Team Tanzania — Jeff Radichel: Not Small When We Have the Gospel

Thursday was one of those days that is hard to fully capture in words.

We started the morning at Monasteri Mtakatifu Katarina (St. Catherine's) near Karatu, had breakfast, and then headed out for the day. We knew we were going into a more remote area, but I do not think I fully understood how remote until we were on the road.

The drive took about three and a half hours. The last hour and a half was not really a road. We were in a four-wheel drive Land Rover, and even then we almost got stuck crossing a dry riverbed. That gives you a little picture of what it takes to reach some of these places.

When we arrived, we were told that the people there walk about an hour one way just to get water. There is no electricity, no power, and very little infrastructure. They have some small solar items, but otherwise it is very simple. The village also has very little formal education. Many of the people cannot read, which makes the need for faithful oral teaching, trained leaders, and continued pastoral care even more clear.

Many of the people in the area are Hadzabe. From what I understand, the Hadzabe are one of Tanzania’s oldest Indigenous peoples, often associated with the Lake Eyasi and Yaeda Valley region. There are only around 1,200 or so Hadzabe in the country. Some still maintain parts of a traditional hunter-gatherer way of life, while others are navigating the changes that come with schooling, land pressure, tourism, and modern Tanzania.

I want to be careful even writing about that. It would be easy to treat a visit like this as just an interesting cultural experience, but these are real people with families, history, language, needs, gifts, and dignity. They are people made by God, living in a place very different from where I live, and yet needing the same Savior.

By earthly measures, it would be easy to look at a place like that and only see what is missing.

But that is not what stood out.

What stood out was the joy.

There were about 28 people gathered, with around six adults and the rest mostly children and young people. The congregation has been waiting a long time for a pastor, and there are real needs there. But they were not sitting around like people without hope.

They were singing. Dancing. Smiling. Welcoming us. Listening to the Word.

When we arrived, they sang for a long time. Their choir was wonderful, and the energy from the children and the congregation was hard to describe. I wish I could share more of the videos, because the singing and dancing were so good. It honestly brought tears to my eyes just being part of it.

We had six baptisms while we were there, four children and two young adults. We also had communion. Pastor Naumann gave short teachings on baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and they were powerful. Simple, clear, biblical, and focused on what the Lord is doing through His Word and promises.

After that, they had us stay for lunch. Then we did a shortened version of our lessons and songs with the children. We gave greetings, handed out gifts, and then they gave us gifts too.

And yes, we came home with eggs and a chicken.

That made for a great story. Pastor Naumann even said he had never seen that happen before. It was such a kind and generous gift from people who do not have much by worldly standards. It reminded me again that generosity is not measured only by the size of the gift, but by the heart behind it.

We also left them a speaker, which turned into its own kind of celebration. As we were leaving, they were already singing and dancing with it. We joked that there may have been a pretty big party there last night. There is a family with a small shop not far from the church, and it sounds like that speaker may become a blessing for more than just the congregation.

On the long drive, I had a lot of time to think and pray. I was also texting with the team back home at different points, so there was this strange mix of being way out in the bush while still carrying some of the normal work questions from home. But even that became part of the lesson of the day.

There were reminders everywhere.

The road reminded me that some places are only reached slowly and with help.

The dry riverbed reminded me that even with the right vehicle, we are not fully in control.

The lack of water, power, and education reminded me that the needs are real.

The congregation reminded me that the Church is not measured by infrastructure.

The singing reminded me that joy in the Lord is not dependent on comfort.

The baptisms and communion reminded me that Christ is doing the real work.

The eggs and chicken reminded me that generosity can come from places we might least expect.

And the whole day reminded me of what I am preparing to preach on Sunday from Mark 16.

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

This congregation looked small in many ways. No nearby water. No electricity. No easy road. No resident pastor. Very limited formal education. A small group gathered far out in the bush.

But they had Christ. They had His Word. They had baptism. They had communion. They had songs of praise. They had children hearing about Jesus.

That is not small.

I keep thinking about how often I measure things the wrong way. Buildings, numbers, money, organization, comfort, visible strength. Those things matter in their place, but they are not the life of the Church. Christ and His Word are the life of the Church.

The Lord does not need much in our hands to do much through His Word.

This morning we are getting ready for breakfast and then heading out for our Friday safari at Ngorongoro. It will be a very different kind of day, and I am looking forward to seeing more of the Lord’s creation. But I do not want to move too quickly past what we saw yesterday.

A small congregation far out in the bush reminded me again that the Church is not small when it has the Gospel.

Please pray:

• In thanksgiving for safe travel and the visit yesterday.
• For the Hadzabe congregation we visited.
• For the six who were baptized.
• For the children and young people who heard the Word.
• For the Lord to provide a pastor and future training for leaders there.
• For faithful teaching where many cannot read.
• For the Word to take root and bear fruit.
• For safe travel today.
• That we would remember what the Lord teaches us through small places, small groups, and simple gifts.

I would still welcome your thoughts as I continue preparing to preach Sunday:

• Where have you seen the Lord use something that looked small?
• How have mission trips or mission stories helped you see opportunities in your daily life back home?
• When have you seen a church, family, or person be both needy and sent?

The Church is not small when it has Christ and His Word.

In Christ,
Jeff Radichel
Tanzania Mission Helper Trip