by Lori Nordstrom Snyder
I’ve been trying to put into words what my heart experienced on my recent trip to Tanzania with Authenticity Book House (ABH). It’s not easy to summarize something so transformative, but here’s my best attempt to take you along with me.
Before we set foot in Africa, Howard and Fran from ABH began preparing our hearts and minds. They held several meetings to equip us—culturally, spiritually, and practically. They even taught us some Swahili! While I wouldn’t say I “mastered” even a single phrase, I definitely picked up a few key words that helped bridge the gap between our worlds.
One early meeting included a Zoom call with Pastor James, the pastor of New Vine Church in Dodoma and ABH’s director of operations in Tanzania. He shared cultural insights, answered many questions, and gave us a sense of what to expect. I found that call helpful—but seeing his familiar, smiling face in person when we arrived? That was everything.
Pastor James didn’t come alone. He brought a whole “hospitality team” from his church to welcome us. And what a welcome we received—flowers, gifts, joy, and the kind of warmth that can only come from the love of Christ. I felt immediately embraced, and I hadn’t even unpacked yet.
The purpose of our trip was to host a Marriage Conference for village pastors and their wives. The goal was simple but profound: to enrich their marriages and equip them with tools to take back to their churches and communities.
On Sunday morning, we attended service at New Vine Church. We were greeted once again with big smiles and open arms. The service began with praise and worship that brought me to tears—something that would happen more than once that week. The Tanzanian people don’t just sing—they shout, clap, dance, and worship with contagious joy. I thought immediately of Psalm 47:1: “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy!” And they did just that.
Watching the children come forward before children’s church stood out as one of my favorite moments. Pastor James prayed over the children as a group. The intentionality and reverence he showed for sowing into the next generation struck me as beautiful.
Monday morning, we left the city and made our way to the village where the Marriage Conference took place. We made a noticeable shift—from a more modern church to an open-air village church with no electricity or running water. The “toilet” was a hole in the ground. And yet, we were told that this was considered a nice village church.
Each day began with a ride on the “church bus,” our lovingly nicknamed daily drive. We prayed every morning on the way: sometimes out loud individually, and sometimes Tanzanian style, with everyone praying out loud all at once! It was powerful. The Tanzanians express their prayers as passionately as their praise—fervent, unfiltered, and full of faith.
The pastors and their wives who attended the conference had never been on a trip together as a couple. In fact, they had never stayed a night away from home. They came from hours away and received gifts of five nights in a guest house, three meals a day (most get one or two meals a day), bottled water, and books from ABH to take home to their communities. A large part of our fundraising included these “gifts.”
One of the most meaningful parts of the conference for me personally was getting to photograph each couple. What began as a simple idea turned into something much more special, thanks to the team’s help in organizing, printing, and framing the portraits. On the final day, each couple received their framed photo. One pastor kissed his portrait when he saw it. I’ll never forget the priceless reactions of each couple!
The teaching each day focused on marriage from a biblical perspective. In Tanzanian culture, male dominance in marriage is the norm. But throughout the week, we witnessed something extraordinary: change. The men softened. The women blossomed. On day one, the couples seemed very separate. By the end of the week, some husbands held hands with their wives, dancing with them in the aisles, and one husband even playfully scooped his wife up for a photo. One evening I texted my husband back home: “Every couple needs a marriage conference like this.”
On our final day, the wives honored Howard, Fran, Pastor Jaysson, and me with hand-crafted Mafuta pots—gifts of deep sacrifice. I thought about the story of the widow’s mite in the Gospels. These pots weren’t just souvenirs. They were heart offerings.
I could count so many blessings! But I brought one prayer with me—and prayed it every day: “Lord, reveal my heart and renew my mind.” And He did. Over and over again.
Tanzania changed me. God met us in every moment—in the dancing, the praying, the laughter, the tears. I went to serve, but I came home deeply served by the generosity, humility, and joy of those we met.
God is good. And His love knows no borders.