Fruit from the Shadow of Kilimanjaro

Over 20 years ago, my dad, mom, and Perimeter Church in Atlanta came alongside a Tanzanian pastor with a big heart and vision to start a primary school and help the widows in the impoverished village of Karansi, Tanzania.  Since then, through the devoted work of many individuals from Tanzania and America, the Siha Leadership School has indeed flourished with nearly 1000 students receiving a life-changing education, developing from the bottom 6% on Tanzanian student national exams to the top 6%.  It has been an amazing ride as God has accomplished far more than they set out to achieve, including 45 college graduates thus far. 

In 2018, Henry, Oliver, and I joined my dad, his friend Rod, and a medical team to participate in what God was doing in Tanzania. We focused on developing critical thinking and reading skills with the teachers and students (along with assisting the medical team). At that time, UBORA, the umbrella ministry, had just finished building the first library in the village. Six years later, the love of reading and desperately needed resources have spread to three villages, each with its own library. Now, four of our Tanzanian teachers are multiplying their impact and preparing to go to Latterrains School in Zambia to support the growing ministry and connection made by Ken Auer (from Cornerstone). 

The ministry has continued to branch out in service to the broader community.  I have the privilege of returning on a mission team heading to Tanzania from Oct 23rd through Nov 4th, participating in the Graduation Ceremonies of our latest class of students ready to launch into their secondary school education.  The broader team will serve the “Wanawake  wa Imani” – Women (widows) of Faith and gatherings of Baba’s (grandfathers) and Fathers as Mark Goodman teaches on the Ministry of Forgiveness.  I will share on Cultivating Family Relationships while my sister, Julie, will present the Power of Words to various audiences. Although we will speak to different groups, Julie and I will primarily serve the school and church social work staff as they seek to strengthen families in the school and community. We will also be celebrating the provision of a new home to one of the many widows we serve through the local church.  

My dad continues to help run the child sponsorship, Project Child, which has played a major role in funding the school and promoting relationships. One of the young boys we sponsored (Godfrey) has grown up and is now in college studying Business IT; another (Hancelm) is in the 3rd grade. We have corresponded with both through letters and Zoom calls since they were 4 and got to meet both of them in 2018. I am excited to go to Hancelm’s home in October and meet his family! Godfrey is away at college, but we chat through Facebook, and hopefully, we can set up a time to visit. The letter, zoom calls, and ability to meet the kids we have sponsored have been a huge connection and blessing. Perhaps you've been considering a way to support making disciples of the nations. Perhaps the idea of sponsoring one of these students moves your heart. My dad or I would also be happy to meet with you to tell you more about the process to change the future for one of our kids. You can also go to www.uboratz.org/the-kids and find one you would like to sponsor. If you want to make this step, I'd be happy to carry over a gift from you, visit your child, and take some photos.

To support our team, we are seeking a strong prayer network that we can keep posted on major events and prayer needs. If you would like to support us in prayer while we are away, please contact me (Joy Sasser:[email protected]) and I will add you to the distribution list for this trip. Also, please consider joining me after our Sunday service on October 13th at Cornerstone to watch a 30-minute documentary created by one of the teams, and see the fruit that the Lord has produced in the shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro.