Let us rewind to 2021, to my first visit to the Rufiji. I was a “little” younger in age and only a few years into my faith journey. I knew God wanted me to be in the Rufiji. I just had a little idea what ministry life was like among the Ndengereko people. Mr. Baker had done a good job preparing me for what to expect. Words, though, can only do so much without personal experience. The tasks and expectations were set as I flew to Tanzania in June of that year.
During the five weeks, I was blessed to serve alongside the married couple of Captain Dale and Karen Elliott. Karen was and still is an English as a Second Language teacher. Her skills were to be used at the little schoolhouse on the safari property called the Rufiji Lighthouse. This is where the ministry began in 2017. We were blessed with the opportunity to be a part of it. Karen led in teaching kids aged 5-13. Also, she helped train and equip the two camp staff workers, Gladness and Lucy. They were the two keeping the program running while there were no short-term workers like ourselves.
Karen did a great job teaching us how to prepare and structure a lesson. Some of which I still remember to this day. I started as an assistant, but as time went on, I began leading some lessons. We were not just teaching them words, but the application of using those words. We used construction paper signs of different words and word groups, then had the younger kids put them into sentences. This helped the lessons come alive for them. It even helped me learn how to engage students of all levels. These lessons were also valuable. I knew these five weeks would not be my last time teaching at the Rufiji Lighthouse.
The second time I arrived in the Rufiji was in 2024. I learned one of the sad realities of the Rufiji Lighthouse ministry. The two young ladies from 2021 no longer worked at the camp. As well, there was no one to teach the English lessons. On top of this, there were still no other long-term laborers who had committed to this great work. This really brought these verses to mind:
‘Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”’
Matthew 9:37-38 (NKJV)
In the Rufiji, it is hard enough to find a good worker to work on the safari camp. On top of that, one who speaks good English, let alone one who can teach the language. As a result, no one was there to teach the after-hours school program English class. Praise God, the Dinner Club program was still running on a consistent weekly basis. Regardless, I saw the great need for a long-term laborer to commit their life to serving among these people. I knew from my time in 2021 that the Rufiji Lighthouse blessed the kids since the program started in 2017. We needed to take care of the home village. God was preparing for us the time when the lessons would start again.
Back in 2021, I wanted to serve long-term, but God told me not yet. By 2024, my desire only grew. By the end of my three weeks, praise God, Mr. Baker, and I agreed that I would serve for at least two years starting in spring 2025. I knew God was going to bring me here; I just did not know when. Now I had a time frame. I knew there was a great amount of work waiting for me. One of those items was getting the Rufiji Lighthouse back up and running. I did not know what to expect come spring 2025, but now there was a plan in place. There were few laborers, but as Isaiah responded to God in whom to send, so did I:
‘Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”’
Isaiah 6:8 (NKJV)
When I arrived back in Tanzania this past spring, many tasks lay before me in the Rufiji. Get the Dinner Club up to start the season, Swahili lessons, work with the local churches, and the Rufiji Lighthouse English lessons. We needed to be patient and not just do everything at once. Praise God, he did not intend for me to do this alone. He gave ministry partners to serve alongside. Meshack and Carlos (as referenced in my last blog) would be rotating back and forth. They would teach the English lessons while I assisted.
It took a little while before we got the Rufiji Lighthouse back up and running, but we got there. We recently met twice with the Mloka primary school headmaster. We told him our plans to teach the grade 5 kids, and he gave us his valuable insights. He has been in the village for around 18 years. He knows the kids, he knows the parents. His insight and assistance were invaluable to us. When we finalized the plan, he made the announcement. As much as we wanted to open the class to every kid, we needed to be patient and start slowly. And with this, let God dictate which kids we were to teach.
For the first class, Carlos and I did not know whether we would get zero or thirty kids. We had to trust in God. We did our preparation. The lesson plan was made. A camp staff worker constructed extra benches for the kids. We had the materials needed. When we arrived at the class, we waited. It did not seem like any kids were coming. We knew there was a loud music gathering in the village. We thought maybe the kids were being drawn there. But then God exposed my doubt and lack of faith as one by one the kids started to arrive. By the end of the class, there were 20 kids. Praise God! Hallelujah! Amen! Carlos and I were excited for all who came.
I saw Carlos’ gift for teaching language. We started the class by teaching them greetings. At their local school, there are so many kids that the teacher does not do one-on-one teaching. Here, we were got each of them to practice multiple times. This helped tremendously with their learning and confidence level in speaking. Next, we taught them the alphabet and a song to help them for memorization. The Swahili alphabet uses most of the same letters, but some of them have different sounds. Finally, we got the kids to come up to the whiteboard to spell their names and say each letter. I did not realize Carlos’ method of madness until I saw what was happening. This exposed what letters they struggled with pronouncing and their writing ability. This was amazing to witness. This gave us a great base to adjust future lesson plans. Carlos showed me the importance of being creative to see where we need to focus our teaching. He showed me the starting point of building up each child. Carlos is truly an amazing and compassionate teacher.
For the second class, this was to take place right after the switchover between Carlos and Meshack. Now, Meshack was to be blessed with experiencing this program.
This past Friday came, the lesson plan was set, and the class time drew near. For the first class the week before, the kids came late due to when school finished and home obligations. With this, I expected that they would arrive around 4:45 pm. I was wrong, for some kids started to arrive shortly after 4:00 pm. I was excited and rejoiced. These kids really enjoyed the last class and wanted to learn more. They saw the love we were receiving and how much care we put into what we are teaching. Almost every kid from the previous class came, along with some new faces. Two weeks in, and we are already at 26 kids. It is not about numbers, but I am excited to see the level of interest increasing.
Meshack came prepared and knew how to engage them. I started the class with a review of the following week. I was amazed at how much they remembered and were able to do. Meshack then took over. He has that style of teaching that is perfect for kids of this age. He knows how to challenge them while also getting them energized and excited. It was amazing to see. He used such phrases with hand gestures to get the kids ready for the next part of the lesson. He kept shouting, “WE CAN!” and “SIMPLE!” No matter how many times he did this, both the boys and the girls repeated with high energy. For me, it was a blessing to witness. By the end, the kids were eager and ready for the next class. Praise God! Meshack truly cares deeply about each student and their learning.
It has only been two weeks since the Rufiji Lighthouse English lessons relaunch, but we are already seeing positive signs. These kids are excited. They want to learn English. From what I remember from my time in school back in the Stone Age, English classes were usually never fun. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, Shakespeare, essays, and reading were not really my thing. English is not an easy subject to interest and engage kids. This is especially the case with them being used to large class sizes. Teachers focus on the whole, not individuals. This is not a knock on their teachers; this is just the hand they are dealt.
God has blessed us with two such teachers who are great in the art of teaching language. They know their stuff, and they know how to keep the class interesting while getting them to learn each week. God knew what he was doing when he brought these two men to the Rufiji. God continues to provide me with teachers to help me learn how to teach language and people in general. God is using the people around me to build my skills for his glory. The work here is a team effort, and all who are here are faithfully working for his glory. I do not know what the future classes will hold. I am excited for us, and I am excited to see what God will do in these kids’ lives. I’m praying for them and us.
‘rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; ‘
Romans 12:12 (NKJV)
SUPPORT RAISING – SHORTFALL
I am still short on my monthly support, as it currently stands at around 77%. If it is on your heart to support God’s work among the Rufiji people, please click on the link below.
https://eastarm.net/seanhenry/
BIBLE PERSONAL LIFE VERSES
‘But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’’
Acts 26:16-18 (NKJV)