Joy in Every Circumstance: Serving with Shade in Tanzania
My Tanzanian friends quote a particular verse very often: “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21b). In the past few months, I have heard this verse referenced in times of grieving the death of a loved one, in the face of sudden unemployment, and in the midst of uncertain political times. Each instance, it was said with unshakable joy. At first, this felt a little unsettling. How could my friends find joy in a time where such deep sadness was also present? But joy does not depend on one’s circumstances; they are familiar with the realities of suffering, and they find encouragement in knowing that the Lord is with them in their temporary hardships and promises to restore us to Himself in due time (1 Peter 5:10).
As a current Role Call Apprentice, I have the privilege of serving with the Shade team as they support individuals with albinism and other vulnerabilities in Northern Tanzania. My desire in pursuing this opportunity was simply obedience to God. I felt peace when praying about the decision, and I knew that He was calling me here. I didn’t know what my role would look like exactly, but I committed to loving whoever was in front of me with the heart of Jesus and putting in time and effort to develop relationships in which I could be a witness to the hope of the Gospel. Since arriving, I have personally walked with Jesus more closely than ever in my life – both in the hard and the rewarding moments – and I find such encouragement in the faith of our global body. Shade’s school and ministry seek out the most vulnerable members in the community to provide quality education, medical help, and small loans to empower existing businesses and encourage family self-sufficiency. As such, we interact with a lot of people in hard contexts, and I have been forced to consider what Philippians 4:12 actually means. How can we be content in all situations?
In Tanzania, and particularly in the region I am working, there is a deep-rooted and harmful stigma towards people with albinism. They are often ostracized, oppressed, and not given the opportunity to participate in regular schooling or work. There are long-standing witchcraft beliefs in the area that encourage the sacrifice of limbs and other body parts of people with albinism for good luck. Thus, they are sometimes forced to hide away for their safety. When I first heard about this reality, my heart was broken. I could not fathom such injustice and discrimination. Shade is an accepting and inclusive school that not only allows children with albinism to enroll, but empowers them with proper tools (hats, glasses, sunscreen, binoculars, etc.) so that they can fully participate. In addition, Shade hosts advocacy and outreach events to spread awareness and teach people that albinism is simply a skin condition and should not prevent them from integrating into society. And, most importantly, as Shade is a Christian school that seeks to honor the Lord in all they do, we emphasize the beauty of how God made us and the truth that everyone is deeply loved by their Creator.
Since moving here and serving with Shade for the past seven months, I have become very accustomed to the routine and structure of how the ministry and school operate. I have gotten to know many of our staff and students closely and developed genuine, fruitful friendships. As a result, I am realizing that I have almost forgotten about the context in which we are working. Everyone is treated with the same respect and care as anyone else – despite any physical or mental differences. On Shade’s campus, you wouldn’t know that some of these students come from very difficult backgrounds, complicated homes, or would be treated as inferior and brushed to the side elsewhere. The environment of compassion and inclusivity can only be attributed to the unconditional love with which we were first offered from the Lord Jesus Himself.
Recently, there were two events that opened my eyes to the work God is doing through Shade. First, some staff members went to a government-run secondary school in town to do an advocacy presentation on albinism, sharing the science behind it as well as challenges and ways to support. What really stood out to me was when two of Shade’s students with albinism stood without fear in front of almost 1,000 students that did not look like them, showcasing their talents and comprehension to emphasize how they are as capable as anyone else. Knowing the context of how people with their skin condition have been treated in this region historically just adds to their bravery and brings me to tears. Secondly, at a region-wide soccer tournament, we brought our Shade students to compete. Many of the other kids stared at our kids with albinism, whispering and making jokes. Our students didn’t even notice and went on dancing, cheering for their teammates, and playing with all their might. The common thread that I notice is this: identity matters. More specifically, an identity rooted in what Christ and Christ alone says about you, matters. It is the foundation on which we stand in order to have real self-worth, courage, purpose, and hope.
So, although I may not observe the day-to-day impact, events like this remind me how God is moving powerfully in the hearts of those that Shade serves by our choice to put love into action through education, advocacy, and prayer. Our brothers and sisters in Christ here are actively being shaped, discipled, and strengthened. Going back to that verse from Philippians, where Paul writes about “learning the secret of being content in any and every situation… whether living in plenty or in want,” I can see how that is possible through the Lord’s provision, protection, and perfect peace. The children with various vulnerabilities and community members living in severe poverty that Shade supports in different ways are all able to experience joy and contentment that comes from loving Jesus and knowing what He has done for them. When they are taught to anchor their identities in truth – in the inherent value and love that is placed on them from above – then, as I have described, tangible transformation follows.
Victoria Moullin currently serves as a RoleCall Apprentice serving in Tanzania with Shade.
