One of the many island communities where teams were able to minister

My wife Chris and I have been missionaries with AIM for nearly 27 years mainly involved in aviation. Often while flying over Lake Victoria and its multiple islands, I wondered what kind of people lived down there. Now I know. For the past eight years we’ve been ministering on those very islands. We live on Bumbire Island, and visit the others by flying a float plane (owned by World Mission on loan to AIM/AIR), or using one of our motorized boats.

Often while flying over Lake Victoria and its multiple islands, I wondered what kind of people lived down there. Now I know. Lake Victoria is the second largest fresh water lake in the world. It’s not only the source of Africa’s famous Nile River but its shorelines and islands are the source of employment and sustenance to millions of people. But the island communities are like a modern day Sodom and Gomorrah. The AIDS pandemic has created an enormous sense of urgency to the task of bringing the Good News.

Right now in addition to our regular ministries, we’re hosting monthly teams of visiting Christians from North America in a year-long effort to bring as much additional focus and interest on the islands as possible.

The official name of the campaign is Jesus Is Life taken with permission and blessing from a song by Steven Curtis Chapman who has a real heart for missions. A sub-title is Take The Lake, 2006. Sponsors in the U.S. are World Mission and radio station WJQ FM with the oversight for the islands in territorial waters of Tanzania under our care.

With different ministry teams coming every month we’re responsible for preparing the sites, readying all the supplies, being sure the necessary boats and float plane are well maintained, planning and preparing meals, preparing accommodations (showers, toilets, cots, mats, mattresses, sleeping bags, mosquito nets), receiving the teams when they fly in on AIM/AIR planes, hosting them, translating for them, transporting them across many miles of water, washing and drying the tons of dirty laundry which the teams generously leave behind for distribution, and cleaning and repacking all the equipment to move to the next location. We are so grateful for the assistance of our son, Josh, recently returned from Iraq, and our daughter Sarah, on vacation from her teaching ministry, William Hasse, and our wonderfully capable Tanzanian brothers and sisters.

So far the teams have distributed scores of "Talking Bibles" (see sidebar); helped repair church buildings; painted; held a woman’s only ‘Tafrija’ for over 400 (see, ‘A Tea for Prostitutes); presented mimes about HIV/AIDS and salvation; conducted Daily Vacation Bible Schools for hundreds of children; showed the film "The Passion" to hundreds; helped build a brand new church; developed new enthusiasm among existing believers and created interest among non-believers.

I dare say the strategically applied energy, finances and enthusiasm these groups are bringing to the islands is catapulting this island church planting ministry years ahead from where we otherwise might be.

To learn more about World Mission and, especially its short-term (Jesus Is Life) mission teams that distribute Talking Bibles throughout the world, visit their website at www.worldmission.cc

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