The last few weeks have been filled with us getting moving in to our new home and us starting to find ways that we can help the work here.  Our home is in a great spot and we have been blessed with many friends helping us find it and get settled!   We cannot begin to list everyone who has willingly helped us navigate getting a house, furniture, food, etc. but we are extremely grateful for each of them!

I have been helping Justin Maynard and others with the farm work at the School of Preaching.  Over the last month the corn and beans that survived the extreme rainy season have been harvested.  I have been tasked with helping the farm develop a book keeping system for the finances and production that go along with the farm.   A secretary has been hired and we have been working out the best way to keep up with the many different aspects of the farm.   In the evenings I have been able to start a Bible study over Ephesians with our day guard who is a new Christian.  I have also preached at Kisongo and will be teaching the men’s class there this Sunday.

 

Bekah has been getting the house set up and school going for the boys again.  Both of those things have taken up much of her time.  She has been able to make a time to set up encouragement studies with two local Christian ladies once week thanks to Anna Maynard and Naomi.  Now that things around the house have settled down she hopes to be more available for other teaching opportunities.   Until you have lived in another culture you just never realize how much you take for granted.  Things like knowing what different brands mean the product is used to do, how to buy vegetables by name or knowing how much something costs because you know the numbers they are telling you at the vegetable stand (duka).  So far she has had a lot of help learning vegetable names, numbers and greetings.

 

 

Micah and Nathan have done well with all of the changes.  They are enjoying playing in our yard and helping put in our garden.   They also love Tanzanian food as much as we do so that is a huge blessing.  Not that we haven’t had moments of melt downs but over all they are doing well and we are very proud of them.  We were sorry to see Ms. Kendyll Covington leave earlier this week but wish her the best as she starts a new adventure.  (Excuse the crazy faces from our kids…we can’t have normal pictures.)   Our school has found its mascot in a blue headed iguana who has taken up residence on our wall.  He is well tracked by the boys and it was just reported that there is a female hanging around also.

 

 

*Warning: Picture of toe below…apologies to all of my foot-phobic friends and family)

In the midst of moving we also were blessed to find out that the local pediatrician is quick to respond.  Micah had started to complain of a leg cramp but since it is the dry season we all assumed it was from dehydration and took steps to correct that.  After several hours of no improvement Bekah noticed an old splinter (from the states) in his big toe.  After she removed it we realized that the leg cramp was actually an infection that was affecting his entire leg.  Thankfully the local pediatrician answered on the first call and immediately had us come over and started him on antibiotics.  After a few days Micah was back to running and playing.  It was a good reminder that even little issues can grow quickly if not taken care of properly.  God was gentle with us and thankfully this incident was easily resolved.  Micah now has a great story he is willing to share with anyone who will listen.

We are all trying to learn Kiswahili so that we can communicate with everyone.  So far we can greet everyone a little and have learned a few basic words.  Small steps.   We have also both been able to get used to driving on the left side of the road and have found that driving is not nearly as intimidating as we thought it might be when we arrived here.

We thank you all for your support and love.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we work to learn and teach.

In Him,

Phillip, Bekah Micah and Nathan Duncan

Support can be sent two different ways:

Through Paypal at: pbduncan20@gmail.com

Or:

Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver
2707 S. Lamar Street
Denver, Colorado 80227  (Memo line: “Duncan TZ mission”)