Tanzania, Africa
Stapleton
A Special Name in the Hearts of the Chimala People
left to right: Bob, Marcia, Darrin, Carrie, Heath (holding Will), Becky,
and Lisa at
Chimala
Since 1984, when Andrew Connally first introduced them to the Chimala Mission work, the Stapleton family has continued to be involved in the work in one way or the other. As Brother Connally told them, "Chimala gets in your blood and it’s almost impossible to get it out."
Robert, Marcia and their four children, Heath, Darrin,
Jason and Lisa, first moved to Springtown, Texas to live with the mission's overseeing
congregation for seven and a half months prior to moving to Chimala to serve on a full-time basis. While serving from June, 1985, until July, 1988, Bob
worked as Administrator of the hospital and mission. In 1987, he established the
Chimala School of Preaching, which continues to the present time.
After leaving Chimala, during the period between 1988 and 1994, Bob served the Stucker Street
church of Christ in Paoli, Indiana as the local preacher, and eventually as
one of their elders. While there, they continued to support the work
financially.
In 1994, Bob, Marcia, Jason, and Lisa returned to Chimala where Bob again took over the administrative position. In 1996, Heath and and his wife Becky (the former Rebecca Stutzman of Corydon, Indiana) moved to Chimala to assist with the evangelistic work, at which time Jason returned to the United States. In July, 1998, Bob, Marcia and Lisa returned to the United States to work with the New York Avenue Church of Christ in Arlington, Texas in the capacity of coordinator for Chimala Mission. This congregation had assumed the position of overseeing congregation in January, 1998, and felt the need for Bob to assist them in this manner.
In 1999, Darrin and and his wife Carrie (the former Carrie Breeden of Paoli, Indiana) moved to Chimala to take over the administrative responsibilities, which Heath had been doing in the interim period. In July, 1999, Heath and Becky returned to the United States for the birth of their son, Will who was born in October, 1999. They returned to Chimala in 2000 where Heath served as missionary in charge of the Chimala School of Preaching and the Christian School. Darrin was involved primarily in overseeing the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the hospital, mission, and schools. In 1999, Jason married Madesha, and in December, 2001, moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area to attend Brown Train School of Preaching.
From 1998, to December,
2003,
Bob and Marcia made two trips yearly to Chimala, taking with
them people who were interested in short-term mission work. Their
daughter, Lisa, returned with them several times. While in the United
States, they also traveled many miles making presentations at local congregations
and picking up equipment and supplies
for the work there.
Heath, Becky, and Will returned to the United States in July, 2003, to begin working with Bob in making the transition. In December, 2003, Heath took on the role of coordinator for the Chimala Mission. In January, 2004, Bob, Marcia, Lisa, Heath, Jason and his wife Madesha, and son Lavan, and others made another three-week trip to Chimala to work with the Mission. Jason and his family stayed to begin a two-year commitment to the work there.