How

We watched Machine Gun Preacher tonight.  Doctrinal issues aside, the movie made some pretty powerful statements about the situation in Sudan and other parts of Africa.

Sitting in the theatre, knowing that Africa is calling to our family, one question reverbrated through me during much of the movie: “How?”

As in, “How can such a terrible thing as child soldiers be allowed to even happen?”

As in, “How can these monsters do such horrific things to innocent children and families?”

As in, ”How on earth is God going to be able to use wimpy ol’ me to impact anyone or anything at all in Africa???”

Up until today, the ministry that God is preparing for us has been mostly a mystery.  We know He’s working, but the “what” and the “where” have been shrouded.  A casual conversation with my husband today has led me down a path of exploration.  And as I am writing this out by hand* (kneeling on the floor in the business centre of our hotel while my husband browses the internet in this tiny room’s only chair), a prophecy spoken over me last year about some of my gifts has come to mind.  I’m still trying to wrap my head around what this ministry will look like, so I will keep details to myself for the time being and seek counsel from some friends who have strong ties to Africa.

In the meantime, I guess we will keep doing what we’ve been trying to do, which is reduce debt and connect with as many people from Africa that are near us as possible.

As a side note, you would think that living in a remote community in the middle of North-Eastern BC would make it very difficult to find people from Africa or with strong ties to that continent.  However, we have in the last three years met and in most cases formed lasting relationships with no less than 4 families that meet that description, and several more families may be coming to live in this town before the spring next year.

God does work in mysterious ways, and I shall continue to trust that He has everything well under control (even if it doesn’t look like it to me, but really, who am I, anyway?).

And somehow, when we are ready, we’ll go to Africa and He’ll make it all work out.

[*Typed after my husband finished with the computer]