Getting to Gasala
Sometimes the unreached are unreached, not because they are resistant to the gospel, but because it is so difficult to get to the place where they live. Taking the gospel to the Datooga people certainly has it’s challenges, and they are not all geographical.
As long as we have been missionaries we have always expected to have challenges. We know the enemy does not want the gospel to go forward. We also know that God is in control, and we take comfort in that. Much like 2020 was a complicated year for the entire world, even this year, 2021, has been exceptionally challenging especially in the things related to our intended move to Gasala.
Gasala is in an extremely remote part of Tanzania, and home to the Datooga people group. There are reasons that the Datooga people in Gasala have not heard the gospel. It is difficult to get there, much less live there. But we are proceeding with plans to build a house that will serve as our residence and ministry base in this area of the country. However, the closer we get to completing the house, the more challenges we face.
DISTRACTION… DELAY
Pray for our safety, in travels from one bush location to the next, and for good health so that we can carry out the mission that the Lord has called us to.
One thing after another has kept us from moving to Gasala in a timely matter. “Distractions” we call them.
The enemy has brought distractions into our lives, yet God has carried us through each one and we are grateful for His incredible grace.
Recently, while Gil was en route to Gasala a farm tractor’s trailer ran into him. Gil was fine but our vehicle was damaged. This distraction, became a delay, because it took several weeks go get the vehicle repaired in town.
DISTRACTION…. DISRUPTION
The process of building a house is challenging, but building a ministry house/residence in Gasala (not considering all the other projects we are doing) has taken an exceptionally long time. Multiple times, the rains in neighboring areas cut off access for several weeks. The salt lake covered the road, and a new way had to be created in order to get into that area. Builders kept quitting because the building site was too remote for them, and logistics had caused us to go over budget.
We praise God for all of you who keep us in prayer, and help this ministry continue.
DISTRACTION…. ATTACK
We praise God for for His protection on our lives, we know that every breath we are privilege to take is by God’s incredible grace and mercy.
Just as we were starting the move process for Gasala, Gil was traveling and I was home alone. Some kind of insect bit me (Dolfi) in the night, and I had a serious allergic reaction. Then it happend 2 more times shortly after.
The last time the insect bit me, Gil was home. That was by God’s grace, because that night I nearly died. The doctors said had Gil not been home I would have died for sure. The doctor said it was most likely a spider that burrowed its way into the wood furniture in the room.
After leaving the hospital I stayed in another city for 3 weeks, while Gil removed everything from the bedroom. He got rid of the bed and any wooden furniture and replaced the bed with a metal bed and new mattress. Then he sprayed the whole house with insect killer.
DISTRACTION… BUSINESS
Multiple things have happened to keep us busy, and delay our move to Gasala. Even something as simple as immigration requires us to go back and forth to town so many times spending multiple days at a time to complete this immigration process.
Because of the difficulty of getting a resident permit many missionaries leave Tanzania after existing permits expire. Gil and I thought that could happen one day, so Gil never got rid of his Tanzanian citizenship. For that reason I have been able to stay legally in the country bacause I am married to a Tanzanian citizen. The new Tanzanian president is beginning to reverse immigration rules to make it easier. But for now, this is just another distraction.
Pray for my (Dolfi) immigrations permit to come soon
DESTINATION….. GASALA!!!
We praise God for what He is about to do in Gasala, and the surrounding villages. Pray for the Datooga to know Jesus, and especially in Gasala.
Finally, and soon, we will be in Gasala during the dry time of the year, and then in Gidamilanda during the rainy season so that we will still have access to the other villages where we are doing additional projects & church plants. Later the National Church will move a Pastor into the Gidamilanda house, and we will be permanently in Gasala.
The walls of the ministry house are up, the roof is on. We are entering phase 2 which includes moving and installing water collection tanks and solar panels.
We know that Gasala is a spiritually dark place, but we are positive that it is where the Lord called us to go. Therefore giving up was, and is not an option. We are thankful for God’s grace. Getting to Gasala is difficult, but not impossible. Getting the gospel to the Datooga people is a great challenge, but we must follow the Great Commission command to take the gospel to every language, people, tribe and nation. Distractions come and go, but God’s love for the Datooga people never changes.
Gil and Dolfi are GlobalGrace missionaries in Tanzania.