SAFARI WITH SHELLY IN AFRICA

VBS At First Baptist Church In Leasuburg, MO

2008-09-10T21:41:00.000-07:00

What fun it was to spend several days with Pastor Tony and Lori Amato as they held VBS this summer at the First Baptist Church in Leasburg, Missouri!

Junior Church At Park Crest Baptist In Springfield, MO

2008-09-10T21:31:00.000-07:00

The VBS children of Park Crest Baptist Church in Springfield, Missouri had a penny drive to help to continue Swahili Kid's Ministries in Tanzania. There were so many pennies, I couldn't even pick up the buckets. What a GREAT bunch of kids!

A Special Group Of Women!

2008-09-10T21:26:00.000-07:00

The W.I.N.G.S Ladies Class at Park Crest Baptist. This is when I shared my ministry with the class this summer.

A Wonderful Visit With Two Incredible Ladies!

2008-09-10T21:12:00.000-07:00

Please pray for Camille who is battling cancer and Nancy who is transitioning to a new job.

Swahili Kids Ministries

2008-09-10T21:04:00.000-07:00

The past several years have found us meeting in this rented warehouse in the inner-city of Dar es Salaam. It is centrally located near to a main road. And it is in an ideal location for the ministries of our church.

The fact that it is a "rented" building has prevented us from building classrooms and renovating it to serve as a true worship center. After hunting for literally years to find an available & affordable piece of property, we are still without a place to call our own.

TOMMORROW my teammate and the founder of our church BBFI missionary, Mitch Calmes, will be meeting with the owner of our rented building. We have reason to believe that own landlord is now in need of money of will accept our offer to purchase it from him.

Won't you please pray right now that God will provide this building for our church. And as you go to your mid-week service this evening, please ask others to pray.

APRIL 2008 UPDATE

2008-04-29T07:14:00.000-07:00

TANZANIA Shelly Henderson April 2008

A wise man once wrote that there is a time for everything. His words have certainly proved true during these first several months of 2008. What an adventure it has been watching God work out His purpose through these highs and lows.

A TIME TO MOURN: Fatuma was one of the cooks at our Manna Feeding Center. Recently I was called to her bedside as she was quite sick. I tried to pray for her as she chanted prayers to her false god, Allah. She begged me to forgive her, but wasn't interested in God's forgiveness. She knew Jesus died for her sins, but chose to refuse Him. She died with no hope.

A TIME TO SEW: My visit to the women's prison was unsettling as I accompanied a new believer to visit his mother who had abandoned him as a child. It was his desire to try to mend his bitter heart and to forgive her for going away one day leaving him alone--never to return. He was received with anger and scolding as to why he hadn't come sooner and with demands for money. Her heart was dark. She didn't deserve the forgiveness of her son, yet he chose to forgive.

A TIME TO BE BORN: With great anticipation we all waited for Mama Michael (a deacon's wife) to give birth to her third child. Knowing the risks of childbirth and the conditions at the local hospital, I must admit I was quite concerned. We've had babies and mothers alike not make it through. Yet, God answered our prayers and cute little Elizabeth arrived healthy and strong.

A TIME TO CAST AWAY: Essa, a witch doctor, started coming to our services last year. He was always late, had shifty eyes and had a distinct shuffle to his walk. After time he received Christ as his personal Savior. Then he disappeared for several weeks. When he returned he insisted on being baptized. On Easter Sunday his powders, potions, and charms were cast into a fire and burned once and for all!

A TIME TO DANCE: The 3rd Anniversary of Neema House Baptist Church was a day of great celebration! Many gave testimony as to how through the ministries of the church their lives have been changed through Jesus Christ.

A TIME TO KEEP SILENT: Practicing patience has been tough on me as I have struggled through water and electricity cuts and shortages. Even as I type this, the generator is running. Praise the Lord for the generator!

A TIME TO EMBRACE: My next furlough is just around the corner. Yesterday the children of our Kid's Bible Club gave me a wonderful send-off with hand-drawn pictures, hugs and handshakes. Please pray for a safe journey as I travel back to the USA next week. I so appreciate your prayers, support and friendship!

Shelly

Park Crest Baptist Church
816 West Republic Road
Springfield MO 65807

www.ShellyHendersonInTanzania.blogspot.com
Shelly@ShellyHenderson.com or ShellyTanzania@gmail.com

MANNA CARE CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PARTY

2007-12-27T07:52:00.000-08:00

This past Wednesday our church held its annual Christmas party for the children of our Manna Care Feeding Center. You could see the anticipation on each child’s face as they came into our church. Upon their arrival they were given a new orange t-shirt.

Then they were directed to sit at their tables to wait for their traditional holiday meal of pilau (spiced rice with beef chunks), stir-fried shredded cabbage and carrots, a large slice of mango, a piece cake and a soda. The children wolfed down their meals in record time!

Wes and Zac, 2 college guys from Australia, led in a fun game of Zonk.

The youth performed an awesome Christmas skit.

Emmanuel Mathias taught a great lesson on The True Meaning of Christmas, and many responded to the invitation.

The party concluded when each child received a gift of new shoes, a backpack, Christian storybooks, pencils, and candy. (Gifts were sponsored by the Manna Worldwide Manger Offering.)

The children were ecstatic! The noise level in our concrete tin roofed building was at an all time high! What an incredible way to celebrate the birth of the Savior of the World!

NEEMA HOUSE MANNA CARE CENTER MOTHER'S CHRISTMAS PARTY

2007-12-24T05:27:00.000-08:00

This past Tuesday was a great day for the mothers and guardians of the children of our Manna Care Center. We held a special Christmas party just for them…no kid’s allowed! Our church honored these precious souls with much celebration, songs, door prizes, and cake and sodas for everyone. Maria Biraba, our special speaker, brought a candid message from God’s Word, “How Will You Be Remembered?” And one dear lady, Mama Helena chose to be remembered as a follower of Jesus Christ!

LADIES ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY

2007-12-19T07:56:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday the ladies of our church held their annual Christmas Party at my house. We had such a great time together! We exchanged small gifts by playing a game of “Naughty Santa”! And we all enjoyed a nice turkey dinner. For most of them, it was their very first time to eat turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy. Some liked it….and some didn’t. (Oh, well.) I wonder what kind of meal I should surprise them with next time. Any ideas?!

IT IS CHRISTMAS TIME AT NEEMA HOUSE!

2007-12-18T07:53:00.000-08:00

The young people of our church used their own resources and creativity to perform a Christmas skit for the children of our Kid’s Bible Club last Thursday. With a puppet wrapped up as baby Jesus and a box for the manger, the youth got The Message across! The children laughed as they watched the wise men arrive in their crazy costumes, but they all were quiet as they saw them bow down and worship Jesus, the Savior of the World.

SUMMER HOLIDAY

2007-12-17T04:49:00.000-08:00

To help keep our kids out of trouble and off the streets during their ‘Summer Holiday’, we have tried to keep them busy most afternoons. Monday is Craft Day, Tuesday is Game Day, Wednesday is Reading Club and Thursday is Kid’s Bible Club. It is important to us that we show them they are valuable and loved!

CHRISTMAS PARTY!!!

2007-12-16T11:16:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday the young people of our church had their Christmas party at my house. We sang, had a time of Bible study, prayed for each other, played games, watched “The Nativity” dvd, and many for the very first time in their lives - ate spaghetti! It was a great time of fun and fellowship.

THANKSGIVING PICNIC

2007-12-14T19:20:00.000-08:00

I have so much to be thankful for, and had a wonderful Thanksgiving picnic in Arusha with fellow missionaries, Vernon and Mary Smith, Greg and Paige Wagoner and BJ and Cathy Schultz.

AUTUMN IN TANZANIA?

2007-11-06T12:44:00.000-08:00

Living in the tropics, doesn’t do much for one who loves the Ozarks in the Fall. While your temperatures are decreasing, ours are on the rise. So, to remind myself of the cool crisp smoky air, the crunch of fallen leaves and the incredible deep colors on the hillsides, I stopped by a roadside nursery and bought almost every flower that had a hint of orange in it. Okay, so they aren’t mums, but they are close enough for me. Next I stopped by an outside market to pick up a few pumpkins. Once again, they aren’t orange…but they are pumpkins just the same. Those that stop by to see me during this time of the year know that I celebrate harvest time as a time of thanksgiving. It is a new concept to most, but one that is understood as they also understand the importance of a good harvest. Without it their families go hungry. Prices have risen considerably this month, possibly due to the drastic drop in the US dollar. People are struggling. Pray for us.

MY DOG - YAHTZE

2007-11-05T08:14:00.000-08:00

For all you dog lovers, this is my dog Yahtze. He has a gentle spirit for being a big dog, and loves to play. He got out of the gate the other day, and got a hold of one of our neighbor’s chickens. Knowing that he was being naughty, he tried to secretly bury it in the backyard. I found it funny that even a dog realized that he had done wrong and was trying to cover it up.

I AM SO THANKFUL FOR WINIFREDA

2007-11-01T18:51:00.000-07:00

This is Mama Edita (or Winifreda). She is a great help to me, and I am so thankful for her. She manages things at my house while I am away. This month she started taking cooking lessons. In this photo she is showing a muffin from her very first batch. Please pray for her, though, as she hasn’t yet accepted Jesus into her life.

"IS JESUS MUSLIM OR CHRISTIAN?"

2007-08-30T07:28:00.000-07:00

After every class, I often give the children an opportunity to ask questions. Usually the questions are quite simple, but this one coming from a 9 year old boy had depth.

Knowing that the majority of the children in our Bible Reading Club are Muslim and are taught that Jesus is only a prophet, I paused and sent up a quick silent prayer. I wanted my answer to be honest yet un-offensive. Uncertain if that would be possible, my answer was this: “Neither. Jesus can’t be a follower of Himself. He is God.”

After class, this young man asked if I would teach him to pray.

YOUTH CAMP - "GOING THE EXTRA MILE"

2007-08-03T10:34:00.000-07:00

The theme of this year’s youth camp was “The 2nd Mile”. We had a great group of campers with a record of 25 from our church. It was a great time of fun and spiritual refreshment for our young people. Many made life changing decisions for Jesus Christ!

Sakina on the “White Team”

Mitch Calmes & Mama Jaki prepping the

collard greens (mchicha) for lunch.

Immanuel ready to lead his team to VICTORY!

Beth Calmes and others serving a yummy lunch of “ugali and mchicha”. (Corn Meal Porridge and collard greens)

BAPTIST BIBLE MISSION OF TANZANIA MISSIONARIES

2007-08-01T08:38:00.000-07:00

Each year the missionaries of the Baptist Bible Mission gather together for a week of fellowship and meetings. This year our meeting was in the town of Moshi located at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. What an encouraging time it was for us all to be together!

-ON SAFARI-

2007-08-01T08:05:00.000-07:00

A Cheetah

A Warthog

One of the greatest advantages of living in Tanzania is the opportunity to see some God’s most amazing handiwork. Recently I was able to go “on safari” at Terangere National Park in Northern Tanzania. The highlight of the trip was actually seeing 2 cheetah as they stalked a group of zebra. The experts say that it is unusual to see cheetah in the wild as they often stay hidden in the tall grasses. It was my first time to see cheetah in their natural setting. It is something that I will never forget!

A Zebra (My Personal Favorite)

A Baobab Tree With An Elephant Passing Nearby

An elephant Scratching Himself On A Tree

Baboons

MITCH, BETH, ABBEY, STEPHI, & CAITY

2007-08-01T07:49:00.000-07:00

May I ask for SPECIAL prayer while my co-workers, Mitch & Beth Calmes are on fulough? They will be gone until the first of next year. Although, I am happy to “hold down the fort” and to continue our ministry at Neema House, I sure do miss them.

CELEBRATING THE GRADUATION OF STEPHI & DELICIA

2007-08-01T07:45:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I had a great several days in Kenya with several of my fellow Baptist Bible Mission teammates. We enjoyed spending a couple days of relaxation in the big modern city of Nairobi. The weather is much cooler in Kenya than it is here in Dar es Salaam, and I found myself asking for extra blankets and hot tea at the guest house where I stayed. Brrr. I haven’t felt that cold since I was in the USA a few years ago. Also, it was fun to do some shopping. The country of Kenya is probably 30-40 years ahead of Tanzania in many ways. So, I really had a good time stocking up on a few of the things that still aren’t available here in Tanzania.

Best of all, though, was the graduation and luncheon party afterward of Stephi Calmes and Delicia Dodson! I just can’t tell you how proud of I am of those two girls!

TUFUNDISHE!

2007-07-26T12:21:00.000-07:00

(ENGLISH) LET'S TEACH "Tufundishe" is the title of my newest ministry project. It is a small gazette similar in nature to Teacher's Swap Shop.

Limited in time and mobility, I often find myself frustrated in not be able to frequently visit all our Baptist Bible Mission churches.

That being the case, the concept of "Tufundishe!" was born. Inside it's pages are practical ideas for games, skits, and lessons.

Now no one gets left out. Our city and village churches alike receive an encouraging "visit" every 2 months . . . via the post office, that is!

UPDATE FOR JUNE/JULY 2007

2007-07-26T12:15:00.000-07:00

God has been busily working these past several months! Having malaria twice in the past 6 weeks took a lot out of me. So, I have found myself jogging along side just trying to keep up with Him.

I was involved in a car accident on the way to church a while back. With a carload of people, God watchfully protected us. Not one was hurt and my car was repaired by the one who caused the accident.

We have seen 25 children decide to follow Jesus this summer through VBS and other activities. Our youth camp was also a big success with many decisions made for the Lord.

It is an exciting time to be serving here. Our people are beginning to step into leadership roles. As a teacher, that is exactly what I am looking to see in my students. Those who take what they have learned and put it into action.

God is blessing us as He works through you! Thank you for your friendship & generosity.

Shelly

Email/Web Pages/Blog Spots/Facebook/My Space. . .

2007-07-26T12:07:00.000-07:00

Communication has certainly changed. The day of handwritten letters is long gone. Typewriters? Are they even sold anymore? And postage is skyrocketing. You may have noticed that my newsletters have become few and far between. The cause? The cost! $250.00 each time. If you would be willing to help reduce this cost and receive letters more often, please allow me to send them through email. To do this, though, I need your email address. Please email me, and ask to be put on my email newsletter list. Shelly@ShellyHenderson.com

Thanks Sooo Much,
Shelly

CELEBRATING EASTER

2007-04-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Praise Team led us in songs of celebration of Christ’s resurrection.

The children were excited to see what was inside their Easter Bags: Swahili Bible Story Books, Balloons and Stickers!

The Calmes girls, Caity, Abbey and Stephi helped to prepare Easter Bags for all the Sunday School children.

EASTER PARTY

2007-04-07T17:27:00.000-07:00

Charles with his Easter Bag

Kid’s Choir singing, “Mungu ni Pendo” (“God is Love”)

The Thursday before Easter is always a big day at Neema House Feeding Center. It is the day we hold an annual evangelistic outreach for the parents and children of our center. The children are given Easter bags filled with Christian books, candy and cookies, and we all enjoy a traditional Tanzanian holiday meal of spiced rice, beef chunks, cabbage, and a banana which is topped off with a warm Coke. There are choir specials, door prizes, testimonies, and a special gospel message. Then we all settled in to watch The Jesus Film.

God’s Word is being proclaimed to the Muslim’s of Temeke, Dar es Salaam. There are still many who are yet to believe. Thank you for praying for us.

2007-04-07T17:22:00.000-07:00

APRIL FOOL’S DAY

I wanted to let you know that I was involved in a car accident on the way to church last Sunday morning.

It was raining, and apparently the car that hit me hydroplaned. As he lost control of his car, he slammed into my front passenger’s side. I was pushed over the curb and into the median. Thankfully, it happened in a place where the median was flat. There were no trees neither was there a ditch. I was able to gain control before entering on-coming traffic on the other side.

I had a carload of people, and none of us in either car were hurt. The other driver claimed responsibility. So, at this point it doesn’t look like there will be a court case. He agreed to make the repairs at his expense.

The accident drew quite a large crowd with maybe 30-40 on-lookers. In the midst of it all, my cell phone was stolen.

After returning home from this exhausting experience, I realized that something wasn’t right there either. I found $350 dollars to be missing from the place where I had hidden it. I had been robbed. Oddly, the money is the only thing I found to be missing.

Even though my April Fool’s Day was a tough one, God was at work. We were able to speak briefly to the driver of the other car about his spiritual life. I am so thankful that no one was hurt in the accident, that the man in the other car claimed responsibility, that I wasn’t harassed by the police, and that it happened in the 4x4 Landcruiser Prado …had I been in my old car, the little Corolla, the outcome most likely would have been much different. Thank you, Lord, for Your protection.

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!

2007-03-15T05:49:00.000-07:00

"THANK YOU!" doesn’t begin to express my gratitude for this ‘new’ 2002 Toyota Landcruiser Prado. I am now able to drive right on through the rivers, ditches, and the rough areas some dare to call roads here in Tanzania. I am thrilled and humbled to know that God used your prayers and financial assistance to help purchase it. I know that many of you sacrificed and went above and beyond to give. I can only express my heartfelt thanks and promise that it will be used to carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A VIEW OF THE INDIAN OCEAN

2007-03-08T07:28:00.000-08:00

VILLAGE OUTREACH

2007-03-08T07:23:00.000-08:00