Lisa Newland

I've been pondering this topic a lot lately; praying, reading, and talking with the Brouwers and my soul-winning partners, Justa and Mariamu.

How does one produce genuine fruit? Yes, God alone produces fruit but He uses human vessels. Are there areas I can grow in so that I may produce more genuine fruit and bring more glory to my Lord?

I don't think John 15:16, "that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain," is referring primarily to leading others to Christ, but I don't think it excludes it either. And bringing others to Christ is the fruit that I'm longing for!

Heading into the new year, I've done some looking back on the old and realized with considerable grief that, of all the people we've led to Christ, I can only count 2 people, a husband and wife, that are faithfully coming to church. Church attendance is by no means a proof of salvation, but it does show some kind of change in the person's life. True conversion means a person has become a "new creature, old things have passed away, behold all things have become new."

I don't want to focus on numbers. I don't want to focus on the fruit. But it is cause for reevaluating.

So far, in the midst of this reevaluating process, the Lord has shown me 4 things:

*I need to spend more time "following-up," visiting again those with questions and those who made a profession to teach and encourage.
*When witnessing, I need to spend focus on being Spirit-led in how to make the message clear and if/when to draw in the net.
*Pray, pray, pray.
*In my prayers and when I witness, my focus should not be fruit, or more power to bear more fruit, rather my focus should simply be knowing Christ! (We Would See Jesus by Hession)

Posted by Lisa Newland at 8:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"Ice? May we see ice?"

The morning was my turn to cross into the African culture and learn. The afternoon was their turn. Mariamu and 5 little kids piled into my car after late morning tea. Lumweja (age10), Dorotea (8), __, Kefliana (5), and Richard (3). We were heading to the airport! They had always seen planes way up in the sky and could not imagine how people could be in such "little" things. Several months earlier I had taken Mariamu to the airport to drop someone off, and ever since then she wanted her siblings to see the same thing.

We had to wait awhile, but they weren't disappointed! We stood at the fence and watched as one plane landed, and we even got to count all the people who got out. A bit later we heard and felt the roar of another plane as it took off. They watched until it got so small we could no longer see it. The expressions on their faces was priceless!!!

The next stop on our "city field trip" was Lake Victoria. They had only heard stories of a huge area filled with water. We spent about a half an hour at the "beach." The first few moments- pictures five little kids, gingerly putting their toes in the water, looking around at others along the shore who were bathing or washing clothes. Little girls, lifting up their skirts to get just a bit deeper. By the end of the half hour- most of the fancy dresses had been thrown aside. Peals of laughter, splashing, digging in the sand for shells, running along the water's edge, and splashing some more.

The final stop was my house. I served them sodas and banana bread. Little Richard stared up at the ceiling at the light fixture. No such thing as electricity out in Bukaga. I asked if they had any questions. Lumweja piped up, "Ice? May we see ice?" Mariamu had brought home stories to her younger siblings of what a white person's house was like. The first thing they wanted to see was ice! They each got 2 cubes plopped into their glasses (after feeling it in their hands of course!) Then Lumweja asked to see my computer. I downloaded the pictures I had taken of them that day and they all laughed at themselves. Finally they asked to see my TV. I put in a video about a man and an elephant. We laughed through different sections. The very end there was a massive airplane that carried several elephants in its cargo. A perfect ending to our field trip! :-)

Posted by Lisa Newland at 3:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"Please pass the sugar."

A few weeks ago, on a Friday, I headed out for an adventure of crossing cultures. Mariamu had asked if I could bring her younger siblings to the city to see real airplanes at the airport. We decided to make a day of it.

The morning was my chance to learn. I headed out early to her home (takes about 45 min) in the village of Bukaga. Her younger brother, Lumweja, was waiting for me. I parked the car and followed him on little foot paths, about 15 min out to their fields. There was Mariamu and her mother and older brother, hoeing and planting. I came a bit late (8:30- they start at 7 and finish each day before the sun gets too hot), so there was only one row left to hoe. I watched and tried my hand at making the massive piles of dirt. Then we went through, sowing small green bean seeds, and sticking cuttings of cassava and sweet potatoes in the mound. They plant 4 different foods in each of the large mounds. The plants mature at different times. Cassava can take up to 2 years! After planting, they continue to hoe up weeds and wait for rain. It is such a foreign concept to this westerner to be so dependent on God's gift of rain for one's food.

By 9:30 we were back at Mariamu's parents' house. We had tea and chapatis (like greasy tortillas-yum!) Mariamu's mom thanked me in her broken Swahili (she knows only her tribal tongue, Kisukuma) for coming. Mariamu explained, because of the large family (11 children) they can't afford sugar or flour for a tea and chapatis (normally they have only ugali). A special guest means special food! Oh- my heart groaned as I looked around the room at all the kids sitting on the floor gulping down their tea and chapatis! How rich I am. When did my family growing up in America ever not have enough sugar or flour?

Posted by Lisa Newland at 3:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Because of the generosity of so many supporters during deputation and this first term, I've been able to provide for several building projects: A children's church building and baptismal in Igekamaja, and a church building at TX.

This month, we will be finishing up the floor and bathroom (brick outhouse with hole), and bricking in and plastering the gables at TX.

Thank you to all who have given sacrificially! In 2009, your financial gifts were more than my set budget! You are not only keeping me here but blessing churches with building projects!!

Now to see what God will do in 2010!!

Posted by Lisa Newland at 2:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Driving out to Fumagira yesterday for soul-winning we saw a chameleon crossing the road. I stopped the car and Justa and I got out to investigate. He was moving rather fast for a chameleon, but I swooped him up ,interrupting his plans for the day.

A couple months ago I had had a chameleon living on my laundry line and thought maybe this new friend could replace him. I had a box of Romans booklets in the back of the car. I emptied the box and placed the chameleon in it, then we drove on to the church.

We left him there while we out witnessing, hut-to-hut. It was a rather stifling day, so I left the windows open about 2in, hoping my new friend could get a bit of a breeze once in awhile.

Obviously his schedule for the day was too important to be interrupted! When we returned two hours later, you guessed it... good-bye my 1-hr friend. Next time i won't be so sympathetic. I'll keep the windows closed!!

Posted by Lisa Newland at 3:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sunday after the service one of the faithful teen gals at our Igoma church, Deborah, asked if I would like to stop by her house. Her dad was home! Her mom and dad are gone for weeks and sometimes months at a time, Deborah pretty much lives alone. I hadn't yet met either of her parents and thought this might be my only chance, so I followed her home.

Baba Deborah was finishing up an early lunch and making plans to head back to his fields (about 3 hrs away by car). He was so pleased to have a visitor though and immediately stopped everything. We sat and talked for over 3 hrs. He postponed his trip till the next day because I had come! It was the perfect opportunity to witness! He was very open and interested. Asked lots of questions and wanted to read the verses for himself.

The phrases, "accepting Jesus as your personal Savior" and "believing on Jesus," have become very commonplace in this area. Many use them without understanding their meaning. The Lord seemed to really work... at least I had his complete attention... when I started sharing about the possibility of being completely washed from our sins. I showed him Rm 3:23, 6:23, and 5:8, then John 3:16-18. I also showed him Jas 2:19 and talked about the meaning of belief in Jesus. Not just to believe that He exists and He's our Savior. Even the demons believe this and tremble. Believing means to depend on Him completely and only Him to wash our sins. He was genuinely surprised to hear that good works don't play any part in salvation. When I asked if he was ready today to ask God to wash away his sins. He said yes, but seemed to still have questions. "Is this something you do in church, or how do I get this?" "Where is God?" I asked. "Since He's everywhere, He can hear you where ever you are."

That afternoon, January 10th, 2010, Baba Deborah was born a second time!

I was so excited! We ate lunch and continued talking till the evening church service, and then he joined us for the service! His first time to come to our church even though his daughter has been coming faithfully for years! (I dropped him and his daughter off, and then headed back into town for our English service.)

Moments like this make it all worth it!

Posted by Lisa Newland at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thinking about what this year will look like in my life brings up many prayer requests.

*Swahili- Continue to slowly improve in the language through translating children's materials with Mariamu's help. Also, looking at the possibility of getting some tutoring with a school in town. I'm looking forward to the day when I'll no longer be complimented on how well I'm doing. (Meaning the Tanzanians no longer notice any struggle, so there's no reason to encourage me.) :-) Pray for diligence and self-discipline.

*Children's ministry- Three more churches have asked Mariamu and I to come help them teach their children: Nyasaka, Bubinza, and Bariadi. The last 2 are further away (1 1/2 and 3 1/2 hrs). Pray for the Lord's direction on how we can give these churches a boost of encouragement in reaching their children. Meanwhile we're continuing our 5-church rotation. (This month- Igoma) Returning to these churches now, 2 of the Sundays we teach and the other 2 we watch and assist the teachers. We're also introducing the children's curriculum of Firm Foundations, (a great series of 50 lessons, teaching the story of redemption from Genesis to the cross).

*Women's ministry- We've had requests from several churches to come teach a special seminar for the ladies: Igoma, Nyasaka, and Bariadi. Tammy and I are in the planning/praying stage. We're looking at starting with a 1-day series on the armor of God. Pray for the Lord's clear direction and the Spirit's power.

*Teen gals- I'm getting an increased burden for the teen gals in our churches, and am seeking the Lord's direction for how to go about reaching them. I remember how much fun and how much I grew spiritually in my youth group back home in Colorado. Pray that the Lord would burden the hearts of someone in each of the churches to start reaching out to the teens.

Posted by Lisa Newland at 2:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Two thousand ten or twenty ten? Hmmm...

Looking back over this year... so many firsts!

Jan- first time to lead someone to the Lord in Swahili.
Feb- first time to teach a children's Bible lesson in Swahili.
Mar- first trip to the Serengeti.
Aug- first time being "mother" of a pre-teen for 6 wks. :-)
Sep- first teacher training seminar.
Oct- first time to have visitors from the states (Love you, Mom and Dad!)
Dec- first chance to teach at the Bible college (seminar on teaching children in the church)

Most of those firsts represent moments and sometimes days way out of my "comfort zone." Stretching, growing, learning. A year of adventures. A year of being held up by the GRACE of GOD!

I am so grateful for the stretching. Not that I necessarily like it, but I do hate being stagnant in my Christian life. I hate settling in to a quiet time routine, resting on past spiritual victories without desperately needing Him TODAY. I'm so glad our God is the I AM! Not the "I was" or the "I will be," but I AM!!

Thank you, God for all these "firsts" and for Your comforting presence and enabling grace through each one.

Posted by Lisa Newland at 1:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Christmas is a great chance for we missionaries to get together and remember who we are as Americans! :-) Wednesday the Brouwers invited me over for a traditional turkey dinner!! (Their oven wasn't big enough so I got to cook the 14lb turkey!)

Yumm!!!!

Over the years, Tammy has been able to collect some nice Christmas decor from other missionaries. We had a beautiful table!

Tammy and I

Abby and I

Saturday after Christmas we were invited to the Eads house along with 2 other missionary families for a good-ol' potluck and white elephant gift exchange! :-)

Posted by Lisa Newland at 5:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Christmas day, we had a glorious celebration! Three churches (Fumagira, Igekamaja, and Mayoka) met together at Igekamaja to celebrate Christ's birth.

A truckload of over 100 people from Fumagira, arriving for the celebration.

John and Yohana, the "dynamic duo" from Fumagira, leading the singing.

3 choirs each sang several special Christmas songs that they had written for this year's Christmas. Choir from Fumagira:

Children from Igekamaja quoted Psa 23, 100, and Jn 1:1-3.

Mariamu, Ngamba, and I taught "children's church" with over 100 children.

57 baptisms this year!

Afterwards we were all served HUGE plates of rice and beef. We missionaries donated by purchasing the cow. Other church members brought rice and beans. The ladies of Igekamaja started cooking early Christmas morning.

Yes, I missed my family this Christmas, but counted it a great privilege to be apart of this African celebration of our Savior!!

Posted by Lisa Newland at 5:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)