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Pictured here are two new young souls who are now in Christ Jesus. What a great start to a very busy summer season at the Chimala Mission. We hope you will enjoy reading this month’s newsletter as we work together to grow the kingdom of God in Tanzania!

In only a few more days, Howell and Mary Ferguson will be joining Nathan and Kristi Ferguson and children as well as Cheryl Bode at Chimala. Together they are preparing for the next few months of a very busy time at the mission. Thank you for reading the Challenge of Africa newsletter!

This “featured page” shows the new CSOP student body and staff as they have embarked on their new year of studies. There are always exciting on-going works at Chimala Mission. Thank you for reading the Challenge of Africa!

Already we are in a new year – 2022. Only the Lord God truly knows what is in store for us all. But our prayer is that God blesses you and yours in 2022 in our unending effort of making the gospel’s influence felt around the world.

Please forgive me for gloating just a little about our new grandson, Rowan Jude Ferguson born just before Christmas. I guess that’s one of the perks of being the writer and editor of a newsletter – including pics of your grandkids! But seriously, we are happy the delivery went well. Nathan, Kristi, Eden and Emmy are doing well and adjusting to their new family member. We have so many reasons to be thankful; and one of those is because of YOU and your love and support of the Chimala Mission. Thanks for reading!

This month’s featured image shows a Chimala Mission display set up during the “Ministry Fair” at the Central Church of Christ, Moore, OK, one of many of the fine supporting churches of the Chimala Mission. Please open this month’s issue of the Challenge of Africa to learn of more ways you can help the Chimala Mission!

The humble potato, packed with vitamin C, is said to have saved Europe from scurvy and population decline to eventually fueling the industrial revolution which forever changed the world. Believed to have been introduced to Africa by early colonists, Tanzania is the sixth largest producer of potatoes in Africa. In our effort to transition the Chimala Mission into a self-sustaining mission work, our farm program has great interest in crops such as potatoes as well as beans, onions, tomatoes, cabbage, etc. King David recognized the importance of those who took care of the “stuff” (1 Samuel 20:34). While not as flashy as other departments, the efforts made in the farm program will better enable the Chimala Mission to survive political and economic uncertainties of today’s world. Thank you for your continued support of the Chimala Mission and for reading this newsletter.

New elders, a new preacher, farm plans, school graduations, hospital needs–these are some of the highlights in this month’s newsletter. Chimala Mission is always interested in people who have an area of particular interest to help. Many of you are helping already, and more are needed. God will give the increase in those areas where we sow. Let us not grow weary!

Nighttime fires at the Chimala Mission such as the one pictured here are occasional concerns especially in the very dry season of August – October. But God’s showers of blessings are always found in abundance if you look for them. I hope you will enjoy reading this August issue of the Challenge of Africa describing the continued good works that you help make possible.

There is one purpose for the preaching of the gospel: to save the souls of lost sinners (Luke 19:10). To the first-century Jews, the message of salvation through Jesus’ death on the cross caused them to stumble. To the Greeks who emphasized the greatness of humanity, such message was foolishness. But to those of us who support and promote New Testament teaching, we know the message of the cross is the means to salvation to those who believe (1 Cor. 1:21-23). This is the foundational and guiding principle of the Chimala Mission work. Thanks to all of you who read the Challenge of Africa, as well as those of you who pray for and support this good work on a regular basis.

While people in the US are enduring the heat waves and tropical storms typical for summer time; Chimala is in the middle of its winter with cool mornings and evenings and very dry air. It is my favorite time to be at Chimala as every day is a “Kodak” day. The beans have been harvested from the Ailsa farm, and seminars have produced the spiritual fruit from the Bible lessons taught at Chimala. Always there is too much to include in one newsletter, but it is hoped that you will get a glimpse of the many good works and people involved at the Chimala Mission.

When Paul was a prisoner in Rome, he wrote that Onesiphorus “often refreshed me” (2 Timothy 1:16). Whether you are a soldier in a foreign land or an overseas missionary, having someone visit you is a very refreshing thing. Chimala Mission is always grateful for the occasional visitors who refresh its missionaries. Inside this edition of the Challenge you will read of a group of wonderful young Christians who not only refreshed but taught many children by word and example.

It’s hard to believe that it has been more than two years since a 40-foot shipping container has been sent to Chimala Mission; but good things take time. Lord willing in a few weeks the same blue hi-cube container that we packed and are sending across the oceans blue will finally arrive at the mission bringing much anticipated and needed supplies to bless countless men, women, boys and girls in the name of Jesus Christ. Thanks to all of you who contributed and worked tirelessly as this labor of love finally begins it’s journey. Read about this event and more inside this issue!

There’s always new people to meet and new things to do at Chimala Mission. In the “featured image”, Eden observes Mima making unleavened bread in preparation for Sunday’s Lord’s Supper. Such important lessons begin early and will last for eternity! We hope you will enjoy reading this month’s issue of the Challenge of Africa.

Every day after arriving at Chimala, one gets more and more acclimated to the time zone, altitude, and culture. Even after living here and making dozens of separate trips, you have to adjust back into being here; but it’s worth the effort. Slow internet makes producing a newsletter quite challenging at times. But I encourage you to take the time to read this edition of the Challenge of Africa!

Traveling by plane for a few hours, like Emmy is here doing, is taxing for little kids. Doing this for 24 hours, it’s a special kind of endurance test that most little kids like Emmy will likely never remember. In just a few more days, Nathan, Kristi, Eden, Emmy, Mary and Howell Ferguson will be on their way to Chimala, Tanzania after a three-week delay. We hope you will enjoy reading some of these details – and much more – inside this edition of the Challenge of Africa!

Wow, another year has come and gone! Even though the year 2020 was not what anyone expected, there are still many reasons to be grateful. The Chimala Mission was basically unscathed from any outbreaks of the dreaded virus. Many people put on Christ in baptism, and many others were restored. Nathan and Kristy were able to raise their monthly funds even though we were greatly hindered from reporting to churches this year. God is able to do great things even during less-than-ideal situations. And even though we begin another year with more unknowns, you have always been there for the Chimala Mission. For that we are all eternally grateful! Thanks for reading this month’s issue.

Black Friday has come and gone as businesses try to catch-up from any lag in their sales year. Here at the Chimala Mission we’d rather focus on Sunday and praise the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. On that day we are also to “lay by him in store” as we have been prospered. In this issue, you are encouraged to consider the numerous ways you can help the Chimala Mission. The “Healing for Humanity” campaign, preachers’ kids, upkeep of the estate, unpaid hospital expenses, the farm program, next year’s shipping container, and overhaul of the mission generator–all are needed this time of year. Already people are helping in numerous ways, but the opportunity to do more for the Lord is continuous. Can you help?

A lot of forethought and planning went into the establishing of the Chimala Mission Hospital in the 1960s. Over the years there have been a number of additions and modifications to improve the quality of medical treatment offered. In this month’s featured photo, three medical staff leaders look over the drawings obtained in hopes of updating the hospital’s operational theater. Other hospital needs are discussed in this month’s newsletter including the greater need of spreading of the Good News of Christ and the success it is having at the Chimala Mission. Thanks for reading!

This month’s featured image is of an elderly sister who was baptized into Christ in 1960 behind the main mission at Kitikelo near the Ailsa farm. The person who taught and baptized her was Lenkos Mkwama who was then a young student at the Tanganyika Bible School located at Ailsa. Lenkos is now one of the elders at the Chimala Mission congregation. Although she fell away, this precious grandmother was restored back to Jesus Christ and His church due to the efforts of the CSOP. Such stories not only make this work exciting, they also confirm the incomparable longsuffering and mercy of God!

The song says, “Time is filled with swift transition.” But the Christian should never underestimate the effect of God upon this world nor the work of His hand at the Chimala Mission. God’s will is being sought in all that we ask and hope to do. There are certainly challenges on the horizon, and we hope you will read about them in this month’s issue of the Challenge and pray for the very best God has in store to occur.

Please take the time to read the July issue of the Challenge of Africa. Especially notice our new brothers and sisters who have been added to God’s kingdom through continuous active evangelism. Thanks to all of you who help with the Chimala Mission in many ways. You are making a difference!

In this issue: the leadership of CSOP director, Frank Mwashikumbulu continues to emphasize evangelism as the primary goal of the Chimala Mission. We are very thankful also for the example Frank sets for the CSOP students as he not only teaches the Bible but he also shows the way by personally participating in this aspect of the mission’s efforts. Nathan and Kristi Ferguson are looking forward to joining him and others at Chimala in January. From the Dalraida elders, to the efforts of individual Christians, to supporters, to the farm program; it takes all and more to keep the Chimala Mission a shining light. Thanks for reading!

In this issue: What does the opening up of Tanzania look like for future travelers to Chimala? We may not know exactly. But if there is anything to be learned from the events in this world, it is you must be ready and willing to adapt. Needs continue to be filled in the preaching of the gospel, the healing of the sick and hurting, and the pursuit to teach children in the ways of God. Thank you for reading the Challenge of Africa!

Will these “stay-at-home” orders ever end? Should they have ever begun? Everyone has an opinion, and with the springtime of the year everyone is anxious to get back to work and to normal life. Whether at your home congregation or at the Chimala Mission, God’s work never ends and never should end. While we all try to find the right response to our national leaders’ suggestions (demands), let us rise above the noise and keep our focus on why God put us on this earth: to glorify God through His Son Jesus Christ!