Sunday, October 23, 2016

From Africa to America...Home at Last

Family, Friends,

 After 15 years of living as international missionaries, God has chosen to settle our family in the US. We have no idea how long this season will be, but we embrace it wholeheartedly!

Questions you may have:

1. Are you planning to continue in ministry and missions? 
a. YES! Absolutely, We have a team of fellow missionaries and friends working to put together our annual Kondo Christmas Party in December. If you would like to make a donation to help make it a success please "push" the donate button and specify KONDO CHRISTMAS PARTY.
b. We are planning top take a short term missions trip in June 2018 - mark your calendars and begin to pray about joining us!

2. What are your plans forward while in the US? 
a. We both will work part time interim  
b. Complete degree - James is a full-time student
c. Deanna will complete a Real Estate course 
d. Launch a Charter School with a Bi- lingual focus in 2019 - its an eighteen month app. process 
e. In 2 weeks we will move to Siloam Missionary Homes for the next year. Yay! Fully furnished- and ready to move into.
f. Our children are in public school and mom is surviving. :) They are doing great!  

3. Where are you going to church? We continue to attend Word of Life Family Church, and we are serving in several areas. 

4. What are your current needs as you transition?  We have not had a cold winter for the past 4 years; consequently, we have no winter clothes. Gift cards and 2nd hand clothes are welcomed!

5. How can we pray for you and Everlasting Love Missions
a. Please pray for the continued work in Tanzania. Email us for specifics
b. For our family here in the US,  

We always thank God for each of you. Your prayers and kindness have made serving the Lord in missions a joy. 

CEB - Proverbs 16:9 - People plan their path, but the Lord secures their steps.
Deanna for the family

Saturday, March 26, 2016

No, It Has Not!

AS WE REFLECT ON HIS SACRIFICE, WE REMIND OURSELVES OF HIS VICTORY!

-Happy Resurrection Day! In Africa we celebrate Thursday to Monday

I said to myself, "No, it has not been that long since I last blogged." Oh my goodness, It has been! 
Here I sit in my sweltering hot living room, ceiling fans twirling, while the littles sit on the floor adjacent to me, building with bionics chatting about all sorts of things. I finally feel like I have time and peace of mind to share some of the MANY adventures we have embraced since the last time I wrote... 

Amani Orphanage! This is our adopted Orphanage. Our current goals are:
1,To help them build a kitchen &help them to maintain the use of cooking gas.
2.To provide training for staff in teaching preschool aged children - This will be through the English Educators Round-table established in October 2014 by ELM. 
3.To provide a fun day for the children once a month by interacting with them in various ways.
4. Lets see how the Lord leads, the needs are vast!
Please pray for partners Lea Ann & Ron,  they arrive April 5th from Nebraska to build the kitchen

Haven of Peace Academy, where James and Deanna are missionary volunteers, is hosting a Dinner and Show Fundraiser! Deanna is coordinating the event with a small team of moms and has been EXTREMELY busy pulling it all together. Please pray for the rest of the planing, prep and final outcome! This project is underway to help leave a legacy of information, training and education in Tanzania, through our new Library & Learning Resource Center

Couples Club was introduced at a very fun dinner hosted by James and I. We plan to have our first Couples Club meet up soon! With couples eager to grow in TRUTH, FAITH and LOVE
(SEW- SERVICES EMPHASIS WEEK 
Last year ELM launched a Road Safety Awareness Campaign through Service Learning at Haven of Peace Academy. Through this program we have started our 1st Road Safety Awareness Club in secondary schools! We took our campaign to the streets to talk to pedestrians about being aware
HOPAC is celebrating our 10th year serving in the community of DAR!

Talking with Maasai about the importance of using the cross walk...they were uninformed! They could not understand why it was so important. :) - Yes, RSA has a place in DAR! Saving lives one conversation at a time. :)





Friday, October 30, 2015

The Response Surprised Us!

"We were told, prepare for the worst. Buy extra Luku (electricity), fuel up, make sure you have a generator, stock up on food supplies, and don't travel very far from home."

A week preceding the elections, James went to 5 or 6 ATM machines before he could make a withdraw. He stood in line at the grocery store for nearly an hour, (while I was "working it out" in Zumba class, what a guy!) We couldn't find a shop who had available luku units, to pre purchase for our home; for several days, and I was a bit nervous, because we don't have a generator. But, the Lord, He is good!
Mr. Magufuli pictured in a local newspaper (The Citizen) engaged in a "press up" Demonstrating he is strong and can lead the nation.
Well, the election has come and gone, and we continue to live peacefully in the city of Dar Es Salaam - which means, "Haven of Peace." Despite  several isolated incidents, where disputes were quickly diffused and order promptly restored...The nation of Tanzania has once again proven, it is a peaceful nation... The newly elected 5th President of the United Republic of Tanzania is Mr. John Magufuli. As guest in the country of Tanzania, we do not have the privilege of voting...Who would we have voted for? Well, I guess we will never know! :) 

On the Missions front: Now that elections are completed, we look forward to being back in our local village. In November the ELM Clothing Distribution Center will open, and in December, we will host our 2nd annual Christmas Party. Please pray about making a contribution toward feeding the families who will come, and making sure all of the teens receive a gift. We have already purchased crayons and matchbox cars for the younger children. It's exciting to be a blessing!!! Last year we received over 150 people, this year we could double the numbers! 

Blessed to serve with so many wonderful friends. THANK YOU!!!

Family News: We are celebrating two birthdays this month! Mahayla is turning 9 on November 3 and Deanna is turning 49 on November 30...yep, do the math. Proof that God renews our strength! :)

Please celebrate with us!  - your emails, whats app text, Facebook messages and calls are so very encouraging! We miss you!!





Facebook accounts: Vision4Tanzania:Dick Family in Dar -  Deanna Carr Dick - James Michael Dick Sr. - JeNi E. Dick
Skype: elovemissions
Whats app: 255 22 065 660 7276 (deanna)  = 255 22 76909507 (James) -
255 22 767963807  (JeNi)

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Because of YOU!..


WHO'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE?

2015 - 2016 HOPAC Teaching and Administrative Staff

Family, Friends...

We are back in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania after an amazing 2 months in America. Our pastors and church family were so generous to "bring" us home, and together with our kids and friends, it was a summer to remember!

The Dick family being back in Dar, means, Haven of Peace Academy, will have 2 more qualified volunteer, missionary staff members, to serve the mission communities children, Tanzanians, as well as many students from other nations for the next school year.

This means we will be able to continue serving in Kondo Village through our clothing distribution, bi weekly outreaches and Christmas party. It means we will be able to continue building life changing relationships with our many neighbors who need hope, help and love...We are beyond grateful for your prayers and support! Thank you for sending us!

Thank you... for all  YOU do every day, to serve God right where you are planted. We are together in Kingdom building and God is being glorified!

With much love,

The Dick Family

JeNi grd 10, Mahayla grd 3, Jaedon grd 1



Sunday, March 1, 2015

Is There Not A Cause!

You may remember last year, I shared about the tragic accident of one of the grade 11 students at Haven of Peace Academy(HOPAC) the school in which I teach, and our children attend. His name was Dawson. He would of been a part of the graduating class of 2015...He was hit while on the back of a piki piki(motor bike). The driver of a Lorry(small truck) hit the bike and just kept driving... Sadly, this is all too common in Dar Es Salaam, the leading city in traffic accidents. The driver may of feared for his life. Often times if a driver kills a pedestrian, the community will render vigilantly style justice. Needless to say, this young boys family was devastated. His mother inconsolable. It was very difficult to see so many of our students hurting & mourning his passing. I felt such a strong burden to pray, to cry out for justice! I felt like David when he knew the Philistine Army was defying the Living God...He said, "Is there not a cause?!" Our Heavenly Father began to stir my heart to take action. At that time, I was not sure what I could do...limited time, language etc. Thankfully our school has a required course, called Service Learning. Upper secondary students are required to complete so many hours each school year. Service Learning provides the students with the opportunity to serve our community partners in many ways, Kids Clubs, Fair Trade NGO's, Orphans, the Environment and several others. This year, they added a new Community Partner, ELM(Everlasting Love Missions), Working directly with us, 3 students helped to put together a Driver and Pedestrian Road Safety Presentation in honor of Dawson their late classmate. This month we launched our first presentation at Essac Primary School, where James also teaches their religion class each week.Ironically we learned that Dawson, was a student in this school during his primary years. We have now presented in several schools and are on our way toward developing Road Safety Clubs.Stay tuned there is MUCH more to come! 
Christian, Monica and John

Christian and John

You only feel like HALF a person, until you are made whole
Captures while students were at Dawson's Memorial Service 

HOPAC students in blue, with Green Acres Students grade 9 

I love what I do!

Second Language Learning Fun!

This Saturday we completed our 4th ESL Teacher Training. Ms. Ann, who is the lead administrator at a local primary school, came more than 30 minutes early today, eager to learn. If you knew Tanzanian culture; you would know, that guest arriving early, almost never happens! She took a seat at the table after picking up a book from the Books to Borrow Table. Eager to learn! The rest of the teachers trickled in, as we began yet another training session. My friend Catherine Kogi, came by today to share about the Montessori method of teaching Language.  Our partners are helping to make it possible for us to make education a priority in Dar es salaam!
Sharing the Left to Right method

Hands on leanring

Using our senses

Attentive note takers

Temboni and the Little Church that Could!

Last Sunday, our family got up a little earlier, loaded up the van and headed to a place we had not visited before(well, we had passed by)...we were given directions in Swahili and James felt as though he was somewhat familiar with the location. There are very few street signs, and most paved roads do not offer street signs for the adjoining dirt roads. 
We live in a land of dirt roads and grass trails... So, off on our adventure to find the church I would be speaking at that morning.   We were told to pass 4 bus stops, turn left and then wait for him; him being the translator. Needless to say, the journey was not without intrigue. We waited on the side of the road for about 30 mins. When we could not get in touch with the pastor or the translator, James decided to keep driving forward, good thing! We were past the 4 bus stops, but in the wrong town! We finally met up with our guide and off to church we went. They were in full swing! We were greeted with shouts of joy and hugs. Two lovely sisters came out to take our Bibles and bags and escort us inside.  Sunday school, Singing, dancing, more singing, and more dancing and singing... did I mention more dancing and singing. :) then it was time to preach.
This little fellow danced and danced!

We walked down a short trail to reach the church


"We've Found Water" Jacobs Wells...selah

The kids shared their coloring books, markers and crayons


Receiving a blessing!

Suffer the little children

Prophesying  over the pastors

James with the President of SINAI Missions and Pastor of the Church