By GARY FALLESEN, Climbing For Christ
Thursday, Nov. 27
Kilimanjaro Chapter leaders, above. Below, Pastor Mosha (left) with chapter coordinator John Mollel. (Photos by Damson Samson)
Damson, John, and the leaders of the Kilimanjaro Chapter met today to review (or preview) what will be happening in the next two weeks. “A team of 14 leaders appeared, including Pastor (Winford) Mosha, who graced this meeting in the morning by appreciating the leaders in their commitment and encouraged them to keep on going,” Damson said.
Pastor Mosha and I met for the first time on our inaugural mission to Kilimanjaro in 2007. He was introduced to us by an American who was working at the Kilimanjaro Porters Project, where our team delivered a dozen duffels of gear and clothing for those working on the mountain. She asked, “Would you like to meet a Lutheran pastor?” Being a member of a Lutheran church, I said I would.
Pastor Mosha and I had a similar vision from God for working with Kilimanjaro guides and porters. That led us to form the Kilimanjaro Chapter in 2008 and we began teaching our members about evangelism. In 2017, this training became more focused as we started using resources from The Timothy Initiative to teach disciples to make disciples. The fruit has been evident in deepening relationships between our members and the Lord, and families and communities growing closer.
Three porters have become pastors. Others are leading small groups, although that is an area that still needs work. (Similarly, four porters have become pastors in the Mulanje Massif Chapter in Malawi, and those small groups are alive and active in their villages.)
When Damson asked the Kilimanjaro Chapter leaders about their groups “a few” responded that they “are maintaining their groups. While the rest only seem active when I am around.” To which Damson pointed the group to the story of Jesus healing a demon-possessed man on the other side of the lake in Mark 5 and Luke 8.
“I was sharing the idea that it takes a leader who has a vision to lead a team as far as he is able to see,” Damson said, explaining that Jesus knew there was a man in need of healing across the lake, while His disciples were blind to this need. Jesus needed to show them the way.
“It depends on you having a wide spreading sight to bring your people far,” Damson told them. “If leaders are blind, nothing happens as there is no directive to where the team should go.”
Tomorrow, the team will go to Sango Mountain for a day of prayer and fasting – something that is done before every Kilimanjaro Chapter training.
Wednesday, Nov. 26
Damson flew to Kilimanjaro International Airport early this morning and started to get settled in at Moshi town, where he is meeting up with Tanzania Kingdom worker and Kilimanjaro Chapter coordinator John Mollel. The plan is for a meeting of chapter leaders on Thursday, fasting and praying on Sango Mountain on Friday, and greeting Elaine and me when we arrive on Saturday.
Tuesday, Nov. 25
Africa coordinator Damson Samson flew from Blantyre, Malawi, near his home, to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on the first leg of his trip back to the Kilimanjaro region. After overnighting, he will fly the rest of the way on Wednesday and begin preparations for our 18th Mission: Kilimanjaro.
YOU CAN GO, TOO! MISSION: KILIMANJARO 2026 IS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH. EMAIL INFO@CLIMBINGFORCHRIST.ORG FOR INFORMATION.