Purpose
There are moments in life when conviction triumphs logic and faith ignites a vision. That is how Tanzania Hope 101 was born. It was January 2008 and we were listening to Harold and Connie Knepper tell the stories of what God had been doing in Tanzania, Africa through the Hope of the Nations Organization. We were amazed by the mere number of accounts of seeing God do miracles and bring hope to such a broken nation. In that moment, our desire to be part of God’s work in Africa grew strong and we were convicted to do something in response. Our conviction would mean we would need to face our fears and make sacrifices in order to be part of God’s power at work in Africa. Ultimately, this would mean we would have to step out in faith and believe that God would prepare the way for us to go both financially and logistically.
Today, a year and a half later we have committed to take that step of faith and respond to the conviction of our hearts to go to Africa and learn firsthand that God’s hope has no limits. Our trip has many purposes for our family. First we desire to bring t
he only true hope to a nation suffering from sickness, hunger, and poverty by pouring out Christ’s love through words, actions and service. Second, we want to be part of God’s deliverance for those living in bondage to the Muslim faith, by speaking about the freedom that comes from Christ alone. Third, we desire to experience with our children how 80% of the world actually lives in order to develop our compassion for the world and witness God’s power at work in all circumstances.
We are especially excited for our children to experience a world beyond themselves, to know that Jesus is alive in all parts of the earth and help them see that all of God’s creation is in great need to know this truth. We hope that by going around the world to Africa in the summer of 2010 and sharing our lives with a people of a different culture and race would transform our children’s hearts. Our prayer is that the impact this trip has on our children will guide them in following Jesus Christ all the days of their lives.