Tanzania Update: "Tchau," Portugal

A brief note from Lisbon, Portugal…

This exciting adventure has finally come to an end.

Remember my last update about the Israeli family that I was helping out with? Well, it is time to say good-bye. All good things must come to an end. It is sad to say good-bye to this beautiful family. Baby M. is just adorable.

Being able to stay with this family has been a wonderful blessing. They have blessed me tremendously, not only keeping me company but also treating me like one of their own. What a blessing! However, life must go on.

With the easing of COVID restrictions, I am able to fly out of Portugal. After seven months, it is time for me to move on. I will be returning to Tanzania on 10/01/2020.

Stay tuned for more updates! 

God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good.

In Him,

Michelle

[UPDATE: A further message from Michelle, now back in Tanzania, asks for prayer for:]

• her tourist visa extension for Dec. Her work visa expired in August.

• her plan to return Taiwan when her visa expires in December 2020 and to explore opportunities to return to Tanzania with the right visa platform,

• her personal safety. Extremists are active in the south-eastern region of Mtwara and the border with Mozambique has been closed for the same reason.

• the salvation of a young lady, Miss M., whom Michelle came to know this month and became good friends with. She is highly educated and interested in gospel. They have had many discussions about gospel and Michelle want to invite her to accept Jesus as her personal Savior in the next few days.

• Michelle’s safety and wisdom as she continues to visit a prison inmate twice a week, who is also an expat. She has been doing prison visitations since early this year. Recently, the prison security has become very tight but she has had some breakthroughs in sharing the gospel with people.

New Members

We always rejoice to welcome new members into the FPC family. Jesus said that his true family was not made up of those he shared blood with, but those who do the will of God (Mark 3:31-35). Please seek out and greet your new brothers and sisters!

5 Questions with...Steve Ni

1. How did you first get involved with Friendship Presbyterian?  I am Brazilian from Sao Paulo. I arrived in Taiwan on November 1st, 2016. My goal was, basically, to get Taiwanese citizenship, like all of my Brazilian-Taiwanese friends. But I had a problem with my documentation, so I still did not get it. Then, one Saturday in November of 2019, I met [FPC member] Jonathan Colegrove and he invited me and my wife to FPC.  The next day, we attended the service (in the old building). Since then, I have slowly become involved in FPC and have made many friends.

2. What do you do Monday through Saturday?  I don't have a job here, at the moment, so, basically, I try to create content for my YouTube channel, “Traveler Ni” (in English, Portuguese, or Chinese). I also read, watch online documentaries and news, try to workout, and attend a community group (T.G.I.F.).

3. What is something people might be surprised to learn about you?  A few things! First, that my mother-language is not Spanish, but Portuguese. I can actually communicate in seven languages (Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French, Chinese, Taiwanese, and English). Second, I can dance social dances, like Latin and Swing styles, but not ballroom dance. Third, I have travelled to 50 countries and have written a book (Portuguese) and, recently, a blog (English), all related to my travels, in addition to my YouTube channel. Fourth, I love western chess, and I am waiting for anyone reading now to challenge me.

4. What do you find most challenging about being a Christian today?  I think being a Christian is a big challenge in anytime and anywhere because we are surrounded by darkness. If we are not physically persecuted in a brutal political regime, we still face many temptations in an easy-life environment.

5. What is one of your favorite books of the Bible?  The Book of Job. Job is an inspirational example to me. After all the bad happenings in his life, he still did not deny God.