Victory MagazineJanuary/February 2016 Hidden With Christ Ministries

Christmas Joy at Treasures of Africa

Children's Home

Pg. 3-4

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VICTORY MAGAZINE is a publication of Hidden With Christ Ministries. All rights reserved. Copyright ©2016____________________

OUR VISION:To demonstrate the love of God through mercy ministries and by freely teaching God’s Word around the world. OUR MISSION:To care for orphans and abandoned children and other needy persons through practical outreaches and by producing free Bible materials and training.

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Hidden With Christ MinistriesP.O. Box 3267Tustin, CA 92781USA

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We would love to hear from you!

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Or call our U.S. Office Phone:(714) 665-0407

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Do you have spiritual goals for 2016?

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I have listened almost daily for 1.5 years to MY EVERYDAY BIBLE and it has had a DRAMATIC impact in my life. Thank you! I have recommended to others and they are using as well.

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At Treasures of Africa Children’s Home, Christmas is a precious and much anticipated time of the year. In December in Tanzania, the school year is over and the children are on a much needed “break.” They look forward to special activities that only happen once per year. From

the youngest to the oldest, all the TOA kids look forward to Christmas.

Along with emphasizing the true meaning of Christmas, the coming of our Savior to the world, we love to create special memories for the children that they will keep with them when they eventually leave Treasures of Africa.

The fun started a few days before Christmas, when we loaded up all the children in the TOA vans and drove to the Mt. Meru Game Sanctuary and Lodge where a beautiful buffet luncheon had been prepared for the children. The Lodge is located just outside the city of Arusha and is just over an hour’s drive from our town of Moshi. Each year we plan a “Christmas outing” where all of the children go together for a special enjoyable day away from the orphanage. Along with the great food, the Mt. Meru Game Sanctuary has beautiful wild animals including zebra, ostrich and Kudu, all wandering on the grounds. The children and staff loved the peaceful and beautiful environment at the lodge, and everyone came away refreshed after a relaxing afternoon there.

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Maria with her Christmas stocking

Christmas Eve is always a favorite, as all the children receive new Christmas pajamas and slippers, and bundle up into the vans and head to the Mission House for a viewing of “The Nativity” movie. Popcorn, hot chocolate, and Christmas cookies make the evening all the more special. Christmas stockings are hung up and down the staircase, waiting for the children to find the one with their name on it.

December 25th is an important day as we all attend church together, with the children decked out in their Christmas clothes. Each child received a new set of clothes. Our younger ones were excited to wear their Christmas outfits brought from America, and the older ones loved getting to shop for themselves with a certain budget allotted to each. On Christmas morning each child received a single Christmas gift, tailored to their individual interests.

Corporately, the orphanage received two big gifts this year. One was a new flat screen TV and DVD player, replacing our small old “box” TV that was on its last legs. And the second, was a drum set, to add to our collection of musical instruments. Ray has been taking drum lessons, and we have other up and coming drummers waiting in the wings for their turn. We will have a full Treasures of Africa band soon!

We want to say a big “Thank You” to all the donors who gave so generously to make this Christmas an extra special one for all the children and staff at Treasures of Africa Children’s Home. May you receive a great measure of joy for the joy that you gave to TOA this Christmas!

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38

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By Rita Langeland

It was a day like any other at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center in late December 2013. A young Resident Pediatrician, Dr. Esther, was performing her rounds, checking in on her patients and trying to take care of the multitude who were sitting in the waiting room. Then an emergency case was brought in. A tiny infant girl had been found by a police woman, thrown in a garbage can somewhere in the town. Dehydrated, bruised and covered with oozing sores, the child needed immediate attention.

Dr. Esther went quickly to work, assessing her condition and treating her accordingly. She applied her training and clinical skills, but simultaneously was quietly praying for this battered and abandoned baby. Her heart was deeply moved by the child’s situation, and she wondered what would become of her. Familiar with the work of Treasures of Africa Children’s Home, Dr. Esther was determined to let TOA know about the baby’s arrival at the hospital. When she saw the TOA Chaplain, Christina Oberst, walking down the hospital hallway one day, she pulled her aside and insisted she come and see the baby. Christina’s heart melted when she held the tiny infant in her arms.

As the weeks passed by, Dr. Esther spent more and more time with the baby, who was slowly recovering from her trauma. The more she saw her, the more convinced she became that God wanted her to adopt the baby herself. But as a single woman, it was impossible, since Tanzanian law prohibited it. But she was engaged to be married at the end of the year, and perhaps, if her fiancé was willing, they could

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eventually pursue adoption together. Since the baby was abandoned, and they needed a name for the hospital records, Dr. Esther gave her the name Gabriella, which means “God is my strength.”

When Gabriella was strong and healthy enough to be discharged, the Welfare Department released her to the care of Treasures of Africa Children’s Home. Gabi was an instant “hit” among all the children and staff, the first infant TOA had accepted into the Home in six years. A crib had to be gotten out of storage and set up to give her a proper place to sleep. Her presence brought a new joy to the household. Dr. Esther made house calls, keeping a close watch on her tiny patient.

Time passed and Gabriella grew, and began to smile, laugh, crawl, and eventually walk. All her “firsts” were cheered and Gabi thrived on the love and attention she was receiving at Treasures of Africa. Meanwhile, Dr. Esther and her fiancé, Clint, an engineer from Kenya, married. They had prayerfully decided that they would pursue the lengthy legal process to become adoptive parents for Gabriella. They visited Gabi at Treasures of Africa weekly and sometimes daily, so that she would become familiar with them. Esther and Clint celebrated Gabi’s first birthday at TOA with cake and a small party with their extended family, who had given the young couple their blessing to pursue adoption. They both had fallen in love with Gabriella, and Gabriella loved them in return.

The legal process dragged on, lengthened by the fact that Clint was from Kenya, and the required background investigation had to be made in that neighboring country. It seemed like the approval would never come. All the required legal papers had been sent to the government Welfare Offices in Dar Es Salaam, and every day they waited for a response, seemed like an eternity. Then suddenly, one day in late November 2015, the approval documents arrived in the mail. After a two year journey, Gabriella would finally be “home” for Christmas. She had received the amazing gift of a “Forever Family.”___________________________________________________________________________________

Editor’s Note: We rejoice over Gabriella’s “Forever Family” as it is our deepest desire that each of our children at Treasures of Africa experience the special bond of parental love. Please pray that more good families will step forward to give all of our “treasures” this precious gift. We are deeply thankful to all our sponsors who have helped financially to provide for Gabriella’s care since she arrived at TOA and bring her to this point of exceeding great joy! You really have changed a life forever!

Gabriella

DDED

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Aside from making sure our children’s physical needs are met here at Treasures of Africa, cultivating their spiritual development and growth is high on our priority list. And because of its importance, we continue to pray and to look for ways to

cultivate this kind of growth in our children. God is always showing Himself to be faithful and He is answering our prayers. Aside from giving us ideas personally on how to co-labor with Him in their development, God has brought other leaders into our children’s lives that have a heart for our youth in this same area.

Our teenagers (and pre-teens) now attend youth group events led by fellow American missionaries, Brian and Mandee Loudermilk and the Welch family. Pastor Brian set up a large tent and created hand sawn log benches for the youth gatherings which the kids love. It resembles an outdoor youth summer camp! We have many great things to report about our children’s lives spiritually, but I want to take the time to tell you about Raymond and Samweli. Both of these boys chose to take a big spiritual step on the 13th of December, 2015.

Pastor Brian had shared about the significance and the importance of water baptism at a previous youth meeting. Every week, each young person is given a card that they can fill out. On it are spaces allotted where they can express their desires about specific subjects, along with prayer requests or concerns. On these cards, Raymond and Samweli had both written about their desire to follow Jesus in baptism. In response, Pastor Brian met with our boys. After talking with them, a date was set for them to be baptized.

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We invited all our kids to attend the baptism to be both witnesses and supporters of their brothers’ decision. It was a beautiful day and I can think of nothing greater than the joy of seeing our children experiencing God’s truth and love and then watching them reciprocate that love. It is expressed well in the epistle 3 John verse 4: “I have no greater joy than to hear (and to see) that my children walk in truth.” (NKJV emphasis added)

The Lord is touching the hearts and lives of our children in deep ways and they are thirsty for more of Him. I can’t express to you the joy of watching our children grow in spirit and in truth. It is a joy of which I have not found words to describe. It is a joy that makes all the sacrifices and all the labors here in Tanzania WORTH IT ALL! I want to encourage you by saying that you are all a part of so much more than we could ever capture in the photos we send or in the words we write. You are a part of hearts and lives becoming strong and alive in Him. His life-giving waters are rising in the hearts of our children and becoming rivers of living waters that will flow out to others; to the nation of Tanzania and to all nations of the world. I know we have world changers in our midst and He has handpicked each one of them for a great purpose.

As I write, I can’t stop thinking of these three words: JOY, STRENGTH and PROSPERITY. As you abide in His joy may your hearts be strengthened and may you prosper in every part of your being and in every area of your lives. Much love from all of us here at Treasures of Africa and thank you for your continuous love and financial support. It really is changing lives!

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.(3 John 2 NKJV)

Samweli about to be baptized by Pastor Brian atYouth Meeting under the tent.

Pastor Brian praying over Ray (left) and Samweli (right) after their baptism

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It has always been our desire to fan the flame of the dreams and aspirations of the children that God has sent to us at Treasures of Africa Children’s Home. From the beginning,

we have encouraged the children to DREAM BIG – telling them they could become anything – teacher, doctor, pilot or President. As the years passed, the children at TOA took that encouragement to heart, believing it to be true. So when Justina began to express her desire to become a ballerina, we were challenged to have as much faith as she did for such a dream!

Unlike most cities in the U.S., we knew of no place in the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania where a little girl could take ballet lessons. Ballet is virtually an unknown art form there. We wondered where she had even seen any video or pictures of a ballet dancer. Justina has loved to dance since she was a small child. Willowy and lithe, she moved easily to the music she would hear. She seemed to have a natural gift for dance.

Then an amazing thing happened. An American who had come to do a year of missionary work in our town of Moshi, offered to give ballet lessons (for a fee) as a fundraiser for the mission project she was working on. We jumped at the chance to have

a teacher for Justina and the younger girls who were also interested. So for Christmas, our five young aspiring dancers, received leotards, tights and ballet shoes sent from the USA (thanks to our wonderful sponsors who provided these gifts!) and began ballet lessons.

Justina Ballerina

We realize that the statistical probability of one of our girls ever becoming a professional ballerina is slim, but we do believe in miracles! And interestingly enough, a book was just published about an African orphan who became a ballerina. It is called “Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina” by Michaela De Prince. She was orphaned in the West African nation of Sierra Leone at the age of three, and ended up at an orphanage. She was eventually adopted by an American family who put her into ballet lessons and watched with amazement as she progressed.

As I was flying to Kilimanjaro to spend Christmas at Treasures of Africa with my husband, I pulled out the in-flight Magazine published by the airline. There on the cover, was a beautiful photo of that orphan turned ballerina, who is now a principal dancer with the Dutch National Ballet. I read the article about her with tears. In my suitcase were those leotards, tights and ballet shoes headed for the orphanage. And on the cover of that Magazine was a vision of what could happen by the grace of God.

So we will move forward, one dance step at a time, and see where the Lord will take us with these “Ballerina Dreams.” Zoe practicing with Christina Oberst

Page 10Aspiring ballerinas in their new leotards, tights and ballet shoes

(from L to R Justina, Zoe, Maria, Diamond and Jessica)

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By Warren OberstDirector

Treasures of AfricaChildren’s Home

When our very first University students from

TOA, Irene and Margaret, completed their 1 year Certificates in Law and Business respectively at Mount Meru University in Arusha, we were very proud of them and thought they would continue their studies at the same school. That way they would be fairly close to home for at least a few more years. Little did we know that many things were about to

change and new wheels were being set into motion.

When we went to register the girls for the next term, we found that the University had cancelled both of their two year diploma programs on the main campus and were only offering the diplomas at their satellite location in downtown Arusha. This threw us for a loop as we were expecting the girls to continue to live on campus like they had the previous year. After an exhaustive search we determined that finding them decent and safe housing close to the satellite facility wasn’t possible. We came to the conclusion that God must have some other plans. So we started praying. The start of the University school year was closing in on us.

Our Executive Director, Rita Langeland, was scheduled to teach at an annual church conference in Morogoro (a city far away in the southern highlands of Tanzania) where she has taught for the last 4 years. She decided to take our aspiring young pastor, Emmanuel, who was on a break from Livingstone Boys Seminary along with her for the week-long conference. He absolutely loved it. After her return, we began to discuss the tremendous community of believers there in Morogoro and how they could be a great influence on our older College aged kids if they attended school there. Morogoro has some of the finest universities in Tanzania including Sokoine and Mzumbe. So we started praying again.

That same week after the conference, a Professor from Sokoine University happened to come with a friend from Morogoro to Moshi. At Rita’s invitation they came to visit Treasures of Africa and addressed the kids during their evening devotion time. The professor shared a powerful testimony of how important faith and hard work in school go hand in hand in bringing success. Later over dinner we asked about the possibilities of sending our two girls to Morogoro for school. They thought it was a great idea and offered to help facilitate the process since we were so close to the beginning of the school year. Sokoine University specializes in agricultural studies so they gave us contacts from their church community that worked at the neighboring Mzumbe University which offered the girls' majors.

When we called to inquire about the Law and Business Degree Programs we were told they still had openings and to fill out the online applications with all of the supporting documentation and get them to Morogoro immediately. As soon as we had the applications completed, we had another surprise visitor, a retired doctor from the church in Morogoro, visit our Children’s Home just in time to take the applications back to Morogoro and personally hand them to the registrar. Morogoro is about 16 hours away by bus – really far! We hadn’t had any visitors from Morogoro before, and haven’t had any since. I knew God was up to something, but yet again - not what I expected.

We were excited to get the news that the girls had both been accepted into their diploma programs but then came

New Year – New SchoolFor our University Girls

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the surprise. The Mzumbe campus in Morogoro processes all of the school's applications but the Diploma programs requested were only offered at the Mzumbe campus in the city of Mbeya – even farther away than Morogoro and without the known church community that we hoped would mentor our girls. Back to the drawing board with no time to change anything. School was starting. Who did we possibly know in Mbeya?

That’s where I just love to see how God works. Henry and Darlene with Naomi Ruth Ministries are friends of Hidden With Christ Ministries and usually stay with us when they visit Moshi. They have a project in – you guessed it – the city of MBEYA - to help impoverished children. Their plan is to start a Children’s Home similar to Treasures, so they brought their Day Center manager Maara, to visit us at TOA for a few days to see how we operate. Perfect timing. In the course of conversation we discovered that Maara lives right down the street from Mzumbe University in Mbeya. She put us in touch with other missionaries that run a boarding house in Mbeya, so all the arrangements were set for an interesting trip.

Getting from Kilimanjaro in the far North of Tanzania to Mbeya on the Southern border is not an easy task. The bus ride is over 18 hours and you would arrive very late at night in that small city. Not a safe or feasible way to get to Mbeya. So I made plane reservations for the three of us early on. It was to be the first time either of the girls had ever flown in a plane.

Before we left Moshi, our friends from Morogoro had given us contacts for the Mzumbe Mbeya campus as well, along with an affiliated church for the girls to attend if they wished. The contacts were very helpful and everything was going great until we met HER. The lady registrar found out that the girls were orphans from one of our contacts and assumed they were asking for special favors. She was downright mean and almost had Margaret in tears. We had pre-paid for on-campus housing for both of them and were hoping they could be in the same room together. But this woman refused to give Margaret a room at all and told her to find another place to sleep that night. With that response, I started looking for alternative housing for both girls right away.

As we searched, we ran into the same problems we had in Arusha. We could find nothing decent or safe close to the campus that was remotely in our price range. We went back to the boarding house for another night and got some heavenly help from Amelia, our missionary host. To make a long story short, she introduced us to another missionary who lives on a smaller college campus adjacent to Mzumbe University. He arranged for the girls to rent a private room with no roommates. They could rent the room all year round and would not have to vacate during the holidays or between terms like a traditional dorm room. There was no cooking allowed in the Mzumbe dorm rooms, but in this place they could cook for themselves and not worry about unscrupulous roommates. It was perfect.

We received a refund for our boarding fees and went shopping for everything the girls needed to set up house. Now, they’re both thriving at the school. It’s a fantastic facility with great teachers. After they finish their Diploma programs they’ll be able to choose to continue their Bachelor’s degrees at the Mbeya campus or move to the Morogoro campus.

When it came time for me to get on the plane to go back to Kilimanjaro, I was amazed at everything God had done to get our two girls into a school we never would have considered. I have no doubt they’re in the right place and there for a reason. The girls are a long way from home, but still in our hearts. Actually, I think I communicate with them almost as much now as I did when they were living at Treasures. Some of the text messages they send really warm my heart. I think my favorite one is this: “We miss you more than ice cream.”

Happy New Year and thank you for supporting our vision of raising up leaders from among the orphaned and abandoned children of Tanzania.

Margaret and Irene in front of the entrance to Mzumbe University in

Mbeya, Tanzania

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The baby was only a few weeks old when someone found him thrown away in a plastic bag. He was taken to the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center in Moshi, Tanzania. With no name and no family claiming him, he was destined to be turned over to the government Welfare authorities and placed in an orphanage. A pediatrician

at the hospital who is very familiar with the work of Treasures of Africa, called and let us know of the new arrival.

When we heard his story, we were determined to receive him as the “treasure” that he truly is. Arrangements were made with the Welfare department, informing them that Treasures of Africa Children’s Home was ready to accept the child upon discharge from the hospital.

It is hard to imagine any parent throwing their own baby away like trash. We only know that whoever treated this precious infant like garbage, must have felt an unimaginable level of hopelessness to think that the child would be better off dead, than alive in their care. So we pray for the parents, whoever and wherever they are, that God will reach them and help them.

Baby John Joseph came to live at Treasures of Africa on December 4, 2015. We had the privilege of naming him, and chose the name “John” after the beloved disciple of Jesus. The name John means "Jehovah has been gracious and has shown favor." And we feel like he has been favored of God and so have we - to have him join the Treasures of Africa family! Such joy he has brought to the house!

We gave him the second name of “Joseph” after the Biblical figure who overcame the rejection of his family who sold him into slavery but was destined by God to become the Prime Minister of Egypt. Like those men, we believe little John Joseph will become a man of great destiny. Treasures of Africa is committed to surrounding him with love and calling forth the greatness in his life.

You can read more about the children at Treasures of Africa Children’s Home by going to our website www.treasuresofafrica.org and clicking on the menu tab MEET THE CHILDREN.

Please consider becoming a monthly child sponsor and be a part of changing a life forever!

TOA Chaplain Christina Oberst holding baby John Joseph

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When our first student from Treasures of Africa touched down on U.S. soil in November, we knew that God had done a miracle. Efforts in previous years to obtain the necessary travel visa for one of our TOA children to visit America had not been successful. But this time, God’s will was clear. Our top student, Mary, was ordained to

come to the United States and share her story.

Accompanied by our orphanage Chaplain, Christina Oberst, her first stop was in Florida, where she was scheduled to be the guest speaker at a Charity Gala to benefit Treasures of Africa Children’s Home. She exceeded all expectations when she stood before that crowd and introduced herself, saying, “Hello, my name is Mary and I am a treasure.” From that point forward you could have heard a pin drop, as everyone in the room hung on her every word.

While in Florida she visited Southeastern University and received a campus tour. A visit to the beach and a Sweet 16 birthday party rounded out her time in the “Sunshine State.” From there she flew to California where she visited another Christian college campus, Vanguard University. She got a look at the Pacific Ocean from the beautiful beaches of La Jolla, and enjoyed the fellowship of our former orphanage nurse Jodie, who spent 7 years at Treasures of Africa, and was there when Mary arrived as a 7 year old.

Then she flew up to the state of Washington, where she spent Thanksgiving week with a beautiful family who gave her a grand tour of the sights of the Pacific Northwest. After two more University campus tours, a first ever experience of sledding in the snow and a trip to the Seattle Space Needle, Mary had enjoyed more of the varied sights of America than she could have imagined. She returned to Tanzania with stories to tell and the photos to prove it!

Pray with us that next year we will be able to have another one of our “treasures” from TOA visit the United States and share their story. We love to expand their vision and also allow people to hear of the amazing things God is doing in the lives of these future leaders.

From Marcia Voglof Bethany Projects:

Through my years of personal prayer ministry, I have discovered there are some basic Biblical principles that when applied, bring freedom and healing into people’s lives. The most common ones will be addressed in four workshops in 2016. There is no fee, but an offering will be received.

The Path Forward Workshops for 2016Location: Healing Word International, 14281 Chambers Rd., Tustin, CA 92780

January 24, 2016 Sunday 4-7 PMGrowing up into maturity: Healing for the Fractured Soul, Restoring the Joy Box, Individuation

March 13, 2016 Sunday 4-7 PMGenerational Freedom: Honor of Father and Mother, Generational bondage from historic sin, Generational infirmity, Generational Iniquity or DNA contamination

June 12, 2016 Sunday 4-7 PMClosing doors of sin that were opened to the Enemy: Bloodshed, Sexual Sin, Covenant Breaking, Idolatry

October 16, 2016 Sunday 4-7 PMThe Cry that God hears: Pray in the Spirit, Pray the Word, Breaking through to heaven

Bring a friend and be blessed together. Looking forward to our time together.Questions? Email Marcia at Marcia.prayer@gmail.com

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From the Treasures of AfricaCharity Gala Committee:

Our Charity Gala to benefit Treasure of Africa Children's Home in Palm Harbor, Florida, held in November, was an elegant event, attended by about 170 people. All the guests seemed to really enjoy it. We had an excellent new video to unveil at the event which was graciously put together by our friend and filmmaker, Mr. Kendall Bryant from Chaos2Love Productions. You can watch it by going to www.treasuresofafrica.org. Without a doubt, the crowning point of the Gala was our Tanzanian treasure Mary, sharing her life story. She was poised and well-spoken and touched many hearts.

The Gala netted $33,220 for Treasures of Africa Children's Home, of which $30,720 was designated for our Building Fund for the TOA Leadership Village. This brings the total of our Building Fund to $133,835.

Putting on an event like that takes a HUGE amount of effort so please pray for us as we consider where, when and if to proceed with planning a Charity Gala for 2016. Thank you for your support!

Mary speaking to the Charity Gala crowd in Florida

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About six months ago, one of our donors, who has a heart for the staff who serve tirelessly at Treasures of Africa, suggested an idea for a special Christmas gift to bless the staff and their families. The idea was to give a very practical gift of a water filter system to provide clean drinking water for their families. Many of our staff live in very humble abodes, without indoor plumbing or running water. So helping to provide a source of clean drinking water for their families is a precious gift.

The donors who suggested the idea gave the original “seed money” to kick start the project and then others joined in until we had received enough donations to make it happen. Special ceramic water filters were purchased in the U.S. and the water buckets with spigots were purchased in Tanzania. Holes were drilled in the buckets and the water filters were installed so that water poured in the top bucket would be filtered and slowly drip into the secondary bucket below. A spigot in the bottom bucket provides a simple way to dispense the clean water into a cup or pot.

These special gifts were presented during the Treasures of Africa staff meeting and annual Christmas Luncheon on the Friday before Christmas. This gift of clean drinking water for each of their homes and families was hugely appreciated and prophetically timely. The president of Tanzania just announced a national emergency alert about a cholera outbreak which is being spread through unsanitary drinking water. He started a national hand washing campaign and urged people to be very careful about the source of their drinking water. So this drinking water filter system was an amazingly timely gift! All of our staff were so happy. They also received Christmas bonuses so that added to their Christmas cheer, along with a gift of a beautiful T-shirt donated by supporters from Florida.

Thanks to everyone who contributed toward this special project, you have helped to bless and protect the precious staff who care for the children at Treasures of Africa Children’s Home! Page 16

Water bucket distribution to staff at Treasures of Africa Children's Home

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Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only does wondrous things...Psalm 72:18 NKJV

I believe that 2016 will be a year of God’s “wonders” being displayed in the earth and in individual believer’s lives. Psalm 72:18 tells us that our God “only does wondrous things.” The Message translation says He is “the one and only wonder-working God!” That is God’s way of doing things, not in a natural, or ordinary way, but in a “wondrous” way.

The word “wonder” or “wondrous” from Psalm 72 is translated from the Hebrew word “pala” which has these meanings: to be surpassing or extraordinary; miracles; wondrously marvelous; to bring the extraordinary; to deal marvelously; to show your power.

Whatever your situation in life is at this very moment, you would most assuredly benefit from God doing extraordinary things for you, bringing miracles to pass, dealing marvelously with your circumstances and showing His power both through you and on your behalf. I believe that is His plan for 2016. But perhaps as you read this, you are thinking, “Not for me – I don’t deserve that – I wasn’t very obedient to God in 2015 – why would He do that for me?”

God does wonders out of His heart of compassion - not because you deserve it!The good news is that God does not work His wonders because you deserve it, but he does so motivated by a heart of love and compassion. We can see many examples of this in both the Old and New Testaments. When God called Moses to go to Egypt to lead the Israelites out of bondage, he told Moses he would do “wonders” that would convince the Pharaoh to let the people go free. He explained to Moses what motivated Him to do it in Exodus 3:7. And the Lord said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. It was out of compassion that God did the wonders that would eventually bring the Israelites freedom from slavery in Egypt.

In the New Testament, we also see Jesus doing “wonders” because He was motivated by compassion. In Matthew 15:32-37 we read: Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” Then His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?” Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.” So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke

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them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left.

Both the wonder of miraculous provision of food and the wonder of deliverance from injustice and slavery in Egypt, were performed by God from his heart of love, not because anyone had earned or deserved His supernatural intervention. So don’t talk yourself out of receiving God’s wonders in your life this year by saying you don’t deserve it.

God's wonders are to bless you but are also for the sake of others God is the ultimate “multi-tasker.” When He does something in the earth, He always has multiple people on His mind. He loves to use the miracle He does in your life to bless and benefit many people. So the “wonders” that God will do for you in 2016, are to bless you – but they are also to benefit others as well. We can find examples of God’s multi-tasking wonders at work in both the Old and New Testament.

In the book of Daniel, we find the faithful man of God, Daniel, unjustly persecuted by jealous coworkers and through their deceitful plotting, sentenced to be thrown into a den of hungry lions. Instead of being killed and devoured by the lions, Daniel experiences the surpassing, extraordinary and miraculous power of God operating on his behalf. He explained the wonder to the king of Persia this way: My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me… (Dan. 6:22) As much as this wonder was done to bless and save Daniel, it was also for the sake of King Dairus, who became convinced of Daniel’s God being the one true God, through witnessing the wonder God did in Daniel’s life. But this wonder had even more far-reaching impact. It resulted in the name of God being spread throughout the known world by a decree that was issued by King Darius who trumpeted the “wonder” that God had done for Daniel:

I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. (Daniel 6:26-27)

In the New Testament Gospel of John we find the wonder of Lazarus being raised from the dead. We know that this miracle blessed Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha. But Jesus was very intentional about the timing of this “wonder.” He wanted it to have maximum impact by touching the lives of those who witnessed this resurrection. Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. (John 11:45) Jesus performed this wonder not only for Lazarus, but for the sake of the Jews so that they might become convinced of Jesus as the Messiah of Israel.

When God does wonders for you this year, make sure you testify of the great things He has done for you, because His wonders are for the sake of others as well as for you.

Prepare yourself to receive God's wondersRight before the children of Israel were to march into the Promised Land, their leader, Joshua, gave them this command: "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you." (Joshua 3:5) The word consecrate is from the Hebrew word qadash - which means to set apart, to be dedicated, purified, or to manifest God's holiness. I like to define “holiness” in this simple way: loving what God loves and hating what God hates. So if you want to consecrate yourself so you can see God’s wonders, you will want to remove anything impure out of your life. Essentially it means to get rid of anything that God hates!

Cultivate a heart of gratitude and practice continuously expressing it to God and to others. Grumbling and complaining robbed an entire generation of Israelites of receiving the "wonder" of the Promised Land that God intended for them to have!

Cast off self-reliance - Examine your heart to be sure you are not depending on "self" to work the wonder of your own deliverance or provision. A mixture of trusting God and relying on self is poisonous and will rob you of God's wonders in your life. King Saul started out trusting God, but when the pressure was on, he relied on "self" and lost the kingdom. (1 Samuel 13:5-14) God blesses the one who looks to Him alone, trusting God completely and resting by faith in His goodness.

Enter 2016 with faith-filled expectation of the wonders that God will do!

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From all of us at Hidden With Christ Ministriesand Treasures of Africa Children's Home,

we wish you a blessed and prosperous 2016!