The Right Place at the Right Time

I have received a third update from Jimmy regarding their trip. If you missed the first two articles, you will find links to them listed in the sidebar of this webpage. The availability of their internet connection in the village is hit-and-miss. Please pray for it so Jimmy will be able to continue to testify of the work God does on their trip...

We spent the night in the SIL compound and had a good night’s rest. We started our first full day in Africa at 7:00. At the compound, we ran into a man named B before we left. Meeting him was a wonderful opportunity. He recently finished translating the New Testament into the dialect of the local population. He showed us a proof copy they had been checking before the book went to printing. Seven thousand copies have already been pre-ordered; they will actually print 14,000 copies. Seven thousand people will soon hear the words of life in their own language for the first time. Perhaps even thousands more will as recipients will read the words to those in their villages. Please pray for this opportunity!

We then drove to the English center and met D. He is Kap’s administrator – what a humble man. He took our passports and money and headed to the police station to get us stamped and checked in to the country. While he was doing that, we went and had the best omelet I think I have ever had along with fresh agave juice. D met us at breakfast; he had our passports, our converted money, and we were ready for the trip to the swamp (the nickname for the village where we are working). While eating, the missionary flight called and said the weight of our supplies was over by 250 Kg. Kap removed the tile and some back up batteries from the flight to get us under weight. He will be able to bring those things in later; we had what we need to do what we need to do.

The plane ride was great. This is the rainy season; life is everywhere. Everything that is normally barren and brown is now green and lush. The water brings life.

“Jesus answered,

‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,

but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.

Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’”

(John 4:13-14)

Our two hour and fifteen minute flight to the swamp passed quickly with great stories and conversation with Kap. As we approached the village, his words changed to focus on the town below. He then became silent; anticipation of seeing his family again became apparent. I too looked down; we were only 2500 ft off the ground. I saw the huts, the mud brick walls, and the people waving. We approached the air strip from the north and made a pass to land with the wind. We banked hard and made the approach. We could see Chica and their children; they were all waving. We landed soft and safe on the sand runway.

We. Were. Here.

Emotion overwhelmed me; I began to cry but I held it back. We had arrived. We had arrived at the place for which my friend had totally forsaken all the luxuries of the USA; the place for which he had forsaken all excuses not to serve.

We taxied to the drop off point. Chica and the kids were waiting.

I came with a purpose – a purpose of no excuses, a purpose to live free. Free from what the USA has taught me. Our country teaches us to take care of ourselves. Do not help others. Worry about what is yours and nothing else. We are a lost nation.

I was now in the swamp – where God wanted me to be at this moment in time. While still in the plane, I began to weep uncontrollably. The others were off except Kap and we wept together. We were in the swamp together.

Thank you for your prayers for the men and the work they are doing. Click here to read more thoughts about their journey from the US to Africa: God Shows Up.