Greek Missionaries

On November 10, I was preaching at a church in Iyula-A. After services, I was escorted by a church member to the pastor’s home for lunch. While walking on the side of the road, we met a LandRover full of white people. We waved to one another as they continued down the road. Seeing another white person out here is a bit of a novelty . . . something to write home about . . . about as frequent as seeing planes fly over.

 

Within minutes of arriving at the pastor’s home, another man came running to say I must return to the church building. Without thinking, I left my satchel and camera and went with my escorts back to the church. The LandRover was parked out front. Inside, I was introduced to Alexander from near Thessalonica, Greece. With him was his wife, his son, a couple of volunteers from Greece and two Tanzanian university students, working as translators for the team. They had registered 16 orphans from the Iyula-A village and were there to provide food, gospel teaching, songs and games to these children. I wish I’d had my camera, but you can see their work on the Internet. Tanzania Orphans Mission (T.O.M.), an NGO near Mbeya town in the village of Galijembe, is helping young orphans in our region. Even if you cannot read Greek you can enjoy their news by clicking on the “Engish” button at: http://www.tom.org.gr/

Alexander explained that he and his wife came to Tanzania about a year ago to build an orphanage to house 80 children. The work is being financed by his home church in Greece, which he considers a miracle in itself, considering the economic climate in Greece with failing banks and 60% unemployment. The village of Galijembe donated seven acres to the project. They have about half of their buildings constructed. Alexander is a retired contractor, so he’s doing a lot of the work himself.

Pure and undefiled religion: caring for the orphans. I shared with Alexander that about 30% of our secondary school students are orphans, so we had a common ground of fellowship. We can’t help all of those in need, but we can try, and it is so encouraging to know that brothers and sisters in Christ from the country of Greece, out of their poverty, are assisting in the effort. Pray the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers.

In His grace and service,

Gary and Joanne Grenell