Sister Mary Mwakalonge Hospitalized with Malaria

4/30/2009 Email from Sister Nelda Bryant:
I will give a brief over view of the week. There's so many details that Sam will share upon his return. It has been a good week over all but it is mixed with joys and sorrows.

Sis. Mary has been hospitalized with Malaria. I'm sure her immune system is down from the hard trips of late to Kenya, sitting by Bro. Obey's side, and then the long trips to Mbaui for the funeral. Please pray for her quick return to health. Bro. Obey's sister is living with Mary and the children and is caring for them while Mary is ill.

The Lord has surely blessed the church with a manifestation of his love as they have now had seven to present themselves for baptism. Needless to say this has really encouraged the church that the Lord is still with them!

Sam said that Bro. Kenny thought that it would be a good thing for them to visit with each member in their home so this has been a large part of the effort this week.

They have been blessed to hear three gifts in the church and enjoyed their efforts...They are novices but their efforts were blessed and there's hope that God is raising up laborers to fill the needs of his children in Dar.

It has been a long two weeks but Sam says he feels that at this time it was very necessary for them to be with the church.

We appreciate your continued prayers and trust that the Lord will continue his blessings on the trip.

In Christ,
Nelda

Elders Sam Bryant & Paul Blair Arrive Safely in Tanzania

4/26/2009 Email from Elder Sam Bryant:
Beloved,
Elder Paul Blair and I arrived in Dar Es Salaam on Apr, 22nd at 9:40 PM. We had always been greeted at the airport by Elder Obey and Sister mary, their children, and 15 or 20 of the church members. There was always such a joy to see that tall thin African waving those long arms, and smiling from ear to ear, and shouting "Welcome to Tanzania", This time it was very sad. We were greeted by Sister Mary, she was weeping and asking "Pastor Sam, Where is Obey, Where is my Obey?" Sister Mary knows where brother Obey is. This question was her way of letting us know that her husband will not be coming back. He had been on many long trips, but always came back. She knows he will not be coming back this time. We were also greeted by a grieving church who have suffered a great loss. We had prayer, and brother Kenny drove us to our lodging.
We have been in four services and they have been richly blessed. Elder Obey's brother Rejoice has been with us most of the time and has been interpreting the sermons for us. He favors brother Obey. He is about 5'9" and a medium build. He is 2 years younger than Obey. He is well educated and speaks very good english. I liked him instantly. Today he was preaching at his home church. There is so much I hope to share about brother Rejoice when I return.
Elder Martin Morara Onyoni and Elder Charles Kenyanjui Makori have been with us the entire time. They preached on Friday Night. Brother Paul and I were deeply impressed and carried away with their ability to preach. Their knowledge of the truth is incredible. They are loved and highly respected by the church here. Elder Martin has agreed to preach 2 sundays a month for the church here. What a blessing.
Wednesday night we hope to hear three young gifts in the church preach. We do hope that God will richly bless them to continue the work that brother Obey has started. It would probably take three men to do all that he was doing. He was willing to spend and be spent in God's Service. There is so much more that \I would like to say but time is running out. Keep brother Paul and I in your prayers. Mary is OK, her faith is strong. We went to see Jenny at the school where she attends and whe was at church today.
God Bless,
Pastor Sam

Elder Obey Ndalima Mwakalonge Passed Away

MARCH 31st, 2009 Email from Elder Sam Bryant:
Beloved in Christ,

I am so sad to report that I just received word from Eld. Martin and Sis. Mary in Kenya that Bro. Obey passed away around 10 am this morning. This news will bring sadness to many people, especially his family and his church in Tanzania. The sadness I feel is unspeakable. However, I am finding great comfort in the fact that Brother Obey embraced the same truth that our beloved Apostle Paul did, "to live is Christ and to die is gain." He died knowing that salvation is a gift from a loving God and that multitudes of his African ancestors will be in Heaven by God's grace.

His burden was to establish the Primitive Baptist church in Tanzania. He was blessed to to do that. Before he returned to Africa, he told me he hoped some day to preach the gospel in Kenya. God richly blessed him to do so. He made many trips to Kenya to help with the gospel work there. He was able to help Elder Vernon Johnson and Elder Mike Ivy ordain 5 ministers in Kenya and constitute 5 churches there in Feb. He got sick while in Kenya and was never able to return to his beloved Tanzania.

Sister Mary told me she wanted to take his body back to his home town for burial. There he will rest until Jesus comes. Please keep his wife and children in your prayers. Also pray for the church in Tanzania. I hope to visit them as soon as possible.

Also keep Vestavia church in your prayers. We will mourn his passing deeply.

Your brother in Christ,

Pastor Sam Bryant