Since my post on March 9, “Building a Church in Morogoro,” the walls have gone up. From no walls then:

or plastic tarp for walls: (yes, that's me up there in the front row)

to this, last Sunday, as Pastor Michael Lubingu gives a final charge after the service to the congregation outside as the children’s choir strives mightily to hold still and stop talking to each other!

On Sunday, several members of the church staff told us touchingly that, with the walls up, they were gathered in the church office last Friday afternoon trying to figure out how to stretch the budget to get the cement they need for a floor. Right at that moment, an email came in to the office with news of another outside donor making a contribution that will help cover much of the cost of that cement. “Next Sunday,” they said, “that floor will be down!” I’ve seldom seen people so jubilant! Windows and doors are next on the wish list. Yeah, the days of chickens wandering through our church on Sunday morning may soon be over.