God Gave Pastor Mbasha a Car

There are times when things happen and all we can do is say, “That was God.” That’s how I feel right now. I wrote a blog entry a little while back titled “Pastor Mbasha.” In it I wrote about Pastor Mbasha, a man who has become a wonderful friend of mine. I wrote about the distance he travels to church on his bicycle…while carrying his family on the bike.
From the first time I visited his church I have not stopped asking the Lord to provide a vehicle for him. Pastor Mbasha has believed with me that the Lord was going to give him a car. In faith he had a parking spot made for his vehicle at his church…out of rocks. He even gave his vehicle a name: New Revelation.
When we would talk about his vehicle we wouldn’t say “if you get a car” we would always say “when you get a car.” I wasn’t able to see how it would work out for him to get a car, but that didn’t stop me from praying and believing…Pastor Mbasha believed as if the car was already his and he was just waiting to pick it up. With faith like that all I could do was believe too.

One day my friend Gail emailed me and told me her husband and a few co-workers at his job read the blog entry about Pastor Mbasha and wanted to give some money towards a vehicle. The money was sent to HWC…the ministry I am serving under…then it was wired to Tanzania into a bank account we helped Pastor Mbasha open.
I asked Pastor Mbasha if the money was enough for a vehicle…he said yes. A couple days later Pastor Mbasha and his wife Janet got on a bus and went to DarEsSaalam…a city approx seven hours away…to purchase a vehicle.
I didn’t know it at the time but the vehicle Pastor Mbasha wanted to purchase cost more than the amount of money he had. But he went to DarEsSaalam because he believed that God would help him get his car.
He looked at vehicles in his price range…they were not in the best condition and were in need of many repairs. He had no plans of buying a car that would break down a short time after purchasing it…he wouldn’t even have the money to repair it. After searching long and hard he found the car he wanted. It was $3000 more than what he had to spend…but Pastor Mbasha believed the money sent to him would be enough to purchase a good vehicle. So he talked to the owner. The owner…a Muslim man…asked Pastor Mbasha why he wanted that car so bad. Pastor Mbasha explained that it was a good car and he knew God had something good in mind when He gave him that money. Pastor Mbasha explained the whole story about getting the money. The Muslim man was impressed. He told Pastor Mbasha he wanted to be part of this blessing from God… he sold him the car. Not only did Pastor Mbasha have enough money to purchase the vehicle but he had enough left-over to purchase a rack and have it installed on the roof of the car, and buy two new front tires and a second spare tire…in Africa most vehicles have two spare tires…and still enough money to pay for the registration documents.

Pastor Mbasha and Janet stopped by the orphanage on their way home from DarEsSaalam in their car. We had such a wonderful time rejoicing with them. The next morning we went to his house…I was speaking at his church…he told us that when they arrived home after leaving the orphanage there were over 50 people waiting for them at his house. The people were cheering as they drove up. They had a party. Everyone kept saying that God gave Pastor Mbasha a car.

I didn’t write that first blog entry about Pastor Mbasha because I was trying to get people to send money. I wrote it because my heart was touched by his devotion to serve God and the great lengths he goes to as the pastor of a handful of Maasai. The members of his church are not rich. They live in wood and mud houses out in the middle of nowhere. His first year there as pastor…before he built the church building…they had services under a tree sitting on rocks. They still sit on the rocks when church is over and everyone is outside chatting.
I am so glad I was at his church to see him drive up in his vehicle. To describe how his church members reacted when he drove up would not do the moment justice…the joy…oh the joy…it was too precious for words. Jodie and I cried as we watched. They all knew what this moment meant for the Mbasha family…God gave Pastor Mbasha a car.

I want to thank Jim and Gail for their generous hearts. Thank you for seeing what I see in Pastor Mbasha. Thank you for sharing it with others. One day when we stand before the Lord you will see the fruit of your giving towards this humble African Pastor whose heart is fully committed to living for God. This vehicle is a tool that will be a blessing to others. Pastor Mbasha is already planning trips to remote villages where no one wants to go…you’ve made an investment that will last for eternity. Nakushukuru Sana (I thank you very much).