And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?My hope is in you.Isaiah 39:7
Tales of Tanzania
The Season of Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace is a time of anticipation, the Advent of the birth of
our Savior. Our hope is in the coming of our Lord. And what a hopeful time it for us here in
Tanzania!
Mwadui Lutheran Secondary School
Well done students! Closing school on a high note this year as students felt confident about
their performance on exams. The year has ended with great accomplishments and now we
anxiously await results of the national exams. Hopeful, again, is the word for anticipating high
scores for all students, reflecting positively on our school. Increasingly good scores each year
continue to grow the number of students here. It’s a very good trend.
So many things I will miss about Mwadui Lutheran Secondary, but mostly my terrific
“basketballers.” These guys knew very little about basketball, but worked hard at learning the
basics, becoming a winning team. These guys are all heart and they won mine! They are
helping coach the girls now. Next year, a girl’s basketball team!! Makes me very HAPPY! I am
so proud of them! I hope the basketball program continues to grow in the coming years.
Some of the very talented students and teachers accompany us to worship on Sundays in the
village, encouraging the choir and enjoying the open church. Such joy for everyone!
It is my hope that next year, students will continue to volunteer their talents with the
congregation.December 2021 Tales of Tanzania Page 2
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32.
Answered prayers! Amazing grace! Harsh disciplinary actions have ceased and are no longer
allowed. Alongside me, you have prayed and a few have spoken boldly about God’s command
to love one another, and now lives have been transformed. Mwadui Lutheran School is a much
happier place for students and teachers. It is evident our God hears our prayers, and wants to
grant our requests. It is His Will that we discipline and lead in love, and we give thanks our
prayers have been answered. It is my hope and continued prayer these new mindsets remain
throughout the coming years.
A Church for Wizunza Village
Have you heard? We are building a church in this small village outside of Mwadui. Earlier I’ve
referred to this location as “under the baobab tree.” Our first worship service was in June with
only about a dozen children and few adults. We have now grown to almost 100 regular
worshipers, still mostly children, and they are certainly the foundation for our hope in this
congregation.
We purchased one-acre of land, and pictured below are the landowners, the village
chairperson, Reverend Nchambi, and witnesses to the signing of the sale of land.December 2021 Tales of Tanzania Page 3
Although the magnificent baobab tree is not located on this property, it is close by. I still spend
quiet moments meditating and praying under its massive branches. Thank you, Redeemer
Lutheran, Peoria, for your generous gift that secured the land and gave seed money for some
materials to begin construction. Thanks to St. Paul Lutheran, Fort Worth, for your generous
commitment to provide structural costs for the church.
We still need help from individuals, churches, and local fundraising efforts to complete this
project. I will stay until we are worshiping on wooden benches, (instead of the dirt bricks) and
are inside a finished church with everything needed for weekly worship. Currently we need:
$4,000 for labor costs
$1,000 for 20 wooden benches
Sound system with microphone TBD
So, please, help me get home in early 2022. Yes, this means my hope for celebrating
Christmas in America will not happen, but I know this is even better. This is currently my home,
and we will celebrate the birth of our Christ Child with great joy! With your help, we can
celebrate Christmas within the walls of our church, with joyful singing, prayers of thanksgiving,
and love for Jesus and one another.
Please pray with me: Heavenly Father, we give thanks to You for Your everlasting love,
kindness, and for Your Son, Jesus Christ, the greatest Gift ever given. Our hope is in You alone,
and we yearn for deeper understanding of Jesus Christ so His love can abound among us. We
ask especially for Your love and mercy on the people in Wizunza Village and bless the hands
that are building Your house of worship there. Your provision is wondrous for which we are very
thankful. May You continue to move hearts to support this project through prayers and financial
resources, so that we complete Your house in due time to celebrate the birth of Jesus this
Christmas. What an amazing gift that would be to us, dear Lord.
Also, please continue to provide for the monthly needs of Cheryl so that she can focus on her
work without distraction. Her trust is in You, O Lord.
We ask this in the name of Your Precious and Holy Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
New Beginnings!
“Then all your people will be righteous,
they will posses the land forever,
the branch of my planting,
The work of My hands,
That I may be glorified.
Isaiah 60:December 2021 Tales of Tanzania Page 4
What’s In a Name?
And what shall we name this new church? It ties into the story of how hope for God’s Word
and Love be made known to these sweet children living in this remote region without electricity
and access to water miles away. In addition to the beautiful faces, I am drawn like a magnet to
the baobab trees. l enjoy imagining what they’ve endured in their long lives. This particular
Baobab, exemplifies what its name means, “Tree of Life.” Bees have a home there, another
type of tree clings to it with roots seeking the stored water, and the shade provides cool
protection from the sun’s tortuous heat.
The Cross symbolizes for us the Tree of Life, where our Savior gave us the greatest Gift ever,
Himself, and where we are now assured of everlasting life. We felt it fitting that this new
church, birthed under the Baobab tree, should be named “Tree of Life Lutheran Church.”
I couldn’t be more pleased. Amen.
How to Give and Contact Information
Your personal sacrifices and prayers sustain this ministry and encourage me. I give thanks for you, and ask that God
bless you and keep you. If you are able and so called, you may contribute by making checks out to Global Lutheran
Outreach with “Kruckemeyer” on the memo line, and mailing it to GLO at 6709 Ficus Drive Miramar, FL 33023.
Online giving is available at my website: www.GlobalLutheranOutreach.com/blog/Kruckemeyer.
Contributions for the Church Plant need to specify Kruckemeyer Chapel project, please.
Monthly contributions continue to fall below my budgeted needs. I plan to return to the U.S. in January 2022 and will
need your help to remain for that length of time.
Visit “Tales of Tanzania” on Facebook for more pictures and updates. Construction updated daily.
Email: ckruck1974@gmail.com WhatsApp or text message: 1.817.266.7224
Mailing address: P.O. Box 252, Shinyanga, Tanzania. East Africa
If you no longer want to receive these newsletters, please send me an email and I will remove your name from the list.
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