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August 2006

Philippians ch 4 :19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus

Mr John Tuff (chairman), report on trip to Tanzania.

I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the trustees to thank you all for your continued prayerful and financial support After the March visit, it was decided that another visit was necessary in July. My daughter Esther joined me on this visit and was a great help and encouragement to me. We left on the 3rd July and arrived in Tabora on the 5th. After a good journey we set about going around all the projects to ascertain what needed to be achieved during this visit. I decided that overseeing the start of the orphanage foundations was a priority as well as checking up on the progress of all the other projects.

Work Team:
I am aiming to take a team of ten people out in July 2007 to help with the building of the orphanage. Please make this widely known. For more information on this and an application pack please contact us promptly as we need to know the numbers and names early in the new year for us to make all the necessary arrangements.

Prayer points:
* For enthusiasm amongst the staff,
* For all the work that has to be done at Kazima in preparation for the work team.
* For volunteers to go out next year,
* For all that is involved in organising the work team.
* For the church at Ndevelwa that they would soon get a pastor.
* For deputation work, and the necessary finance for the work in Tanzania

If you would like to be visited for an update please contact John Tuff to arrange a suitable date on 028 25881261.

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February 2006

Tanzania Christian Farm Development Trust (NI)
1 Warren Park Avenue
Lisburn
Co. Antrim
Northern Ireland
BT28 1HG
Fax/Tel: 028 92667096
E-mail: tcfdt@hotmail.com



Psalm 103 verses 17 & 18: “But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, To such as keep His covenant, and Those who remember His commandments to do them.”

Dear Friends, This is just a short update, to keep you all informed of recent events.

We as trustees deeply regret the passing of our highly esteemed chairman, Gordon, and tender our sincere sympathy to the family.

The wishes of Gordon, Phyliss and the trustees, are that the work in Tanzania continues.

A container has arrived in Dar es Salaam which contains the steel, roofing materials, etc. to construct Phase 1 of the orphanage project

Stanley and Rhona Burns plan to return to Tanzania on the 13th of February for a period of time. We are so greatful to them for their help at this particular time

We intend to have a more informed prayer letter out soon.

Yours in the Lord,

TCFDT (NI) Trustees

Items for Prayer:

• Stanley and Rhona, for safe travel and good health during their time in Tanzania;

• All the TCFDT Staff in Tanzania, especially Samuel with the extra workload;

• Container in Dar es Salaam, that it will be transported safely to Tabora;

If anyone would be interested in arranging someone to come along for an update, please use the contact details above.


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December 2005

Health update

Gordon has spent some time again in hospital; it started with 6 days in the RVH Belfast where they found blood clots in both legs just behind the knees. Treatment began by increasing his warfen dose to help the clots disperse. Gordon was discharged on Monday 21st November without any further investigations of the back and legs pains. Four days later he went to Belviour Park Hospital to have a CT brain scan. After the scan a doctor met with Gordon and asked if he would take a further CT scan of the chest region, thankfully this took place immediately. The scan showed he had a large blood clot on the right lung, so they admitted him immediately. Early the next week the consultants met and discussed about fitting a stint (small filter) into the blood line coming from the legs, this would stop any further clots made in the legs travelling up to the heart or lungs. The procedure was done on Friday 2nd December and it was successful except during the procedure another clot moved into the left lung. As treatment was underway for the clots and Gordon’s condition was stable they discharged him on Tuesday evening. He is still in quite a bit of pain with his lungs and legs, his pain medication has been greatly increased and he uses oxygen regularly at home.

The Container

The 20ft container was shipped on 24th October and we have no news of it arriving in Dar yet. After it arrives it has to be cleared through customs then transported to Tabora. We hope the container will reach Tabora by mid January. The other container which has been stored for over a year in Dar es Salaam has still not moved. It was hoped this would travel by road to Tabora during November, but it appears we will have to wait a little longer.

Ndevelwa Farm

Martin, Yusufu, Shabani and Julias are working away at the farm keeping things in order. The number of pigs are very low but they are in good health and a few are showing signs of being in pig. Hopefully some will pig soon, bring increase to the stock. Three weeks ago thieves entered the farm house compound and removed all the local cattle and our goat herd. This means we have lost all the goats which we had been crossbreeding with over the years. The farm is now just left with the Pigs and Donkeys. We need some time to review the situation before replacing the stolen stock.

Kazima

Animals and workers there are all fine. The new mains water supply has allowed us to plant grass for the zero grazing and Stanley has been overseeing this until he departed at the end of November. Building is now completed on the septic tanks and a further animal house suitable for pigs or chicks. Stanley has managed to purchase a further heifer for the project giving us 13 animals in total now. One of these is a good sized bull which we hope will serve the more mature heifers. It is important to have some of them served soon as we plan our course for next year. It will be good if we can supply the dairy with some milk during next year’s dry season of July – November.

Tabora Dairy

Since Hamisi was employed things have improved, but it is just ticking over. Production during November has improved slightly to around 100 litres a day, not sufficient to cover all expenses. Hamisi has increased both the purchase and selling prices which is allowing him to maintain a reasonable level of weekly profit. This is still encouraging as this time last year production was about 35 litres per day and gave no profit at all.

Samuel and the Shop

Thanks for Samuel who is handling the ongoing work there in Tabora. They depend a lot on the chickens for profit but they are still in very short supply. Meat is quite expensive and is selling well in the shop at present. They have started selling new meat pasties which is proving quite popular indeed, although the sausage is still the most popular item. Samuel has been working hard to look after all. He is handling all the finances at present and paying wages, he is corresponding well with me here through text messaging; this helps both him and me work through any difficulties.

Prayer needs:

Pray for the situations mentioned above, the farm, dairy, shop, Samuel also the proposed property to be purchased in Tabora for the shop.

Pray for Dick a Tanzanian trustee as he needs to be more involved in Tabora and communicate better with me here.

Pray for Stanley and Rhona Burns, as they travel back home on 20th December, remembering their desire to return to Tabora next year for a further 3 months.

Pray for moving the container from Dar to Tabora, also for wisdom in distributing the goods around the Tabora area.

Pray for the clearing of the new container then transporting it to the orphanage site near Tabora.

Pray for volunteers to help in Tanzania both short & long term.


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OCTOBER UPDATE

Health update

Gordon’s results from MRI scan at Belvoir Park say the spinal tumour has dispersed. He has just finished his sessions of Radio Therapy on Tuesday 4th October and he met with the doctors on that day. They told him that the treatment will continue to work on in the body for several weeks and not to try over doing things while in Tanzania. Doctors are requesting to have a further brain scan after he returns from Tanzania in November. Thanks for all who have contact us by phone, sending cards or visited also for all your prayers which God has answered already.

The container

Thanks to all who helped with the container on Saturday 1st October, the weather was reasonable and there was good fellowship during the time spent loading. We also praise God for His hand on holding us from finishing the container on Saturday. Many more valuable items have been donated Monday (generators, motor bike and more clothing). We praise and thank God for all the effort that went into loading the container and the donating of items for it.

Tanzania trip

John Tuff, Derek Bird, Dave Stuart and Gordon start there journey to Tanzania on Thursday morning 6th October. They will arrive in Tabora on Friday evening and stay there for 4 weeks returning on the 5th November morning. Stan & Rhona Burns will arrive in Tabora from Mwanza on Friday 14th October. They plan to stay until early December and help with the farm.

Church update

The church people say that the pastor appointed to the village is Damian Koteko and he was to go to the village around the 11th September. He has not yet arrived at Tabora. He is young and has a family but he will go alone for the first few weeks. Gordon will probably take services in the Church during his stay and hopefully the pastor will arrive during this time.

Prayer points:

Pray for the group as they spend time helping out there in Tabora.

Pray for the container as it travels over the next month to Tanzania.

Continue to pray on for Gordon’s full recovery from the Lung cancer.


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July 2005

N. IRELAND

Gordon began his Chemo treatment for the lung cancer at the end of June. This has many side effects but God has maintained him through the past weeks and he has reached the half way stage. The report from the consultant says that the tumours are responding to the treatment and reduced in size already. God is good and faithful. There has also been no further deterioration in the spinal area. We thank you all for your support and prayers at this time. We continue to support the ongoing work in Tanzania from home. At present are trying to locate the remaining equipment, building materials and finance to establish the orphanage project at Kazima. If you can help in any way please do contact us. As work has started on the project Gordon would like to see it completed.

TANZANIA

We are still waiting for the newly appointed pastor to begin his calling to Ndevelwa village, trust the Church will soon have God's man to lead and strengthen them. All the areas of the work in Tabora appear to be stable at present, for this we are thankful. The dairy has improved greatly over the past month since we employed Hamisi as production manager. We receive weekly reports of all it's activities and this does give us more peace of mind as the dairy is a large financial commitment, but a very important one for the Tabora people. With dry season now upon the Tabora region hardship has started. The cost of food has risen considerably with a debe (bucket) of maize now costing three times the normal price for this time of year. The continual rising prices for food will bring serious problems later from starvation and more crime as people face difficulty in providing for their families.

PRAYING

For God's hand to be upon Gordon during the remaining time of Chemo treatment. Also for the doctors attending to him in the days ahead.
For all the TCFDT work ongoing in Tanzania, especially Samuel leading it and the other staff involved.
Remember the food situation.
For the Orphanage supplies.


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June 2005

N. IRELAND

The month of June has brought us more bad news. Gordon was admitted to the RVH during the last week of May with a swelling on the right side of his neck. After tests results returned he was diagnosed as having cancer. It is in the left lung, chest and neck. Thankfully the results of a bone scan showed no cancer in the bones. Now his body can be divided into two parts with the upper section having cancer and lower body affected by the spinal problem. He now awaits an appointment for treatment at the Belfast City Hospital. He is trying to hold some deputation meeting during the next few weeks. These will depend on his strength and ability on the day, but we trust God to provide for him.

TANZANIA

Sadness comes to Ndevelwa village too after a recent theft at the farm. The farm house was broken into and ransacked as the thieves searched for things. Some neighbours came to help the watchmen and as they chased after the thieves who were armed, they opened fire killing one person and injuring another seriously. They were both lived close to the farm and known by us. A week later the police in Tabora arrested people for the incident and again last week (9th) a couple more were also arrested in procession of the Jesus film and screen. At present we are not sure of what was exactly stolen that night.

PRAY:

For Gordon health and the God's healing hand. Also for doctors, together with all those who will need to be involved attending and caring for him over the coming days.
Remember the families of those shot by the thieves and the whole village community at this time.
For the continual security about the farm.


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May 2005

N.IRELAND

Gordon's health is remaining stable as he waits for an appointment with a Neurosurgeon at the RVH Belfast. During his last admission to hospital results of tests have shown he has Tight Filum Terminale Syndrome with a small tumour. He has continual lower back pain running through his hips and left leg right to his foot. The left side has weakened and makes him unsteady while walking or moving around but as he has difficulty sitting he prefers to move around slowly. Gordon says he is tired of just waiting around for a change in his circumstances so he has started making some bookings for deputation meetings. He feels it would help everyone if he was able to take even two or three meetings per week. This is a target he has set and trusts he can accomplish.
Please pray for him, that he will have the strength and it will not harm his health further. Also pray if it is God's will for Gordon to hold meetings dates and venues will be available in the coming weeks and months.

TANZANIA

Samuel continues to show his ever increasing ability to handle the work load of the projects in Tabora. He is a real blessing to us all at this time as he corresponds daily with Gordon using text messaging on his mobile phone. The whole farm situation sounds like it is maintaining itself having no major problems with either staff or animals. In answer to prayer God's hands of protection appear to be around the property as it has remained safe from theft or destruction.

Pray for God's continual protection over the farm and the witness in the village.

The meat project has had increased sales for the last month including new business in Kigoma which is outside the Tabora region. The people in Kigoma received a large consignment of meat products at the beginning of May and reported back that they were delighted with them. They appreciated the goods so much that they said there would be an even larger order coming at the end of May. This is an answer to prayer is many people have been praying for an increase in the market of both the meat and dairy projects.

Pray that the market will continue growing blessing Samuel and the other workers involved. Also pray for the witness of Samuel and the meat processing project in Tabora and the surround area.

The dairy still has very low sales, much lower than are required to even attempt paying expenses occurred in the daily running costs. It is essential this dairy project continues for health and prosperity of the Tabora people. Although there is very little finance available to help the dairy at present we plan to employ another person a production manager to help processing. This man called Hamisi is a past employee of the old dairy and he was fully trained in milk processing, understanding all aspects of the dairy's production today. God is directing us to employ Hamisi and he is due to commence work on the 1st June.

Pray for the dairy, the present staff, Hamisi and his challenge to increase production and market, also that we would have wisdom concerning the way forward with the dairy.


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April 2005

No News...

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March 2005

No News...

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February 2005

No News...

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January 2005

No News...

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December 2004

No News...

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November 2004

No News...

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