Obedience Over Effectiveness: Why I Chose Mission Life in Tanzania
“So, Cliff, tell me. After one year of living in Tanzania, tell me what you have accomplished?” When someone asks you a question like that, you know there are a lot of things coming behind it. I was having a coffee with an uncle (an older gentleman) at my previous church in Canada. This question […]
Coming Home to Canada: Letting Go of the Past and Learning to Live in the Present
Coming back to Canada, the place where I grew up, always stirs mixed emotions. I’m happy to be here, yet every visit reminds me how much life has changed. Friendships have faded over time, especially since I left in 2011, and each trip back feels like another reminder that some seasons never return. I see […]
Why We Moved to Tanzania: Prioritizing the Great Commission
What Happens When I Prioritise the Great Commission “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. […]
Whirlwind
A month ago, I developed a 6-day fever in Tanzania. I lost my appetite and had body aches. We tried one antibiotic, but it didn’t work. So, with some intuition and suggestions from other doctors, Wai Jia gave me another antibiotic to try. At the same time, we decided to come back to Singapore a […]
Six months
This is a little celebration for Team Tam. We have been in Tanzania for six months. Truth be told, I never thought we would be able to stay here for this long. In my mind, there is always this lingering feeling that we must leave the country. Maybe they deny our work permits. Or one […]
The easiest way to send money to Tanzania
One of the complex parts of living in Africa is getting money to spend. In most places, you have to pay in cash. I am surprised to see many places in Tanzania starting to accept debit/credit cards. But there are still many things you have to pay in cash. The largest Tanzanian denomination is 10,000 […]
Wrestling between being a father and a minister
My reflections of being a stay-at-home dad and a minister.
How to Abide in Christ During Life’s Storms: Finding Peace Amid Challenges
The above picture is our car’s dead engine. Abiding in Christ is hard work, especially when encountering challenging issues. Two weeks ago, I noticed our car was having some issues. It rattled more than usual, so I brought it in for the mechanic to take a look. He told me that the engine was not […]
Keep Moving Forward
It has been almost a month since my family and I moved to Africa. We are slowly adjusting to our new home. Like most missionaries, figuring out even the simplest things is a journey. I am still figuring out how to get water here where we stay. My home has two water tanks, one underground […]