What Everyone Is Up To!

Jambo!(hello in Ki Swahili)

We trust you are all well. We are praying for you as friends, partners and intercessors. Your personal involvement in our effort to fulfill The Great Commission makes it so much easier for our family to plan, prepare and in the Spring of next year; GO! We are excited about the timing of the Lord!


Bea our eldest is back from China with our son in law Will. He recently was hired here in Burlington! Bea is homeschooling  for a friend in exchange for an apartment, sweet! They spent more then a month in CA with Will's family prior to joining us here in Burlington NC 

Will and Bea

James Jr. is now enrolled in the transfer program at Alamance Community College.He's intention is to transfer to The College of the Ozarks in two years. He is attending with a full grant, to God be all the glory!
Liz has completed her camp job in Oregon and has returned to CA. She began classes this week. This is the beginning of her Sophomore year at Simpson University, with a full scholarship, to God be all the glory!
JeNi and Mahayla have begun homeschooling again. Jaedon is getting ready to start the "Your Baby Can Read" program. :) Fun times! JeNi will have classes out of the home at least 3 days a week this year, she is super excited to be involved with other students.

Mahayla!

JeNi in plaid shirt

Jaedon

James Sr. continues to hold a full time job. He is one wonderful man! I (Deanna) I am teaching a bible study Monday evenings, serving at Word Of Life Family Church which, is also our sending church, helping to co teach an enrichment class based on the continent of Africa to homeschoolers. Working on a BIG ministry project for Vision Tanzania. Speaking as doors open, and of course being a joyful steward of our family and home. I am also training to run a half marathon next year, so planning to run a 5k in a few weeks,  and a 10k in Dec. I start a boot camp next month. So, your extra prayer support would be welcomed! :)


The BIG plans we are working on will be announced later this month. We ask for you to pray God will give us wisdom, revelation, insight and favor as we go forth in His name.

Much love to you all and peace be multiplied,

The Dick Family
Missionaries to Tanzania

We Had A Great Turn Out!

A big thank you to the Word of Life Family who were able to join us at  Yo Zone in the Holly Hill Mall last month. We set up a small display table and enjoyed talking with people for about 10hrs of the day. It was fun to meet with old friends and to make some new ones while eating frozen yogurt. Our next event will be on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH at CiCi's PZZA on South Church Street in Burlington NC. If you live to far a way to attend...you can mail in a donation, just ask us how! Our goal remains the same...we are planning and preparing to deploy to Tanzania, Africa in the Spring of 2012. More info to come in the weeks ahead!

A few pics of some of the friends who were able to join us.

Amber our Missionary Care Leader

We had some little visitors as well!They are holding a Masai warrior club and wearing a tribal necklace

Paula, our Missions care team event coordinator

Moving Forward! Vision Tanzania Let's Go!

 

Listen closely, they are amazing!

We left for Tanzania at the end of March 2011 for a 10 day survey trip. While we were in Tanzania we had the privilege of spending time at a Christian School for national children operated by nationals. What a joy this group d 4 and 5 year olds were, as they smiled and apprehensively quoted all of Psalm 100!

This morning as I re watched this video I was reminded of how important it is to preach the gospel, and to reach children with the message of Jesus Christ. As I go through today with an attitude of prayer, I will continue to contend for Tanzania, I will continue to believe in the call and the vision of missions and our plans to GO!

We are currently at about 20% with our support. We are adding precious people every day to our team. The Vision of Tanzania will be seen, and you can be a part of it. Though the vision tarries, wait for it...for it shall surely come to pass.

Our most important need, is for true intercessors to come forth and stand with us! Is that you? Do you have the call of intercessor on your life, do you like to pray? If so, we invite you to stand with us in prayer. Please let us know we can count you in!


Much love,
Deanna for the Dick family

We had a good time!

Some photos of our recent trip to Tanzania. We will try to post something new each week, hopefully we don't run out of pics to share before we return to take more! Please pray for the Nation of Tanzania, pray for Muslims to know the true and living God, and for Christians to be bold and share the gospel.

Our first trip to the beach, the most beautiful place in our eyes in Dar Es Salaam

Kids fortunate enough to attend school on their way walking.

A visit to the local fruit market, plenty of bananas and watermelons.

Meeting new people in the town of Tegeta. He was eating spicy bananas, yummm...I think? :)

Our Last Days in Tanzania....Where Do We Go From Here?

Hello friends, family and partners in missions,
   
     Our journey to Tanzania ended with a walk on a Sunday evening through Tegeta, a very lively town up the road from our host families home. We looked to the right, and took in the sight of the many homes local squatters had illegally built in the rock quarry. We looked to the left of us and saw a very over crowded road with cars, buses, bikes, tuk tuk's (local taxi, made of motor cycle and cab), people walking, garbage here and there and children playing. Then we happened on the towns open market, full of people selling their wares, fruits and vegetables, shouting out to us, "habari" which means welcome in Ki Swahili. We smiled and spoke the greeting we had learned, "Asanta Sana" which, is to say, "Thank you."  We often added a common phrase we heard spoken, and put to memory. "Bwana asi fi wei."(Praise the Lord) They in turn would answer "Amen."  How cool is that, people openly praising the Lord. Not in China! :) We said, "Jambo," (hello) to almost everyone who gave us eye contact. :) We were in Tanzania and we were alive! We are following His footsteps, and this is where they are leading us...

     We happened on a circle of people some sitting, others standing while listening to music being played over a loud speaker, and women dancing in the center...What is this? We thought, so we moved in closer. Camera set to record, we watched and smiled as they sang, danced and told a story with their hands. What a beautiful sight... I wanted to join them, I wanted to understand the words they sang, I wanted to be a part of this people, culture and town.

     Monday, arrived and it was time to return to America...we missed our children...they missed us, how we wished we had them with us, and could have stayed on...but our time is in the Lord's hands. He will direct our steps. Our hearts continue to say, "Yes Lord" Here are we send us! Send us!

Phase one, pray about where to go in Africa. Complete, go to Tanzania.
Phase two, go on a survey trip. Complete, we went to Tanzania, to the city of Dar Es Saalam
Phase three ?

Now, we are at the third phase toward relocating our family to Africa...Would you like to know what that means??? Post a comment and we will email you. :)

Thank you as always for reading our blog...I hope to become more frequent with my postings and to become more savvy at arranging it.  Stay tuned, there will be more to come!

Deanna for the Dick family
Missionaries to Africa