.
To date we have visited and taught at a Makua village called
Msikala three times and have had the opportunity to talk with many
people here in Masasi with various "religious" backgrounds. We
have found that, although these people may be classified as
"unreached," it does not mean that they do not have some form of
Christianity among them. For example, at our very first visit to
Msikala we spoke
to about 60 men,
women and chil
tional Christian
Joshua and Shadrack on the mountain above Masasi.
practices: infant
baptism, church
leaders at Msikala, one of them wearing the Islamic
authority structure, and when would we be putting
hat, was that if we buy thema.grJnding machine for
up a building?
their corn and they have full bellies, then they will
be better able to hear our message. Another man,
We have found that almost all the people here
align themselves with some religion- Islam, Chris
our contact person there, said that we need to build
tianity, or Traditional. They are a very "religious"
a building and they will fill it. Show strength, show
people - just like the people in Athens who wor
wealth, do something for us and your "religion" will
be the religion of the hour, the popular one for
shiped an "Unknown God" so that they would have
now.
all of the bases covered. I think that many of them
believe from what they know of Islamand Christian
ity, and from what they see in their traditional
We attended two funerals since coming to
Masasi. One was an Islamic funeral, where the
religion that they can put these beliefs into any
women do not attend, and the other was a funeral
combination that is appropriate for a specific physi
of a Christian man from the Anglican Church. The
cal or spiritual need. The greatest value of their
Islamic funeral was all in Arabic. The leader first said
religion is Its convenience.
his lines and then some of the people responded. I
could see that very few of the people there under
This Romans passage tells us that Christianity,
stood Arabic. If there were any words of encour
Christ, is our life. We give ourselves to IT, to HIM,
agement or instructions, most of them did not
and we do not take our lives back, ever! We are
changed, we are renewed by Himto face each and
understand them. At the Anglican service the
every circumstance, seeking Hiswill in everything.
words were in Kiswahili. The leader read them from
We don't change Him, or add to Him, or put Him
a book and, again, some of the people responded.
The same words are spoken probably at every
together with others to get the whole picture. He
funeral, with little or no meaning or hope for the
Is the whole picture. A comment by one of the
people listening.
make his life easier here at the end of it, and that we
MZEE (ELDER)
Since moving into this side of town with the
ENGLISH AS A
SECOND LANGUAGE
English is one of two official languages
here in Tanzania.
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THE LION'S
See the Lion of the tribe of Judah . . . has triumphed"
IN
AFRICA
December 1996
WE ARE GRATEFUL
5!
who have prayed for usandsupported usover this time have ourdeepest and most sincere thanks! But,
please join with us in praising God for these special blessings. Thank you:
Bill and Nellie Parker (Bob's Sister) for keeping Elizabeth.
Allen and Melody Shew for providing our familv with a place to stav.
The Familvthat gave us $12.500 toward building our house here.
Mark and Rachel Shew for ALWAYS being there whenever we need them.
Sherry Deckro. our praver partner, for always having us for the Wednesdav mornino
Bible Study at a time which ALWAYS seems to fall in August near Dawn's
birthday, which means a oartv with cake and presents.
Shirley Weaver for being Dawn's mentor and friend.
Jeff Nelson for keeping Bob ooina with great letters and Dave Berry.
Charlie and Lenora Sargent for buying Bob's bicycle.
Duke and Beth Morrison for helpino us get a video camera.
Lynn Kohlhaaen. our Forwardino Agent, for her patience and perseverance
through the touah times and the good.
The Sunday School Classes at Caoe Girardeau for great Christmas gifts.
Mission Committees at Churches in Bettendorf and Council Bluffs. Iowa:
Centralia and Moline. Illinois: and Dver. Indiana, for EVERYTHING.
Bernie and Karen Swanaer for always seeing in our needs ah opportunity to provide.
To The Person who anonymously deposits money in our checking account your left hand will never know what vour right hand is doing.
To All of the Churches and Individuals who have given us special donations toward our building fund.
With these Blessings to Recount
Oh Lord
Let Us Serve You Well!
tests on the 3rd and 7th week, and then a final exam
YOUKNOWYOU'RE
AN MK (Missionary Kid)
WHEN...
You speak two languages, but can't spell either.
You have a passport, but no driver's license.
Your lifestory uses the phrase, Then we
went to..." five times.
Box 556
Field Address
Bob and Dawn Baird
Masasi, Tanzania
Beforeyou move,pleasesend the rnailing labelwith a copyof your r>ew address to
MISSION SERVICES ASSOCIATION. PO Box 2427, Knoxville, TN 37901-2427.
PO Box 2427
3795(>9998
Knoxville, TN 37901-2427
ADDRESS CORRECTIONREQUESTED
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