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Envision 09 was a good conference, if the conference is new to you like it was to us - it is a missions focused conference. With speaking sessions, electives and a large area where many mission organisations displayed who they were and what they did.
It was refreshing to be around other people who seem to see the importance of Christ’s mandate of the Great Commission and who are taking it seriously enough to change there lives accordingly.
We have received news from our friends in Bukoba Tanzania; it seems that their denomination has seen that it would be beneficial for them to be moved to another part of Tanzania to carry on the work of spreading the gospel and planting churches. It is a learning curve for us because it has started to show that many of the people who were in Bukoba when we first visited may not be there on our return (God willing on the return bit).
It has also put our pastor friend in a situation where he is wanting more information from us so he can weigh up his options for the future also.
We visited YWAM in Matamata but in God’s providence we were not able to make the financial commitment.
We have also been blessed with another little girl, so that is 5 girls and one boy.
We are all finally living in Rotorua; God has provided me with a job with the Christian Ministry at Keswick Christian Camp and Conference Centre Rotorua. I believe God will be introducing us to concepts, skills and pressures that will help us on the mission field.
We will be having a meeting with our church elders this week and hopefully will get a better idea what direction we will be heading in from there.
We will have to begin to organise the next AGM for the trust too.

Envision 09 Missions Conference

This is a picture of Baraka and Alex overlooking Bukoba and Lake Victoria.
Hi all!
Well God has been giving us a bit of a nudge...time to write a bit of a blog update.
Will have to set some time aside this weekend and go into more depth.
Had a good time at Envision 09 in Tauranga. Heard some good speakers, met some like minded people, felt encouraged.
Busy with my new job working at Keswick Christian Camp.
May He continue to use us for His glory!

Heri za mwaka mpya 2009!

Happy New Year to you!

Well I guess I had better make a new years resolution to put some photos on this blog! (But not today!)
Our friend Rev. Malobo sent us the following information in regards to erecting a good quality building on the plot of land in Busimbe, Tanzania:

WIDOWS AND ORPHANS HOUSE cost ESTIMATES.
Iron sheets 72pcsx20000 = 1,421,250/
Woods 2x4 & 2x3 200pcs = 1,000,000/
Burnt bricks 20000pcsx50.05+ transport =1,010,000/
Stones for foundation 12 tripsx60000/= 720,000/
50 cement bagsx22,000 [foundation, plaster, ring beam] =1,100,000/
Building rods 25pcsx16000 = 400,000/
Woods 1x8, 40pcsx5000 = 200,000/
Floor 35cememnt bags x 22000 = 770,000/
Woods for door flames 2x5, 25pcsx6000 = 150,000/
Shuters for door 9pcsx50000 = 450,000/
9 windows x 50000 = 450,000/
Mortar 15 bagsx14000 = 210,000/
Oil paint 80lts x 750 = 600,000/
Transport 200,000/
Nails 25kgs = 100,000/
Sand 10 trips x60000 = 600,000/
Water 75,000/
TOTAL 9,475,000/
Labour Charge 2,790,000/
12,265,000/ ($15,801.820 NZD)

Well at least that gives us an idea of current costs.

What has the Mills family been up to...?
We are currently looking into the logistics of doing a YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Discipleship Training Programme (with Family emphasis) in Matamata half way through this year, about the same time the next little Mills is due.

We are very slowly uprooting ourselves from Pukekohe. This has been difficult as it was not (and is still not) a simple moving of house.
Currently learning about missional communities and how that would look in our western context (New Zealand - Rotorua - Pukekohe) and thinking through the ramifications of that within an African culture. (That is a group of Christians who live in close proximity to the people the are trying to reach through serving and living alongside and applying the gospel to each other on day to day basis - like as in Acts 2)
Boy I can see the problems that the ‘Established Church’ has and will cause in its approach make disciples of Jesus Christ. Very obvious in Africa...lots of ritual etc.
Christianity + Church Tradition = Confused People