Mission Moments: Kilimanjaro
Answering the call
By Gary Fallesen, founding president, Climbing For Christ
The Spirit led Damson Samson to pray for each of the guides and porters in our disciple-making study in Tanzania. The first person he laid hands on was Godlisten Makundi, who was in tears.
Damson asked Godlisten why he was crying.
He explained that he “heard a voice saying God has prepared people for him to reach.”
Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10).
God has planned for guides and porters in Climbing For Christ’s Kilimanjaro Chapter to reach people with the Good News. People in their families, their communities, and in their path on Mount Kilimanjaro.
That’s why He sent us there in 2007 with a divine appointment to meet Pastor Winford Mosha, who shared our vision to reach and teach guides and porters about evangelism. The Kilimanjaro Chapter was formed in 2008 and through the years we provided instruction from various sources. Then in 2017, future Board member John Becker connected us with The Timothy Initiative and DMD resources that changed the landscape on and around Kilimanjaro as well as the Mulanje Massif in Malawi.
Studying the Bible, above, and praying together, below.
Dauson Chonjo, a guide who was one of our first members in Tanzania in 2008, recently observed: “We need to meet people on the mountain. Guides, cooks, porters, this is a good time to think about sharing the Gospel with visitors.”
Dauson does so at every opportunity. He is among 63 mountain workers who have learned about disciple making, church planting, and “Discovering the Bible” on and around Kilimanjaro. Another 89 are being trained in the Mulanje Massif Chapter.
Hosea Ngomu told Damson “from the beginning of these trainings he has seen himself progressing until now the church trusts him and he is one of the preachers.” This is the result of quarterly training by Damson and Climbing For Christ, as well as ongoing Bible study. Damson was in Tanzania Jan. 26-Feb. 11, March 24-April 9, Sept. 22-Oct. 4, and Nov. 30-Dec. 16.
Asheri Mariko shared a dream in which he saw a “great light shining all over where we porters and guides were.” These guides and porters have been taught to reflect that light – The Light.”
Godlisten.
Godlisten, who heard the voice saying God had good works prepared for him and the others to do, declared: “What Climbing For Christ is doing, it has brought more light to our lives. We have grown more spiritually than before. We can discover our calling now.” 
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