“Enlarge the place of your tent; stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not spare them; lengthen your ropes and strengthen your pegs. For you will spread out to the right and to the left.” Isaiah 54:2-3a
What a time this year has been!! The phrase that comes to mind as we encapsulate the richness of it all is: A Season of Expansion
God in His grace is expanding Wild Hope, and it is fun to be a part of…though we also are showing our stretch marks! Here are some of the ways we have been expanding this year.
Teammates: Our Team is Expanding
Jared and Megan Hood, seconded from Africa Inland Mission (AIM), are bringing a whole new network of pastors and bishops to the Wild Hope Center in Arusha for rest and rejuvenation as they continue to reach into unreached areas. Their years of experience in Tanzania and heart for ministering to indigenous workers on the mission field is such a blessing.
Lulu King’ori, our new Discipleship Coordinator, is taking our discipleship programs to a whole new level with programs both on the land and out in the bush where she led the highly impactful Kingdom Living Youth Conference in April.
Unreached: Expansion into New Relational Networks
Solomon and Sarah, after a very challenging medical setback and surgery for Sarah, are again sharing the love of the Father in M. dominated areas and making new inroads through their relational network. Their tireless travels across Tanzania, driven by a deep-seated commitment to see the lost enfolded, is truly inspiring. The positive responses to the Discovery Bible Studies they lead with M’s is amazing.
Retreat/Training Center: Expansion of Impact and Footprint
Our bookings have increased significantly as Wild Hope’s network expands. Like-minded organizations and individuals committed to deep-level discipleship and reaching the unreached are on our land almost every week now. In addition we are closing in on the last 10% of the 4.5 acre “Southern Annex” that will anchor our physical footprint and ensure peace and quiet as Arusha city is growing around us.
Family: Expansion of the Next Generation
What a joy it was for us to have the families of 3 of our 4 children and all 7 grandchildren together for Thanksgiving here in Arusha!
Every morning the pitter patter of small feet marching to Koko’s (Grandma’s) house from across the campus brought fun and pure joy. Since we live overseas, we are especially grateful when these types of gatherings come together.
Our daughter Sianna and her husband Paul couldn’t join us because Sianna is due to give birth on January 11th! We are over the moon excited to welcome our 8th grandchild into the world.
The Book: Expansion of the Story
After five years of work, we finally launched our book: Wild Hope: A Journey to Africa and into the Untamed River of the Father’s Love. If you’d like to read it, it’s available to order on Amazon.
As I’ve written the stories from the past 34 years of our ministry in East Africa, both Tammy and I have been deeply encouraged. Looking back, we can clearly see the grace-filled notes of the Father’s love and care for us.
We are grateful to have had a front-row seat to watch the River of His Kingdom flow across East Africa in miraculous ways.
Wild Hope’s 20 Year Anniversary: Expansion of Worship
Finally, Tammy and I still can hardly wrap our hearts and minds around the outpouring of love, support, and incredible worship we enjoyed with 147 of our amazing supporters on October 18th in Carpinteria, California. In 2005, when we left to begin Wild Hope in Tanzania, I remember drawing a picture of us as a family driving a Landcruiser (jeep) over a cliff as a way of illustrating the excitement but real fear I felt stepping out into the unknown.
Now as we look back we have such a profound sense that there is absolutely no way we could have done any of it without the amazing support team God has given us the privilege to connect with. We haven’t “crashed and burned” but been buoyed up by your prayers and support and we are so, so thankful! We say it all the time but it’s worth saying again: The fruit of Wild Hope is your fruit.
Thank you all so much for your faithful support! On October 18th, we received an incredible and extremely generous offering to meet the running cost of our center here in Arusha. We were so, so blessed!
We still have other financial needs for ministry including the awesome students we sponsor and the Enduata school we support as well as development of our center and our discipleship programs.
As Aslan exhorts the others in the Last Battle, “Further up and further in!” May the expansion of God’s Kingdom through Wild Hope continue to climb higher and deeper for His praise and His glory. And may each of you also continue to go further up and further into God’s amazing love.
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you all!
Peter (and Tammy too) for Wild Hope