TANZANIA

The Lord in His goodness and grace has continued to prosper His work among the children of Watoto wa Thamani Day Care Centre, at Thursday and Friday Kids’ Clubs and the work in the local assembly of Kinzudi village, on the edge of Dar es Salaam.

Each January gives us the opportunity of reaching out to 25 new families from the village as their 4-year-old children start at WWT. Each morning they sing choruses, learn Scripture verses, and hear Bible stories before going on to learn how to read, write and count. Their parents are invited to assemblies throughout the year, each being an opportunity for them to hear the gospel message. Most of the families are poor and vulnerable and are often in crisis. Helping them when appropriate has shown them the love of God, and after being invited to attend the assembly gospel meetings, some of them have been saved, baptised, and received into fellowship.

Life for many of the believers is a challenge as they struggle to provide basic necessities, particularly those who are single mothers. Some have been abandoned by their partners, others widowed, and left to bring up their children singled handed. Practical help, support and encouragement continues to be extended to them, giving them a roof over their heads and the means to feed their families. The sisters meet once month for a Bible Seminar to help strengthen them in their faith, give them opportunities to share concerns with each other, pray for each other, and encourage each other in the Lord. Sessions for girls approaching adolescence and puberty have been developed to inform them of the changes to their bodies, help prepare them for such changes, and backed by Scripture, equip them to withstand the pressures of culture and live in a manner that is God-pleasing.

Thursday Kids Club in the city of Dar es Salaam and Friday Kids’ Club at the WWT facility reach hundreds of children each week with the gospel. Sitting on mats they sing choruses, answer questions, learn Bible memory verses and listen with rapt attention to Bible stories. They are eager to be rewarded for their efforts in learning the scriptures. Most of them also know the books of the Bible by heart and can now find their way around God’s Word and make connections to the stories that they hear. Each week the Scriptures are sown into their hearts and the gospel poured into their ears – watered by the prayers of the Lord’s people, we look to Him to give the increase.

Some older children are helped in their Primary, Secondary and Tertiary education. Families struggle to afford to provide them with uniform or the equipment necessary. Some are allocated school places far from home, which require bus fares, which is beyond the means of the family. The Lord enables these needs to be met, but we require them to attend the Sunday meetings to receive this help. We pray that exposure to the message of the love of God and the work of Christ will leave a lasting impression on their souls, and lead to their individual confessions of faith in Christ. C. 2002 STEPHEN & GILL DAVIES 14/12/22

SPAIN Soria

How we praise God in this season for providing us with a Saviour, with everlasting hope and joy and forgiveness beyond measure because of Jesus Christ. This is our message, and it will never change.

For the first time after Covid, we can go back into the senior citizens residential homes to sing, preach the gospel and give out a daily reading gospel calendar to each person. This is such a victory. Please pray with us for all the residents and their families, along with the staff who will be listening and will receive a calendar for the new year, that the message of salvation would be applied to each heart by the Holy Spirit. We continue to distribute a few thousand calendars each year to family, friends and contacts all over the province and pray for eternal fruit as a result of the daily readings. We believe some have come to simple faith through these readings.

The clothes depot has been extremely busy recently and many different nations are coming along with great needs for winter clothes. We are praying about all these opportunities to show God’s love to them. We have extended the opening hours to facilitate everyone. Pray for every piece of gospel literature which each person receives and the testimony we give, that it may bring great glory to the Lord. Helen has formed a few friendships with Arabic ladies which is encouraging; she needs much wisdom with them.

Thank you for all your faithful and prayerful support over the past year. We are deeply grateful for everything and pray that our Lord will richly bless you just where He has you.