The Four Wheel Drive

Background: A partnership meant to be.

During the morning service on Sunday January 29 2023 I was given the opportunity to share of a spiritual relationship developing between myself and now our church with a Maasai Pastor, Daniel Kipeen, whom I met late 2017 while in Tanzania.

Daniel came to faith during the Covid Pandemic and has wasted no time since, finding all his hope and comfort in through the Word of God in Jesus his Saviour whilst living his life out as an obedient servant of God.

His heart is for the elderly Maasai in three villages in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and he is devoting his life to sharing the gospel with them as he cares for their physical needs.

As it turns out, Daniel has been very encouraged and comforted to find people here on the other side of the world who will pray for him and the many difficulties he encounters. This was a certain answer to his prayers, to find people who could encourage and help him. Daniel and his wife Mary have also committed to praying for us, as we pray for them, resulting in many blessings and humbling life lessons for us as well.

The number one need of a vehicle

In September 2022, I asked Daniel for a list of needs. In January, the Lord laid it on my heart to pray for the provision of the number one need: a Four wheel drive for taking the elderly to get medical attention especially at night, for picking up dispensary items and for collecting water and firewood. These trips can take many hours on foot and via donkey, involving multiple people.

Letters to large vehicle companies had not resulted in any response whatsoever.

In January I put the need for the vehicle before the church and was immediately encouraged with donations. Daniel had advised me he could find a good second hand vehicle for about $20,000 AUD or $12,000USD

Church fund- raising efforts

Since our congregation of about 70 persons is represented by a number of nationalities, it was decided to hold a fund-raising lunch and celebrate the cuisines of the varying cultures we have amongst us by the sharing of food. Under the supervision of a team of very capable ladies, a feast fit for a King or two! was shared after our morning service on May 21st. People generously donated food and paid for their lunch at the same time and there were some side activities such as a silent auction .Pastor Daniel and his wife Mary sent a heartfelt video message which was played during the lunch. After the lunch we were about a third of the way to our total. In the following week, the balance of the money arrived as a result of some very sacrificial giving. The congregation was so encouraged by this and in awe of the way God had moved.

Passing on the good news!

When we phoned Daniel to tell him the good news,

It was a sunny morning there in Tanzania and it was hard to see anything but Daniel’s pearly white teeth against the dark background of his face. After we shared the good news with him we thought we lost communication but it turns out that he was overcome and had dropped to the ground. Later he wrote:

I have tried to write but I fail. I found myself crying tears of joy. You have greatly blessed my heart and my ministry. Indeed when I think of God bringing us together, I glorify God greatly.

I was struggling to fetch water and firewood with the donkeys and it took a long time. But you have become the main way of blessing for me and the elders. I have no way to thank you and your family together at Burnside Family Church for the way you have sacrificed for us. You have been a great comfort in my dream of taking care of the elderly people who have have given up hope of living. I pray a long life for you and the elders will say blessings on you.

Becoming a licensed driver

Although Daniel could already drive, he had to go to and stay in Arusha to do the official training and tests in order to get a license. This process took about a month which he proudly achieved with flying colours, being fully engaged in all he learnt and now sporting his driver’s license. This meant there were now two drivers in Daniel’s team.

With the help of a trusted mechanic, a suitable vehicle was identified. It is indeed a sound and handsome looking vehicle inside and out, fit for purpose and was duly fitted fitted with a bull bar, luggage rack and logo.

A learning curve for us in Adelaide too.

The transfer of funds to Africa needed to be in smallish increments which meant that the whole process took almost 2 months. The delays were frustrating for all parties involved, including the vendor whose patience was stretched to the limit. We had to trust the Lord through the whole journey that things would work out just right. Pastor Daniel and his team wrote ‘We believe that God will act. He was the one who showed me the car and He will wait until the funds arrive. Our God is very faithful.’

Praise God that on August 18th the transaction was completed and Daniel and his team began making the journey back home. Special mention to our church treasurer who exercised much patience over the period.