New flowers planted

In mid-March, Tanzanian President John Magufuli, who was held in high regard by many, died after a good five years in office. His successor, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, announced in the first few weeks of her term that foreigners are warmly welcomed again. They should get work and residency permits because they bring money into the country. One of our close employees had to leave the country in March because after many years of working in Tanzania she could no longer get a work permit. All attempts to apply have failed. After the change of office in the government, she tried again and was promptly accepted. Another colleague had a similar experience. So we too have great hope that we will receive a new work permit again in November 2021. For months, feelings of insecurity and worried questions had accompanied us: do we have to leave house and yard behind again? Where to next? Can we and the children cope with a new move to another country? All fluctuations in feelings and thoughts, also with regard to the continuation of the services here, calmed down. We feel relieved and inner peace has returned. We've planted new flowers and vegetables in the garden, planted trees, found a new lease of life in renovations, enlarged my office and considered new projects. We are incredibly grateful to God for that, and also that many of you prayed for this situation.

Not without!

This project is not without, and it is not possible without donations. We ask you to pray and consider whether you can support us with a special donation. We have postponed the big tour to the twelve villages to 2022, partly because the funds for it are not yet available. You have the opportunity to support the project by direct debit, credit card, Paypal and other options:

Alternatively, you can also transfer to: Wycliff eV, KD-Bank Dortmund, account:

DE10 3506 0190 1013 4400 14, purpose: Sangu Josef project.

tears of joy

From 14th to 20th On June 2nd 2021 we came together with 38 artists from the Mbugwe people for an arts retreat. It's a day and a half journey by car from Mbeya north past the capital Dodoma. In 2018 and 2019 we had already been to the Mbugwe to ask them about their arts and the problems in their culture. On the free time itself we continued these investigations. Issues ranged from water shortages to alcoholism, mistreatment of poor people and abuse of young women, deficiencies in raising children, and very low self-esteem about their own language and cultural heritage. On the basis of these investigations we had searched out passages from the Bible over a long period of time that gave help and advice for the problems of this people. Since the Bible translators of the Mbugwe had only completed four books of the Bible, there was a lot to be done to finish translating these relevant texts before free time and have them checked by the translation consultant. With these words of the Bible in hand, the artists developed new artworks using very traditional but also more modern Mbugwe arts.

Reputed top professionals in the wide variety of Mbugwe arts had gathered. The musicians composed in groups and taught each other traditional dances. In the making of traditional Mbugwe grass hats and rugs, old women would devise new lyrics and memorize them while singing. Art genres that were almost extinct were revived and filled with new content. Four men sang about the mistreatment of young women, what a big step! Painters drew pictures, one of which warns against using dirty water for domestic use. Potters made classic Mbugwe vessels but also a sculpture to create man out of clay as a reminder that we and all creativity come from God the Creator. God's Word was discussed on relevant topics and the participants started to study the Bible themselves.

It was a whole week full of sparkling creativity, loud laughter and moments of dismay. Participants said at the end of the week that until now they had only sung secular texts, but now they would like to use biblical texts. Others said that from now on they would also go to church.