Dear Friends & Partners

I cannot think of any way to start writing this than to say thank you.  We are immensely touched by the sincere love and support we continually receive from you.  New Life is blessed with an international network of passionate supporters who pour their lives into the lives of the children God has placed in our care here in Tanzania.  Thank you!.

We appreciate all our supporters in the USA under the leadership of Mr Chuck Carlson; in New Zealand under the leadership of Mr Geoff Matthews; in Norway under the chairmanship of Mr Ola Muan; in South Korea we have the dedicated support of our sister Imkyung Choi; and in Canada we have Janet Shaver who has been of immense help in reviving our work there.  Moreover, we are grateful to our supporters worldwide - even in countries where NLF is not registered officially.

Here at New Life Tanzania, we set apart every Monday as a day for corporate prayer and fasting.  On these days we pray especially for NLF's supporters and leaders around the world, God, on His part has been faithful.  We constantly receive testimonies and reports of the many great things God is doing in the lives of our supporters.  This year I have visited NLF in the USA, New Zealand and - most recently - Norway.  While there I received reports of amazing, even miraculous blessings in the lives of our partners - some of which you will be reading about in subsequent newsletters this year.  And though we know for sure that God does answer our prayers, listening to someone recount a personal testimony of God's goodness in person is massively encouraging.

At the end of one of my early morning meditations, I had a revelation on a truth so simple yet so profound: "God does not have a Plan B.  He simply gives us second chances to return to His original plan".  No matter how far away we stray from it, God's original plan for our lives remains - waiting for our return.  Therefore, we need to stay in a state of seeking.  We need to keep searching out His plan for our lives so we may walk in it.

Lately I have been speaking on a topic quite close to my heart: "Overcoming Discouragement".  Every now and then you face situations so challenging they bring you down to your knees.  One thing I know for sure is that God wants you to rise above these times when you're weighed down.  Here are some principles I have found work to help one overcome these times of discouragement.

1. Confession of God's Word:
God is His Word.  His promises remain true.  All we need to do is confess them - see Psalms 119:50

2. Remind Yourself of Past Victories:
He has made you victorious in the past.  Reminding yourself of this during bleak times reignites your spirit to know that He will do it again. - see I Samuel 17:37

3. Count your Blessings (Focus on the Positive):
Rising above discouragement is never easy.  Someone once said, "Every great work ... has (been achieved) through holding on to the vision and often just before the big achievement, comes ... failure and discouragement".  Unlike God, we are not omnipotent and need to make a distinction between perfection and excellence.

It is our prayer hat you remain strong and encouraged.

With love in Christ,

Glorious & Josephine Shoo