We serve an awesome God! He is able to open any door he
wants and close any door he wants. He is the God of relationships. Starting
with the Trinity he uses these relationships to advance his kingdom and glorify
himself. Over the course of our six years serving in DC, Tanzania and around
the world, we have seen relationships orchestrated by the hand of God.
It was about two and
a half months ago when I (Craig) was reading The Citizen, an English newspaper
in Tanzania, when the hand of God moved again. With surprise, I came upon a
name I recalled from my time in Washington, D.C.
The article quoted the Chief Secretary from the Office of
the President of the Republic of Tanzania. The Chief Secretary is responsible for
every Permanent Secretary of every Ministry of Government in Tanzania. (The
Permanent Secretary at each Government Ministry runs the entire Ministry.) The name
I read was Ambassador Ombeni Sefue. I
met Ambassador Sefue nearly four years ago when I attended a program in
Washington, D.C. about China’s expanding role in Africa.
At the time I first met him, he had just been appointed as
Ambassador of Tanzania to the United States. We enjoyed several visits over the
next year and a half in DC until he was appointed as Ambassador to the United
Nations for Tanzania and moved to New York. We lost touch so I was surprised to
read in the paper that he had been appointed to one of the highest positions in
the Country of Tanzania- The Chief Secretary.
I have learned from my mentors Dave Farah and Ron Gluck it is
the little things in relationships that count. So our leadership here in
Tanzania decided it would be fitting to congratulate Ambassador Sefue in person
and present him a language map of Tanzania produced by SIL. Our leaders (including
Director Liz Thomson, Louise Nagler and Allen Mchake) had a great visit at
Tanzania’s “White House” (the State House) and spending time with Ambassador
Sefue. At the end of our time we were
able to pray for Ambassador Sefue.
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| Ambassador Sefue with UTB Director Liz Thomson |
It was great for me to see Ambassador Sefue again and be
reminded God is truly an amazing God.
Congratulations Ambassador and best wishes on your new
position serving your country!
The task for reaching those without God’s written word in
Tanzania and around the World is immense but with our God nothing is
impossible!
