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Writer's pictureEdward Funk

Faith for What's Possible

Surrounded

It’s hard to describe what it’s like to be surrounded by a mob of angry parents. It’s even harder to describe what it’s like to be falsely accused and have your translator, the one person you have who can help communicate truth, quit on you in fear. But there we were. Zach, my fellow evangelist and traveling partner, and I were on the island of Ukerewe in the middle of Lake Victoria in Tanzania, and we knew God had drawn us there for a purpose. That purpose, despite all the difficulties and hindrances up to that point, was not over! So what did we do? We pressed on!

In order to move forward we had to have another translator! We had only one lead, and had no time to waste if we wanted to reach more schools that day. The island tour guide had introduced us to a Christian couple who lived on the island when we had first arrived. They just happened to be Americans, and were there working to learn the local tribal language for a Bible translation. We went to go see them and though not able to help us themselves, they pointed us to a man named Samwelli who was able to help us for the rest of the day. With his help we were able to preach at two more schools and see the rest of those 4,000 saved souls.

After the schools had let out for the day, Zach and I again had to set to work. Samwelli was not able to continue helping us, so we again were on the search for a translator. We needed someone who could go beyond just helping us with finding something at a market. We needed someone who could truly help communicate the Gospel! Finally, after working all the way up until midnight, we found someone on the mainland who could come and translate for us around 11am the next day. It was a bit later than we hoped, but it is what we had! With His help we were able to reach another 2 schools before they closed early on Friday.


Victory By Faith!

After that first week on the island, Zach and I felt more determined than ever to share Jesus. We decided that to make up for all the trouble we had faced, we needed to split up to cover more ground. If we could get everything we needed we could double down and finish sharing the Gospel with all the schools on the island by the next weeks end. It was a big leap of faith, but we went after it! Schools opened again on Monday and we had two days to find two translators, another car, supplies, and a driver!

The first thing we found was not what we had expected. Baraka, the man who had rented us the first vehicle we were using said he had another he would be willing to rent to us. When we went to go see him, we had a surprise! The police had been to see him! The rumor that we were trying to give vaccinations on the island, the rumor that had insighted the mob of angry parents, had gotten back to the police, and they had come to question him on why he was renting a vehicle to the likes of us. He was able to tell them the truth, that we were there to preach the Gospel, and told them that they should leave us alone! The police, after talking to this man, not only left us alone, but rented their own trucks and went around with loud speakers announcing all over the island that we, the white men, were not there to give vaccinations! Even the American Bible translators heard them from their house as they passed by!

After finding out such a huge problem had been solved we continued to work hard, gathering everything we needed. When Monday came Zach and I were able to split up covering 18 schools and seeing over 9,800 decisions for Jesus in just one day!!! AND after that, Baraka invited us to join him for a soccer match at his hotel. There were about 70 other people there, and we got to meet many people of distinction on the island who wished for us to do more work there. Zach and I believe this may be an open door to come back and do even more to share the Gospel with the people there!!

Tuesday was also an amazing day. We went hard again, and in spite of having another translator quit because of our pace, I got to preach to several thousand more young people, and found another translator for the next day! God was giving us such victory!

Wednesday was more victory! My new translator, Julius, and I set out and ended up encountering a demon possessed girl at one of the schools. Zach and I had both made a commitment to go after the spirit of witchcraft and the demonic, so I prayed. As I was praying the teachers started asking for help with this young girl that needed to be set free. After about thirty minutes of contending for this little girl she was set free and we all praised God!!

The rest of the week was more of the same. Julius was one of the best translators I’ve ever had. He pushed through fatigue and treated every school with enthusiasm. With his help, I was able to do well, and Zach and I finished almost every school on the island before catching a ferry on Friday back to the mainland!! In total we preached to just under half of the islands population and saw over 50,000 people make decisions for Jesus! We are so blessed to have gotten to be a part of what God wants to do on the island of Ukerewe!


Next Newsletter

In our next newsletter I will finish up with what happened over the remainder of our trip. I will also hopefully be able to bring you some updated info on the baby and even some pictures if she has been born. We are again so grateful to everyone who has supported us, both for these trips and the time in between. It has meant so much to my family and has done much to increase the Kingdom of Heaven. Thank you for all that you have invested in that!! We are co-laborers in the harvest and I know that God is pleased with our investment! May Christ continue to be glorified!!!


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