Just received the following email update from my friend, Jessica, who is still teaching in Tanzania. It brought tears to my eyes…

“Jesus will protect.” You’d expect these words to come from the mouth of parents consoling their troubled child. But to know that they came from the mouth of Tatu, a 15 year old orphan, a Sawala student, one of the students we support, a Muslim, it is amazing.

It was an early evening Tatu and I were talking about her working at the house late and returning home in the dark. Tatu, maybe 4 feet tall, with a petite body of a young girl but a more mature; bolder character of a woman, looked at me and said, “I am not afraid of the dark. I don’t fear anything. Because teacher, I know that Jesus will protect me!” I’m not sure, but I imagine that my jaw had dropped. “Really ? You’re not afraid of the dark, of something in the night?” (I’ve met so many Tanzanians who do not like being alone at night.) “No, because I know that Jesus protects me.” “Really ?! You believe that Jesus is with you always ? I am happy to hear that you think this. If you believe in Jesus, that He is with you, then it is true – He will never leave you, but can protect you because he wants the best for you.”

We (missionary teachers) help Tatu to pay school fees and she helps out around our house. This has created opportunities to exchange ideas, to share more personally, and to [share the gospel]. Tatu was first recruited by Jen, a 6-month missionary here earlier this year.This young student is almost like a phenomenon. Intelligent, a fighter, a hardworker. Her father committed suicide and her mother passed from an illness. Her brother was welcomed by her uncle to the city. He’s a boy. Tatu was sent to other extended family in this village. Her uncle financially supports her, but she is still struggling by the end of each month. A young teenager, she lives in a ghetto (rented room) and carries all responsibilities on her own little shoulders. So, Jen decided to give Tatu a better chance at life by helping with her tuition. Day by day, the conversations got more serious. She spoke to her about God, and they prayed together. Tatu is interested and she feels it speaks to her heart. But she is also faithful to her Islamic background. Jen planted a seed. God will grow it.

Jen completed her mission in Tanzania back in June, but we’re continuing here with Tatu. She helps three times a week, sometimes with cooking, when we’ll ask her to make delicious chapatis, the Tanzanian tortilla! We continue to pray for Tatu, to encourage her in her studies, and to be available to speak with her. I believe Jesus has his arms wide open to her, patiently waiting for her heart to turn to him completely.