EAST AFRICA MISSION: MORETI

The church building - in the background - at Moreti

Moreti is about half way between Morogoro and the capital city of Dodoma, a few miles off the main road. Pastor Simon leads the church here. He led an independent work some years ago, but as you need to be officially registered in Tanzania to meet together he then looked for another believer that he could trust and link with, and eventually joined with bishop Francis.

Pastor Simon is a kind, gentle man who has a real heart for the Lord's work. He has since established another church in the same area. Although not great in number, it has been a privilege and a blessing to speak at this church. Whether there are many or few, they are the Lord's people, redeemed by His blood and it simply a privilege to be able to share God's word with them and see them grow in the Lord!

The Moreti church.

A few years ago Pastor Simon contracted TB. I was able to help with the medication he needed but after about six months he developed severe pain in his legs and back. In the end he was unable to walk and had no control over the lower part of his body. It was a distressing time for his family. I believed something was seriously wrong and advised pastor Gondwe to take him to the hospital - doctors at the hospital said it was just a side effect of the medication he was on. I am not a medic but I didn't believe that for one moment. And here we come to another problem people face in Tanzania. Unless doctors perceive that you have money, some will dismiss you with a superficial diagnosis or even say they are too busy at the moment - in other words, they are waiting for a bribe. It is well known in Tanzania itself that bribery is endemic - it is not the only country in Africa or the world to suffer in this way! This creates even more hardship for Christians who avoid giving bribes! Let me just say here that the newly-elected president (October 2015), John Magufuli, has taken remarkable steps to deal with corruption in Tanzania. It has been quite amazing if not miraculous! Many were praying for that election and its outcome.

Anyway, I sent funds for pastor Gondwe to take Simon to the hospital for a proper diagnosis. They diagnosed spinal TB! He needed treatment in Dar Es Salaam. Of course there is no way they could afford that, so I sent funds. However, it was not easy. Pastor Gondwe with two other family members took Simon, who was now incontinent and paralysed from the waist down to Dar by bus and coach - a six-hour jouney! The family, Gondwe and I were concerned that the illness had progressed too far and were seeking just to halt further effects of the spinal TB. There were some failures of procedure at the hospital but nevertheless, not only did Simon get sensation back to the lower part of his body, but within a year he was able to walk again! We were amazed and so grateful to God!

Pastor Simon - standing on his own two feet after recovering/being healed of spinal TB - and his wife.
(And me without my cap on!)

On my visit to Moreti in 2015, one of the daughters of pastor Simon came to us and said she was concerned because she was 11 months pregnant (don't ask me!) but the doctors kept saying she just needed to wait till the child came naturally! Well, we prayed for her, and when I got back to England I was told she had had twins and she had named them David and Marian! Again, we so thankful to God for the safe delivery her twins!

Apart from ministering in the church at Moreti, we are also involved at the local primary school. They had invited Francis and Gondwe to preach at the school of about 500. One or two of the children were also healed of long-standing complaints after prayer. Since then we not only had an open door to preach there, but have also helped the schools with regard to certain needs. There is always great need everywhere! The staff showed us the toilets, for example. Eight cubicles with no doors! I asked how they manage this! The headmistress said that while one girl goes in, two other girls stand in front looking outwards - they then take it in turns! It was a real problem. For the cost of only about £150 I was able to fund new doors being put on all the cubicles. I don't need to tell you how greatly this was appreciated! I also help out with food, pencils, chalk and exercise books as funds become available. A little goes a long way in Tanzania. I have now been made the equivalent of one of the boards of governors of the school and have confirmation of this in writing from the local Ministry of Education! I only mention this because one never knows how 'useful' this may prove in the future.