Category: missions

Our trip to Namibia was full of unity and the Holy Spirit. Never have I seen a more exact answer to such praying… which teaches me that the children of God are supposed to pray this way. “You do not have, because you do not ask God,” James wrote. I am sure there are many reasons for a lack of unity in the Body of Christ, but it would be tragic if one of those reasons is that we fail to pray for it.

As is our tradition, we go to the Church at Babylon in the squatter’s camp on the first Sunday of our trip. The pastor is a young Namibian man we have known for six years named Ephraim. Ephraim is energetic and engaging, full of love and the Holy Spirit. After close to an hour of singing and dancing in worship, he invited any believer to come to the front to share a word of encouragement with the community of faith. Always two people spoke: if the speaker shared in English, someone else translated the message to Afrikaans, the language of South Africa. Likewise, if the speaker shared in Afrikaans, someone interpreted in English. The first person to share was a man who told of God protecting his son the previous week. He had sent his son on an errand that involved crossing a small stream. The young man was going to step on a log to cross the water, but just before his foot touched the ‘log’ he saw movement and drew back. The ‘log’ was a snake and the man praised God that no harm came to his son. We joined the praise and made mental notes regarding crossing streams.

Another person to share was a lady with a bright yellow dress. During the time of worship she said God put a verse on her heart that she wanted to quote to the assembly. “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy Name.” (Psalm 103:1) When I heard the verse, I couldn’t believe it. In the kitchen of the little house where Susan and I stayed at the Youth With A Mission base, there hung a sign with a verse written in Africaans. Sunday morning before church I copied down this phrase on a little blue piece of paper: “Loof sy heilige Naam.” “What does this mean?” I asked Yan, a South African teacher who had picked us up at the airport on our arrival. “Why?” he asked, “Are you going to preach this morning? It means: ‘Praise his holy Name.’” The verse on the little sign was Psalm 103:1. So there in a small church building in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Windhoek, the Lord gave the same verse to a black African woman and a white American man. After the woman in yellow finished I took the little blue piece of paper out of my Bible and stood to echo her message. Ephraim followed my remarks with spoken praise to the Holy Spirit who knows exactly how to edify the Body.

Edification comes when we realize God is with us. We did not witness a grand miracle that morning, but we all, natives and foreigners, knew that God was present. He was calling us all to praise him and no matter what language we spoke, we knew He deserved it. What wisdom the Father has to invite members of his Body to come together regularly in worship and prayer and fellowship. As we partook of the Lord’s Supper that morning and remembered afresh the sacrifice made at the Cross, we thanked the Lord with sincere hearts for his amazing love.

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!” I John 3:1

I cringed Tuesday morning at breakfast when Pastor Manuel answered our question: “Where are you taking us today?” “Muy alto,” was his answer. If a local citizen of Ecuador says he is taking you “very high,” you’re in trouble. Though I’ve prayed about it quite a bit, I can’t get over a horrible fear of heights. When our bus left the main road and started climbing a section of the Andes Mountains, my stomach started rising to my throat. Gravel roads… no guard rails… higher and higher we went. Every village we approached I prayed, “Lord, this is good enough. They need You here… I’m sure they do!” But we never stopped until we got to the very top of the mountain.

On Thursday Pastor Manuel planned to take us to another village. At breakfast I reluctantly asked, “Are we going ‘muy alto’ today?” What a relief it was when he answered, “No, we’re going into a valley.” “Thank you, Lord,” I silently prayed. But before we went into the valley we had to drive up a mountain. And the journey into the valley was worse than the Tuesday climb into the mountains. We literally had to get off the bus to move rocks and branches out of the narrow dirt road that winded its way into a little village next to a flowing stream. The scenery was beautiful, but how can you enjoy the view when you’re hanging onto your bus seat for dear life?

This is not a new lesson, but it is one we’re supposed to remember: God wants to take us to the high places… and the low places… and He wants us to enjoy the journey with him. The disciples cried, “Master, we’re going to drown! Don’t you care that we perish?” while Jesus slept in the bottom of the boat. “Why are you so afraid?” Jesus asked after He stood up and calmed the waves. “You are with the King of kings. Why are you worried about a storm… or a high mountain… or a questionable road? If I am in the boat (or bus), don’t you believe things are going to be alright? Where is your faith?”

I know some may laugh at me for being afraid of heights and I might laugh at others for things they fear, but the issue centers on trust. I honestly don’t think I can keep my body from reacting the way it does when I’m 14,000 feet in the air, but Jesus wants me to keep my eyes on him and not be afraid. I love the conclusion Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego reached when they faced a scary moment in Babylon. They said to Nebuchadnezzer, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18) This is a great attitude: “I will face my fear believing I will live, but if I don’t… so what? My God is with me.”

So step one is to ‘overcome the fear’ but step two is also important: ‘enjoy the journey.’ I think Jesus really wants us to take pleasure in his assignments. “Come up to the high places with me!” Or “You’ve seen the mountain tops, now let’s go deep into the lowlands where there are all types of dangers and trials.” Or “We’ve got an important job to do in another land, but in order to get there we must hop in a boat and sail through a storm.” Can we rejoice no matter what? Of course most of the time we’re assigned to rather normal or even mundane tasks at home, school, or work. But if Jesus is with us, should there not be a sense of excitement? Who knows what opportunity God may give today to shine his light? Who knows what chance we might have to demonstrate the kindness of our Lord? Who knows what purpose Jesus has in mind today? “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!”

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen or cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” Habakkuk 3:17-19

I think God knew the theme we chose to teach the children of Ecuador before we even arrived. We went to church in Riobamba our first night there, and as we worshipped in a foreign language an older gentleman kneeled on the hard floor in front of the stage holding a huge banner that read: EL SENOR ES MI PASTOR. That was our theme: THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD.

I don’t remember seeing many sheep last year, but this trip we saw hundreds. And we saw shepherds too! By far, our favorite shepherd was Pastor Manuel, the man who asked us not to forget his people when we returned to our country. Manuel grew up in a small town high in the Andes Mountains. There were no Christians in his village so darkness was the norm. His father was an alcoholic who often abused his family. This caused Manuel to want to leave his home as soon as possible. After marrying his childhood sweetheart Paula, Manuel found Christ in a revival meeting in another town. Perhaps we should say the Lord found Manuel… then Paula… then son Marco… then daughter Blanca. After a time of preparation in Quito, Manuel knew God wanted him to take the Gospel back to his village. When he did, the entire town came to Christ.

Three years ago the family moved to a sizable town named Cajabamba where they daily feed and teach about twenty children in an after-school program. Carrying only the Word of God, Pastor Manuel travels (mainly by foot) to seven different churches in the surrounding mountains and valleys. I’ve been to four of these villages and witnessed this humble, middle-aged man teach, encourage, correct, and love the people who have given their hearts to the Shepherd of our souls. All twenty-five American visitors agreed that our small friend with a red poncho on his shoulders and fedora on his head was an Ecuadorian representation of the Chief Shepherd.

To people who understood the weaknesses of sheep and the dangers of life, Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd. He leads us beside still waters and through green pastures in the proper seasons. His rod and staff bring comfort and guidance. Even in the valley of the shadow of death, we need not fear because our Pastor is with us. If an enemy attacks, our Shepherd will fight on our behalf; no one can snatch us out of his hand. He anoints us with the oil of his Spirit as He calls us by name. At one time or another we have all wandered away, but our Shepherd always goes to find the one who is lost. How wise and strong He is! How important it is to listen to his voice! We are the sheep of his pasture and we are blessed.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me — just as the Father knows me and I know the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” John 10:14-16

Thursday, after the Bar Mitzvah, Susan and I stopped by the Dead Sea then drove to Jerusalem, less than an hour away. After getting lost, making u-turns, and asking strangers for directions, we finally found the place to turn in our rental car. Within ten minutes our friend Dagmar walked up and greeted us. We followed her through Jaffa Gate with suitcases bumping along the cobblestone roads while taking in all the sights, sounds, and smells of the ancient city. Women with veiled faces sold fresh fruit and vegetables, men persistently invited us into their shops, and teenage boys pushed carts full of freshly butchered beef to the meat markets. In this part of the city, adults wore clothes that look the same as in Bible times, while children wearing play clothes kicked a soccer ball in the ally. The first level of apartments we entered are over a thousand years old, but our missionary friends live upstairs in the ‘new’ five-hundred-year-old section. Dagmar is from Germany and Harry is from Holland and they are the only Europeans living in the Muslim Quarter. They’ve been there over twenty-one years.

What makes Old Jerusalem so unique is the obvious importance of religion in the city. We were only there a day and a half, but the observations were constant. Overlooking our apartment was an orthodox school where fully robed Jews constantly sing, chant, or recite Scripture. Five times a day the loudspeakers sound the Muslim call to prayer. Friday, Susan and I took a wrong turn and found ourselves in a mass of people walking to pray at the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount. Israeli soldiers saw we were out of place and pointed us the opposite direction – against the flow of hundreds of people. As we turned a corner, we were almost run over by a guy carrying a cross followed by twenty or thirty young adults singing Italian hymns. They were walking the Via Dolorosa, remembering the path of the suffering Savior. Late Friday afternoon, as we exited Jerusalem through the Damascus Gate, we met a multitude of Jews on their way to celebrate Sabbath at the Western Wall. While all were dressed in black and white, there was quite a variety of hats, head coverings, hair styles, and beards as Jews from all over the world made their way to the location of Herod’s Temple from Jesus’ time. I wonder what Jesus thinks about Jerusalem today…

I always love conversations with sold-out believers from other parts of the world. God sees one Body of Christ on earth and I think he really wants us to know we need each other. “So what’s God showing you these days?” I asked Harry. “Dana, we need grace. As I’m sure you’ve noticed, we are constantly dealing with people of the law. Muslims follow their law. Jews follow the law of Moses. Even many Christians seem to only emphasize the law. But God knows we need grace. ‘The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.’ In this city, it seems all are trying to justify themselves by what they do or what they don’t do. Deep down, though, each knows he’s not really righteous. Jesus is the only One who ever lived a life of purity and perfect obedience. He was most frustrated with those who missed the very nature of God while claiming to follow all the rules and regulations. Let me describe a familiar old scene from this city. On the Day of Atonement a man would bring a lamb to the priest at the Temple to atone for his sins. In the very act of bringing a sacrifice, the man was admitting he was a sinner. The priest would ask him if it was his own sheep – one he raised or purchased with his own money. Once the man confirmed it was his sheep, the priest took the animal and ignored the man. He checked the wool to make sure there was no spot or blemish. He checked the feet to make sure the lamb was not lame. He checked the eyes and teeth to make sure there was no blindness or disease. If the lamb passed inspection, the priest would ask the man to put his hands on the head of the sheep. At this point all the sins the man had committed the past year were transferred to the sacrifice and the symbolic perfection of a spotless lamb was transferred to the man. The animal’s throat was then slit, the blood was spilled, and the man walked away clean and forgiven.”

“Oh if the Muslims could see what God has done! Oh if the Jews could realize that Jesus was the perfect Lamb! And oh if we as Christians could keep our eyes on this One given in our place! God knows we are sinners and it does not matter how great our sin. He looked at his Son and declared him the acceptable sacrifice. Our sins were transferred to him and his righteousness is transferred to us. We should realize we are free… free to love, free to worship, free to bless others, and free to thank God for his immeasurable grace that restores relationship between us and our Father. This is what we need in Jerusalem… and this is what you need in the States.”

It is good to be reminded.

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!” John 1:29

“You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” I Corinthians 6:19-20

Randy Moore is a friend who is a nurse. When the earthquake struck Haiti, he went down to offer his services. Randy was so struck by the needs and so attached to the people that he found it hard to leave. He hopes to stay in the country at least two more months. Our daughter, Karlyn, and a group from school plans to leave at the end of the month to assist with the overwhelming needs still present in Haiti.

Reading Randy’s stories and thinking of God’s heart for the poor and the suffering, I imagine internal conflict is common. “I’m tired, Lord. There’s too much to be done, Lord. I don’t think I can go on, Lord. I see the needs, Lord, but is healing possible?” He gently reminds us, “You’re not your own; you were bought at a price. My grace is sufficient. Be filled with my Spirit and share my love.”

We met a couple in Riobamba who left their home in Canada to take care of orphans in Ecuador. They had ten children of their own at the time and some would say they were foolish to go to a foreign land with no friends and no support. But that’s what they did and for the past fourteen years they’ve taken care of over 450 children.

Glenda and Ron would say they were hippies who found Jesus and knew they were to spread his love to those who didn’t know him. They’ve experienced God’s grace, God’s provision, and God’s miracles. But the journey has not been easy. Besides the normal work of changing diapers, feeding babies, and raising children, they’ve experienced the opposition Satan creates when someone wholeheartedly says “yes” to the Lord.

So how do you deal with fatigue, discouragement, worry, or any of the other things that come against mind, body, or spirit? We must go to the Giver of Life.

“Yes, Lord, I am yours, but I’m not sure I can make it. Please give me the energy I need, the courage I need, the attitude I need, and the love I need to do what you’ve called me to do.” No one understands this prayer better than Jesus. He poured his heart out to his Father in the Garden and God gave him everything he needed to complete his journey. And now Jesus lives to intercede for us.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20