It is unbelievable that my time here is coming to an end. The past two years have been amazing and humbling. God has stretched and grown my family and me, physically, mentally and, of course, spiritually. A couple of the funny memories….the first time trying to learn the word for egg using miming actions and culture snafus like asking where is Mohammed (a common name here). I am thankful that our God has a sense of humor and the people have laughed for me and with me over the past two years.
In Acts the disciples reported or declared to the body of believers the things that the Lord had done in their ministries. It has been an honor to serve here and as sure as God has called me here He has given me and my family a new direction. I want to share my experience and knowledge from here in order to encourage and to inform those back home and those that may come in the future. Often laborers leave their host country without sharing what God has done and what they were allowed to learn. Unfortunately, I am not able to go into great detail on this here for security reasons. If you want to know more, please let me know by leaving a comment.
In the last two years, over 30 villages have been visited and the Gospel was freely received in verbal stories and written scripture portions. A database was created that lists the work done here over the past 10 years. Over two tons of rice was given to many in need. That outreach opportunity also allowed a time of discipleship and accountability in action. Twelve different teams have come to build relationships and share the love of Christ. Through the actions of these teams, new relationships have grown throughout the area. A young man who is a professing believer has been eager to study God’s Word and eager to share the Truth that he now knows. Another older gentleman, a retired Imam, has been a blessing to talk with and seems to understand and know about the life of Jesus. He has not yet accepted Christ but from all that he says and doesn’t say, I informed him that his beliefs are what a Christ follower would say (he didn’t deny it). A local English teacher came to the house and asked if I could help him teach. I thought it would be one school it ended up being four different schools with a total of about 500 students. One of the most humbling and ongoing experiences for us has been the hospitality. The people here are beyond willing to share whatever food they may have…even when they don’t have a lot. I have received gifts of chickens, mangos, papaya, curdled cow’s milk and cola nuts. God has provided food for the body and friendships for life.
Living here has made many scriptures come to life. The following verses describe the area that I live in. I am not exaggerating or complaining. This is just what I see and this is life here. The devastation and hopelessness in these verses is alive in this place. The difference, though, is that the “priests” of this place don’t cry out to the One True God. The wailing at their altars falls on the ears of a God who is not personal, loving or forgiving.
Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar. Go in, pass the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God! Because grain offering and drink offering are withheld from the house of your God. Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes. Is not the food cut off before our eyes, joy and gladness from the house of our God? The seed shrivels under the clods; the storehouses are desolate; the granaries are torn down because the grain has dried up. How the beasts groan! The herds of cattle are perplexed because there is no pasture for them; even the flocks of sheep suffer. To you, O LORD, I call, for fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and flame has burned all the trees of the field. Even the beasts of the field pant for you because the water brooks are dried up, and fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness.
(Joel 1:13-20 ESV)
Needless to say this is not an easy place. Many we’ve known have died or have had to move due to ethnical conflicts, poverty and corruption that plague the country. The first freely-elected President came to power in 2010 and I pray that he will do right by the people. Pray that the people of our country will turn their hearts toward the One True God who will hear and can answer their prayers.
I thank God for the trials, pain and tears for if it brings Him glory by having just one of His children turn to Him, it has been worth it all. I may fail, stumble and fall and that’s okay. I’ll keep trying because I know the Truth about the Hope that the world seeks. I am humbled by that. But I can’t be silent about it.
