Breath of God

   Breathe on me, breath of God
   Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
   And do what Thou wouldst do.

   Breathe on me, breath of God,
   Until my heart is pure:
Until with Thee I have one will
   To do and to endure.

   Breathe on me, breath of God,
   Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
   Glows with Thy Fire Divine.

   Breathe on me, breath of God,
   So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life
   Of Thine eternity,

by Edwin Hatch  1835-1889

Note:  As we are nearing the midpoint of our stay here, I marvel at how God is working in our lives through this African experience.  African life is so different from America, and often it still feels like walking in a dream.  It is a great dream.  The people are great, so welcoming, so down to earth (usually, except for their fascination with loud speakers).  And the Lord has blessed us with an eleven year old Tanzanian girl, Keri, living with us for the remainder of our stay here.  Her parents were returning to St. Phillips's Theological School after their break and wanted her to stay in this area until she completed her school term this December.  The Lord is blessing us abundantly.  We are grateful.
 

Your Holy Spirit Blows Over this Earth

On Your last days on earth you promised
To leave us the Holy Spirit as our present Comforter.

We also know that Your Holy Spirit blows over this earth.
But we do not understand Him.
Many think He is only wind or a feeling.

Let Your Holy Spirit break into our lives.
Let Him come like blood into our veins,
So that we will be driven entirely by Your will.

Let Your Spirit blow over wealthy Europe and America,
So that men there will be humble.
Let Him blow over the poor parts of the world,
So that men there need suffer no more.
Let Him blow over Africa,
So that men here may understand what true freedom is.

There are a thousand voices and spirits in this world,
But we want to hear only Your voice,
And be open only to Your Spirit.

Ghana
from An African Prayer Book by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, copyright 1995

Light a Holy Fire

Receive this holy fire.
Make your lives like this fire.
A holy life that is seen.
A life that has no end.
A life that darkness does not overcome.
May this light of God in you grow.
Light a fire that is worthy of your heads.
Light a fire that is worthy of your children.
Light a fire that is worthy of your fathers.
Light a fire that is worthy of your mothers.
Light a fire that is worthy of God.
Now go in peace.
May the Almighty protect you
today and all days.

Masai, Tanzania
from An African Prayer Book by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, copyright 1995

Note:  We have been in Tanzania for two months now.  We are living in a Christian compound with several other Christian families.  It is so wonderful to have this opportunity to get to know these African believers.  Last night our whole family walked down to the house of a retired pastor, a man who has been in ministry for 47 years.  He and his wife welcome us to come anytime to visit and have tea or coffee, often with some groundnuts. We arrived after dark, and Baba was heating up a pan of milk for us on his charcoal stove.  Mama and their two young grandsons were getting some chairs and tea/coffee set up for us.  We all sat around with a kerosene lantern, and after getting our drinks, my daughter started us singing 'Shalom, oh my friends, Shalom, oh my friends, Shalom, May peace be with you. May Christ be with you, Shalom. Shalom." We were singing in a round, and our African friends were singing with us - an easy song to pick up quickly.  There was such a great spirit of unity among us.  We continued singing other church songs, and then Baba sang us "Joy to the World" in the Sukuma language.  It was beautiful to hear.  Then we sang "Joy to the World", and he continued to sing it in Sukuma with us.  Later he sang us a Sukuma blessing upon our stay in Tanzania.  We had such a blessed visit, and as we were saying goodnight, Baba told us we really touched his heart.  The Holy Spirit is joining our hearts together, and we are grateful for this privilege. Bwana Yesu asifiwe. ( Jesus be praised.)  This is a common greeting among believers, and the reply is "Amin".

An African Canticle

All you big things, bless the Lord.
Mount Kilimanjaro and Lake Victoria,
The Rift Valley and the Serengeti Plain,
Fat baobabs and shady mango trees,
All eucalyptus and tamarind trees,
Bless the Lord.
Praise and extol Him for ever and ever.

All you tiny things, bless the Lord,
Busy black ants and hopping fleas,
Wriggling tadpoles and mosquito larvae,
Flying locusts and water drops,
Pollen dust and tsetse flies,
Millet seeds and dried dagaa,
Bless the Lord.
Praise and extol Him for ever and ever.

Traditional African
from An African Prayer Book by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, copyright 1995

Karibu

Karibu
We welcome you.
Karibu
Mzungu.
These words are sweet upon our ears,
And lie within our hearts.
We thank you for the love
They impart.
Asante sana
Asante sana.

Note:  Here is a short song I started singing as I was playing banjo one day.  I am so thankful for our new friends here in Nyakato Bible School Compound.  God is so kind to allow us to meet these believers, and have the time to get to know them.  I am so thankful.  Karibu means welcome, mzungu is a white person, asante sana means thank you very much.  These are Swahili words and greetings.  Most Tanzanians say Karibu when we meet them.  Being here is a wonderful birthday present as today is my birthday. I thank the Lord for this gift of our Tanzanian friends which he has so graciously extended to our family.

Psalm 105:1-4

Give thanks to the LORD and call upon His Name;
   Make known His deeds among the peoples.
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him,
   And speak of all His marvelous works.
Glory in His Holy Name;
   Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD
   Rejoice.
Search for the LORD and His strength;
   Continually seek His face.


Note:  In April, I put some music to these words and have been singing them often.   As I look at my life and see how God has been working and blessing me, I am full of thanksgiving.  God has given me the desires of my heart: a God-fearing husband, children, a church family, the ability to play music and write poems and songs, and life in the country on a small farm.  He has also brought about opportunities for overseas mission work, a dream I have had since college days.
    I also am aware that God has been disciplining me to help mold my character.  I find it so hard to break old habits, but the Lord is patient as He aids me in these difficult changes. Habits of thought are so tough to change, but the Lord patiently teaches me.  Those times I am going through a trial, I must remember all that He has done for me.  The clouds will eventually clear, and blue sky will once more appear.
    As I ponder the Lord's great mercy and kindness to me, My heart truly REJOICES.  I give thanks to the Lord and sing to Him songs of praise.  I search for the Lord and His strength to stand up in faith and walk in love, singing along the way.

The Privilege is Our to Share in the Loving

     Almighty God, our heavenly Father, the privilege is our to share
in the loving, healing, reconciling mission of your Son Jesus Christ,
our Lord, in this age and wherever we are.  Since without you
we can do no good thing,
     May your Spirit make us wise;
     May your Spirit guide us;
     May your Spirit renew us;
     May your Spirit strengthen us;
So that we will be:
     Strong in faith,
     Discerning in proclamation,
     Courageous in witness,
     Persistent in good deeds.
This we ask through the name of the Father.

Church of the Province of the West Indies
from An African Prayer Book by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, copyright 1995