Pastor's Letter: Tanzania (TZ812)

I recently found some older pastor's letters that we received while corresponding with some of the kids we lost at the end of last summer. I thought I'd go ahead and share them on here! The photos are from my visit to the center in 2014. 

I am Elinathan M., pastor of the free Pentecostal Church of Tanzania and the Kateshi Child Development Center where we minister to Julius. I express my deepest gratitude to you for all your unceasing efforts, sponsorship, and support of Julius. Thank you so much for your kindness, prayers, and communication.

Our church is ministering to the poorest in the community. The people here suffer from unemployment, food shortages, malnutrition and disease, poor housing, lack of education and opportunity, and no knowledge of the word of God. They cannot meet their basic daily needs. The children suffer the most from this, which is why we have the center, to release them from poverty in Jesus' name.

The impact of the center on the children attending compared to other children within the community is very apparent. Those who are attending benefit from physical and spiritual ethics teachings, cleanliness, personal health and hygiene practice trainings, good relationships with each other and participation in various activities. God has touched the lives of many children through our holistic development program. As you can see, we are transforming them in the physical, spiritual, socio-emotional, and cognitive areas of their lives.

There are other ways which the church ministers to the community beyond their implementations of Compassion's program. We conduct various seminars such as entrepreneurship, health and sanitation, etc. for the families of the children and the rest of the community. Also in our church we have a special fund that we use to minister to orphans, widows, and the poor.

The relationship that is established between the children and the sponsors through letter writing is very important to them and to the program. It creates friendship, love and intimate relationships. When children get letters from their sponsors, they feel remembered, and hopeful. They feel loved and encouraged in their lives and to continue at school, in the program and at church. It is important for you to provide this blessing for Julius and write letters often.

Thank you, again, for your work, prayers, and support for Julius. You are a blessing. May God's Love overshadow you always.