Team Tanzania, Jeff Radichel: First Morning in Tengeru

We made it to Tanzania.

We left Minneapolis on Saturday afternoon, flew overnight to Amsterdam, had a few hours there, and then continued on to Kilimanjaro International Airport. We arrived late Sunday night and are now staying in Tengeru with Missionary Bruce and Paula Naumann.

I was on this same trip two years ago, so coming back has a more familiar feel. I remember more of the roads, the house, the pace, and the general rhythm of things. One of the unique joys this time is that Sarah is here with me. It is a gift to experience this together.

Before we left, Psalm 121 had been on my mind.

“The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” Psalm 121:8

That was a helpful verse to carry into the trip. There were plenty of things to leave in the Lord’s hands before getting on the plane. Work, family, travel, health, energy, and all the unknowns that come with a trip like this. We prepared the best we could, and then we had to go.

This morning was a good first morning.

We woke up in Tengeru to cool, partly cloudy weather. After two long flights and a late arrival, it was nice to have a slower day to get settled. Pastor Naumann made his famous omelettes for breakfast and told us a little about his old IHOP training days. We also had fresh produce from trees right here in the yard.

It was a simple reminder that mission work often starts with receiving. Receiving hospitality. Receiving rest. Receiving food prepared by others. Receiving the Lord’s care through the people He places around us.

Today is mostly a preparation day. We are unpacking, getting settled, planning to go to the grocery store, and hoping to visit the African Cultural Heritage Centre. Later this week, we will travel west toward the Hadzabe area on Wednesday and Thursday. We will also begin the teaching work before ending the week with a Friday safari.

One thing I am already thinking about is how trips like this help us remember our opportunities back home. Not everyone is called to fly across the world. But every Christian is called to bear witness to Christ where the Lord has placed them. In our homes. In our churches. In our workplaces. In our families. In ordinary conversations.

I find myself praying that my nieces, nephews, and other family members may have opportunities like this someday. These trips stretch you. They help you see the Lord’s work in a different place, and they also help you see your daily life back home with fresh eyes.

We do not bring Christ to a place where He is absent. The Lord is already here. He has been caring for His people here long before we arrived. We are here to listen, learn, serve, and encourage where we can.

Please pray for us:

  • That we adjust well to the time zone and recover from travel.
  • That Bruce and Paula would be encouraged in their work.
  • That the Lord prepares the children, families, and congregations we will meet.
  • That we would serve with humility, flexibility, and joy.
  • That these days would also help us better see the opportunities the Lord gives us back home.

The Lord has brought us this far, and we are thankful.

In Christ,
Jeff Radichel
Tanzania Mission Helper Trip



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