CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP

doug
D/tiest

January, 1988

The events that finished off the year of 1987 will always be easy for us
to remember. We wish to share them with you who have always held us up
in prayer and remembrances.

On Sunday, December 20, we had our first baptisms in Tanzania.

A man named Motosio and his family (perhaps you prayed for them as we

wrote about them earlier this year) had been listening to teaching for al
most a year. During that time we have come to know the family. He had
heard about Christ on the radio and had asked me questions over the year

"Which church (denominations) is the oldest?" W/iy does the

say that Maasai women cannot wear beads?", etc.

Church

One day he asked. "Can you baptize us?" This was a shock to me since In
our teaching we had only progressed to the nature of God, and I had not
broached the subject of the church or baptism. So I speeded up my teach
ing program. After a few weeks of discussion with his family, he told me
they were all ready to be baptized and become a church. He wanted me to
baptize all of the little children and babies of the village, too, since that
is the way other churches do It. I explained to him about faith and belief.
So it was that on December 20, Motosio, his four wives, one of his ser

vants, one of his daughters who Is ready to be married in two months, one
of his aunts, and three other Baraguyu who lived in his village were bap
tized. All had been taught, all had mutually decided to take this step.
The aunt who believed is blind and crippled.

It takes her fifteen minutes

to be led up to our house from her village (which Is only 150 yards away)
so that she can listen to Maasai Christian songs.

Of course, we go to her

with this teaching, but It Is not enough; so she comes to us, too!
Right after the baptisms, we were given a letter written by a government
official which told us and our fellow missionaries-the Relds and the

Shuarts-that we had to cease our church work in the Morogoro Region.

The letter with this directive was completely unexpected. In the next

few days, I visited a number of government officials to seek clarification.

Because we had not secured permission from one government official

(never mind the four who had been informed of our work and told us that
we had no problems in doing this work), we had to leave the Twatwatwa

area by January 10.

Since then, we have been hurriedly packing things away once again. We
must return to the Arusha Region of the country and, once there, attempt
by letter to secure the "proper" authorization to enter the Morogoro Region
to do church work.

We have been led ito believe the order to leave is only

temporary, and we have hopes of being able to return for a month or two
prior to our furlough this summer. If niot by then, then surely by the time

we return from furlough.

It has been |planned that the Perry Shuart family

will be our furlough replacements at Jwatwatwa, and we still expect that

will be so.

While the details of packing and movirig are unpleasant, our hearts ache
the most for the people who yet want to be baptized and the new believ
ers. We are leaving Maasai tapes and songs and teaching, but would so
much rather be there to help them in their growth.

We know that you will pray about the^^ things with us.
For the Kingdom,

Doug^ind Robyn Priest, Jr.

1/88

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Jiine, 1988

On April 23, we arrived in Seattle to

begin our year of furlough. After

several days with family and friends,
we attended the Christian Missionary
Fellowship Board meeting in
Portland, Oregon. Then it was on to
Eugene for a week with Doug's
sisters. During that time, we were

20th Century Africa, and being

located in a politically sensitive area.
All of these reasons led to suspicions
by government officials about the
nature of our work. Despite our
efforts over a three-month period,
with assistance from others, we were
unable to dispel these suspicions.

happy to visit with former Kenya

missionaries, Tim and Deb Doty, who
are currently teaching missions at
Northwest Christian College.

We feel very badly about leaving the 12

new Christians at Twatwatwa. We

With our flight into Los Angeles on

are hoping to continue contact with

these believers, but will likely be
confined to contacting them by letter

May 12, we arrived in Southern

and through the efforts of other

California, glad to be home. We spent

the night with Rob5Ti's parents, and

Tanzanian Christian groups. Your

the next day moved to our house

be sincerely appreciated. So that you

located in Anaheim. The house is

may pray more specifically, we would

being provided for us by our home

Fullerton. The house is

ask that you remember the two family

leaders who were baptized, along
with their family members: Motosio

beautifulNicole and Andrea walked

and Keshu.

church, Eastside Christian of

prayers for these new believers would

in to their own bedrooms and found

that they each had a large stuffed

rabbit to cuddle with! We found the

Leaving the Morogoro Region rapidly,

we were not able to take many of our
things with us. We did take some

beds made, food in the pantry,

ever3rthing spic and span, and
beautiful decorations including the

clothes and our slides and

banner, Welcome Home.

other things will either be exported to

photographs. It is our hope that our

Kenya or sold in Tanzania.

As you know, we left Tanzania in

early February and were not able to

return much to our dismay and that

of our fellow CMF team members
who also had to leave. The reasons

for our leaving had to do with our

mission strategy, political realities of

Missionaries from other groups have

expressed a willingness to help us in
these tasks.

Concerning the three other families

who left Tanzania-the Reids,
Shuarts, and Gustinsall are

continuing on in mission work. The

Gustins have gone to Ethiopia to

assist in mission efforts at alleviating
hunger and starvation. Both Reids
and Shuarts are staying in Kenya to
join our team of missionaries among

We want to thank you so much for

your prayers and concern for us this
entire term, but especially so for the
past six months of uncertainty.

the Maasai.

We look forward to sharing more

with you during this year of furlough,
and are anxious for our reimions

with you. Our address:

Doug and Robyn Priest
758 N. Resh

6/88

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October, 1988
Robyn's Rattles

Usually in our newsletters you read about the interesting things we see and do in
far-away places with exotic, hard-to-pronounce names. This time you will get to
read about people and places whose names you recognize and can pronounce. We
would like to tell you about two of our sending churches.
Sylvan Oaks Christian Church is in Citrus Heights, California (near Sacra
mento). In order to have more room and continue to grow, it has recently moved
and changed its name from San Juan Chtirch of Christ, The church was one of

the very first churches to commit to support us. Mike Cook has ministered with
the congregation for about eight years and serves with a staff who has also served

the church for many years. The beautiful new building is now being finished.
Some of our best times with the church are informal dinners followed by "no
nonsense" questions and answer sessions. We all are looking forward to the
future and new areas for ministry and growth.

About a three-hour drive south of Sylvan Oaks on Highway 99 is Madera,

California, and the First Christian Church located on Sunset Boulevard. This

church has served the community for many years, growing with it from a small
agricultural town to an expanding suburban center. Doug's grandfather, Don
Priest, preached there in the 1920's, and Doug's father was born just down the
road at Fresno.

When we go to Madera, we are delighted to enjoy home-made and home-grown

local delicacies like black walnut ice cream, raisins, cantaloupe, and jalapeno
salsa (hot chili sauce, for the uninitiated). These people take hospitality seriously
and have a good example in their ministers, Larry and Glenna Brazier, who
always have a foster child or two living with them in addition to their own four
children.

Doug spent a weekend at Sylvan Oaks, and we all were able to spend a few days
with Madera First Christian this past August.

How many times did we receive words of encouragement and support? How
many people told us, "We pray for you and your work every day? How often did we
receive gifts from the VBS, little stuffed bears for the girls, jars of home made

spicy relish and olives? How often did a hostess with a temporary back problem

get out ofbed justto have thechance to ^ay hello tous? How can we adequately
thank you and tell you what you mean tc us?

Without all the churches and individuals, including our families, behind us, we

could not do what we believe God has ca^ed and equipped us to do. You are our

partners and we are all partners together with God in the ministry of reconciling
all people to Him. We praise Him and themk you.
In His service,

Doug, Robyn, Nicole, and Andrea Priest

10/88

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