Comfort in the Face of Trials

An account of severe trial that Amy Carmichael encountered while caring for orphans on the mission field of India. This story made me dwell on the trials that missionaries go through while far from home, and often without the help of an earthly partner or comrade during the trial. If only we could pray as we ought for those in the fields whose struggle is greater than ours. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On the last unshadowed day before the epidemic came which swept our nursery bare, we made a feast in the new room. The children sat in rows on the floor, gay as a garden of living flowers, in their crimson and yellow and blue. As the laughing voices called her from side to side and end to end, the baby danced and clapped hands, and tried to walk to everyone who called. Life was bright to us that day, for the weak little babes were fairly well, and all children were perfectly well, and the treasure babe who was always well was fuller than ever of joyousness. And the sweet ways of a baby beloved, untroubled by any hurting thing, seemed sweeter than ever that bright day, as she held out her hands to one and another, and nestled in our arms. When the feast was over we went to the courtyard garden, and the baby clapped her hands with delight when the wind stirred the leaves of the trees, and blew the flowers about. Then they made a little garland and hung it around her neck, and twined the blossoms together and crowned their queen.

On that last evening only a few weeks later, but it seemed years, the baby lay most peacefully upon my mother's knee. She had learned to love her and to call her prettily, "Ahta," the baby word for grandmother. That evening as she lay watching with observant eyes everything we did, we almost fancied she understood, and way trying to help us to help her, so wise were all her little ways. Then came the nearing sound of the children singing as they returned from their lessons. The baby always clapped when we sang. She tried to clap now, raising weak little hands quietly. Often during that afternoon she had looked up, far away up, with intentness nothing could distract, and had beckoned just as she often beckoned to us in a loving little way she had. But still our eyes were holden and we did not see.

So in the early morning of that last day it was as if she tried to tell us. Arulai was beside her watching. She called the little call we knew so well, then once more pointed up, holding her little hand as high as she could. Then, with that utterly joyous look that she always seemed to reserve for the sound of music and singing, she still looked up. Arulai waited, and the baby hands pointed to a musical box which we kept beside her. Arulai held it for her. She turned the handle herself till the first notes came. She had often tried before but never quite alone. Now as the notes struck out she stopped, and again looked up with those joyous eyes, so unlike a baby's eyes in steadfastness, and then she looked at Arulai.

Let me to my heaven go,
A little harp me waits thereby,
A harp whose strings all golden are
And tuned to music spherical,
Hanging on the green life-tree
Where no willow ever be.
Shall I miss that harp of mine?

Then Arulai understood, and felt the stab of the knife. Did the baby see the great grief in her face? She put her little hands up to be kissed, and patted Arulai's cheek caressingly, and then, tired, fell asleep. In the few hours that followed we could not help noticing the other-world expression deepening in the baby's eyes, but even then we did not know that she was going. It is hard to let go hope. Then there was a sudden breaking of the silence, one little cry, the baby's mother-word, "Amma!" And then so gently the Angel came, so gently touched her that she slept, and woke to the music of heaven.

One never realizes quite how many are in sorrow, or have been, until one is sorrowful oneself. Over two hundred years ago Scottish mothers sorrowed, and the letters of comfort written to them bridge those two hundred years, and bring us all together, sorrowful people needing comfort and being comforted.

"You have lost a child," wrote old Samuel Rutherford. May his words bring comfort to someone as they brought comfort to me. "Nay, she is not lost to you who is found to Christ; she is not sent away, but only sent before, like unto a star which going out of our sight doth not die and vanish, but shineth in another hemisphere: you see her not, yet she doth shine in another country. If her glass was but a short hour, what she wanteth of time that she hath gotten of Eternity; and you have to rejoice that you have now some treasure laid up in heaven...Your daughter was a part of yourself, and you, being as it were cut and halved, will indeed be grieved; but you have to rejoice that when a part of you is on earth, a great part of you is glorified in heaven...There is less of you out off heaven that the child is there."

Taken from Amy Carmichael of Donhavur, pages 164-166
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"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows." 2nd Corinthians 1:3-5

Spiritual Beauty

(J. R. Miller, "Strength and Beauty")

"Worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth!" Psalm 96:9

"Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us." Psalm 90:17

Paul enjoins that, "whatsoever things are lovely" shall be in the vision of life, into which we aim to fashion our character.

We are to follow in the footsteps of our Master. Jesus Himself was, "Altogether lovely!" Song of Songs 5:16

Humanity was made to be beautiful. God's ideal for man was spotless loveliness--man was made at first, in God's image. But sin has left its foul trail everywhere! We see something of its debasement, wherever we go. What ruins sin has wrought!

All of Christ's work of grace--is towards the restoration of beauty of the Lord in His people.

Spiritual beauty is holiness. Nothing unclean is lovely. Character is Christ-like, only when it is beautiful.

All the precepts of the Bible are towards the fashioning of beauty in every redeemed life. We are to put away . . . all that is sinful, all marring, every blot and blemish, every unholy desire, feeling and affection, everything that would defile--and put on whatsoever is lovely and Christ-like.

The one great work of Christ in Christian lives--is the fashioning of holiness in them. We are to grow away from . . . our deformities, our faults, our infirmities, our poor dwarfed stunted life--into spiritual beauty!

The mark set before us is the likeness of Christ, which, at last, we shall attain! "We know that when He appears--we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He is! And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself--just as He is pure." 1 John 3:2-3



~Article courtesy of Grace Gems

Lozi Update

Dear Family,

This month finds us no longer camping but care taking at Mutemwa Lodge. The owners, Gavin & Penny Johnson, take January and part of February to holiday with family in South Africa. While they are away they offered for us to have free reign of the Lodge. What an absolute blessing to us! We have a lot more space and a large kitchen. The night guard washes all the dinner dishes and there is even a swimming pool! Nathan is enjoying not having to make “donkey” fires to heat water for showers and dishes. We have our own private bathrooms just off our chalet. Now, chalet sounds so much better that tent. But it is really just a tent put on a wooden deck. You can see pictures of the Lodge at http://www.mutemwa.com/. We are so very thankful to the Lord for providing through the Johnson family. Please pray with us for the Lord to bless the Johnson’s business here in Western Province.

Shannon was to go to pick up all the chiefs today (Monday) to travel to Mwandi for a meeting with the Royal Council. This meeting has been rescheduled for Friday, January 22. This will be a very long and difficult 16 hour day. Here is a shortened version of the process:

The members of the “Kuta” must review our paperwork & present the case to “His Royal Highness” (the senior chief). If he approves then two members of the Kuta will go with the guys back to the land to walk the boundaries. Then, the Kuta will draw up an official document that the Senior Chief will sign and stamp.

This is quite a process and we are praying for God to work on our behalf. Things here are on no timetable. The council can prolong this process at their discretion. Proverbs 21:1 gives us comfort “The king’s heart is like a river in the hand of the Lord and HE turns it wherever He will”.

Please be praying with us about this. We cannot move forward on building of homes if until final approval is given.

On Sunday afternoons we have started a Bible Study with some of our workers as well as any in the area who would like to attend. We are meeting in a cleared area, sitting on the cut grass, in the middle of the bush, just on the banks of the Zambezi River. Today we had three men, four women and about a dozen children. Shannon taught on Noah’s Ark and made special mention of how it is like a picture of Christ as the only means of salvation from the coming judgment of God. One woman asked, “so how can I be saved and what works must I do?”. Shannon took her to Acts 16:30 -31 and John 6:28. The message from Paul and Jesus is clear – “believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”. Please pray for Mary to be saved. In this culture these people may be coming to this study to see if the Americans will give them “stuff” or out of fear they may lose their jobs if they don’t. Pray for an awakening so that they might want Jesus and Him alone.

The pavilion structure is coming along. Jackson, our thatcher from Sioma, arrived last week and will being to put thatch on the roof this week. While he is working on the roof, Shannon and the other guys will begin work on the solar water and septic system. They will be digging trenches and laying pipe. Please pray for this to go well. The ground here is extremely rocky. The first hole that was dug for the septic tank could not be dug deeper than 3 feet because of the rock. The second hole was great and was the proper depth. All of this work is being done by hand by our Lozi workers. As Shannon and Sean lead Bible study each day with these guys, would you pray for them by name - Vincent, Shadrach and Chris. Pray for the Lord to still their hearts to know Him and that through the teaching of the truth of Scripture they may find salvation in Christ.

I had my first adventure in driving the dirt road from the lodge to “town” last Friday. We needed to head to Namibia for supplies. The guys just could not afford another day off work to take us. So, Michael, Joyce and I headed off on our own. The guys were headed to work as we were headed to town so, when we got stuck in a deep mud hole they were right there to tow us out! The board crossing was uneventful. The day of shopping was full and we barely had enough time to make all our stops. In fact, we were supposed to fuel the vehicle in Namibia but decided not to since the border closed at 6 pm. That was a good decision since we crossed back into Zambia at 5:58 pm! When we drove in, the guard was waving us in saying, “we close in 2 minutes”. Yikes!! That was cutting it a little too close for comfort! Once across the borders we fueled and headed for home. On the road back into the lodge we got stuck again! This time in a different puddle! We had no cell signal but knew the guys were watching the time and would come after us. They did and pulled us out again! We reached the lodge at 10 pm praising the Lord for seeing us through this crazy day!

Yesterday we realized that we are quickly approaching the one year mark! We praise the Lord for providing, protecting and sustaining us in these days. We are learning more and more each day how to trust Him more fully, rely on His strength and live with fullness of JOY when things are difficult. Thank you for being an integral part of what the Lord is doing among the Lozi as you continue to pray for us. You will never know how much that encourages us.

With much love from Zambia,
Stephanie (Shannon, Nathan and Morgan too!

Treasure In Earthen Vessels

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."

2 Corinthians 4:7

The Excellent Way

"All Power Is Given Unto Me..."

This is an excerpt from the book "Amy Carmichael of Donhavur," that I have been reading. Most people don't know that Amy began her missionary work in Japan, where she served for a short time. It was later that she moved to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka, an island near India), and then to the mainland of India for the rest of her missionary service. This excerpt tells of a situation in Japan where Amy and some of her fellow missionaries felt led to a specific man to cast out his demons, which had tormented him for some time. I thought it was a tremendous example of the power of God and the faith of a servant.

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"The man who, as the people believed, was possessed by the Fox spirit lived in a street near our house. He was in very desperate condition. When we were told of this, words I had read often came to me as if they were new: "All power is given unto Me...These signs shall follow them that believe; in My Name shall they cast out devils." Misaki San and I read these words together and we prayed, and waited upon the Lord. Then, full of confidence that he power of the Lord would case out the Fox spirit, we asked if we might see the man. We were taken to an upstairs room where he was confined. He was strapped and bound to two heavy beams laid crosswise on the floor. His arms were stretched out as if for crucifixion. His body was covered with burns. Little cones of powdered medicine had been set on his skin and lighted. They burned slowly with a red glow. That alone, one would have thought, was enough to make him mad; but it had not been done till all other means known by his people had been tried in vain. The idea was that the fire would drive out the Fox spirit. We had been told that he was possessed by six Fox spirits; but that was nothing to what the man had who said, "My name is Legion, for we are many."

With confidence, then, we told the old man's wife and the relations who crowded around, that our mighty Lord Jesus could cast out the six Fox spirits. But the moment we named our Saviour it was as if a paroxysm of rage filled the poor man; he raved and cursed and struggled to get at us. The men in charge of him held him down and covered his face with a cloth. We were hurried out of the room. The poor wife followed us to the door. She spoke not one word of reproach, but she must have felt reproachful. As for me, I was utterly bewildered and ashamed. It was as if the Name that is above every name had been shamed. What should we have done--stayed and said, "I command thee in the Name of Jesus Christ to come out of him?" As we turned to go, a sudden quickening of faith was given, and, my Japanese sister interpreting for me, I asked the wife to let us know when her husband was delivered from the power of the Fox spirit, "for our God will conquer, and we shall go home and pray till we hear that He has."

Within an hour a messenger came to say that the foxes were gone, the cords were off. He was asleep. Next day he asked to see us. He was sitting quietly with his wife, a well man. Except for the unhealed burns there was nothing to show what had been. He sent for flowers and someone brought a branch of pomegranate in flower. He gave it to me, and I don't think I ever see a pomegranate flower without seeing that old man's face, so courteous and so calm.

Most of our workers had by this time gone to a cooler place among the hills of Japan and we had been told to follow; but we knew we might wait to teach that old man, and we did so. His family were strict Buddhists, but they were so grateful that they did not prevent us doing this. It was some time before they understood that it was not we who had cast out the foxes, but the Lord Jesus Christ, whose very Name had been so abhorrent to that old man, or to those spirits who made him their home, on that first dreadful day. In the end he at least understood it, and he did, we believe come to that mighty Saviour in faith, and trust himself to Him."

Lozi Mission Update

Dear family and friends, after several weeks of silence, it is high time for an update, and there is exciting news to share. But first I must explain my strange choice for an introductory verse. Last Saturday we were driving back to camp from the build site. Our families had spent the day on the lodge grounds with the Johnsons. We got a text message that they were watching a large snake in a tree, so we hurried to take a look. Sure enough, high in a tree near one of the tents (where we'll be sleeping for the next month looking after the lodge for the Johnsons while they vacation in South Africa) was a big snake. A few well-placed shots from Gavin Johnson with a high-powered pellet rifle paralyzed the snake and it fell to the ground. Two more shots finished it off. It was a 2.5 meter long (8 feet) black mamba, the most deadly snake in Africa. Also that day, the staff killed a stilleto snake in the lounge and my daughter, Alicia, saw what may have been a spitting cobra near the lounge where all our kids were playing. 3 venomous snakes in one day. Granted, that is extremely rare, and I don't tell this to be dramatic. But in case you haven't prayed for our safety lately, this would be a good reminder. We grow more and more comfortable here, but there are occasional reminders that we live in constant potential danger from crocs, hippos (our friend Vincent's brother was recently attacked by a hippo and nearly lost his arm), hyenas (their tracks are on the lodge road), leopards, and snakes (recently some men clearing brush from our land were chased out of a rock formation by a spitting cobra).

Our greatest challenge many days is just driving from our camp to the build site and back. As we reach the mid-point of the rainy season, Shannon and I are earning our 4x4 badge (thanks for the lessons Sidney!). We've only had to use the winches twice. Our appreciation for the vehicles God gave us grows as the mud holes deepen.

OK, now let's get to the good stuff. In early December, because of our trip to Lusaka to get the water pump, we were gone from the villages for almost 2 weeks. When we returned, Vincent had exciting news. He said that some people from a few of the sub-villages had been talking about the Sunday meeting that we've been trying to start (hit-and-miss) for a couple of months. They asked Vincent, "Do we have to wait for the Reeces to be here? Even if they are not here to teach us, can't we at least meet each Sunday to pray?" In addition to that, Dom and Vincent went (without consulting us) and chose a meeting site and cleared it. The site is under a large shade tree beside the river, and appropriately, is not far from where we first camped in our early trips with the South Africans. This past Sunday felt very historic - we met for the first time at the time and place that THEY CHOSE without our help. It was a small group - our 2 families, 4-5 Lozi women, and 3 men. But the Lord loves humble beginnings. Christ WILL build His church among the Lozi, and He doesn't need our help to do it. But what a privilege to be included!

Along with the church-planting work, there is also progress in the construction work. The roof of our camp shelter is finally framed up, and thatching begins next week (Lord-willing). Then begins the challenging work of installing the solar water pump, storage tanks, and running water and septic lines. Are there any plumbers who could be here in two weeks? Shannon and I are encouraged to finally feel some progress.

Our wives are encouraged by the thought of looking after Mutemwa Lodge for the Johnsons for the next month. The last 3 months of tent-camping (2 of those months in the rain) have been rough on our wives, but they have earned the title "hard-core" from some of our Southern Baptist missionary friends. At the "lodge" we'll still be sleeping in tents, but in real beds. And they'll have electricity from a generator for 3 hours a day, and a small pool for the kids, and comfortable furniture in a semi-enclosed lounge area, and hot showers without building a fire (thanks to on-demand propane heaters), and battery-powered lights at night. All in all, it will be a nice break to help get us over the hump until water and septic are operational on our land. Words can't express our gratitude to the Johnson family. They are fast becoming dear friends, and we enjoy many hours of sweet Christian fellowship. Penny sympathizes with our wives, and Shannon and I are learning from Gavin's strong and simple faith in his Heavenly Father. Their hospitality was a great help with our homesickness during the Christmas season. We praise God for His grace in sustaining us through our first Christmas away from home. Thanks to all of you who sent encouraging emails or packages, and remembered us in your prayers.

Grace and peace to you all in this coming year. May you be blessed with ever-increasing views of Christ's glory.

Kept by Him, Sean

Matthew 6:9

"Go, Ye"

This is an excerpt from a letter written by Amy Carmichael to her mother. In the letter Amy pours out her heart and her struggles with the call to become a missionary.

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"Mother, for a long time, as you know, the thought of those dying in the dark-50,000 of them every day, while we at home live in the midst of blazing light-has been very present with me, and the longing to go to them and tell them of Jesus has been strong upon me. Everything, everything seemed to be saying "Go"; through all sounds the cry seemed to rise, "Come over and help us." Every bit of pleasure or work which has come to me has had underlying it the thought of those people who have never, never heard of Jesus; before my eyes clearer than any lovely view has been the constant picture of those millions who have no chance, and never had one, of hearing of the love which makes out lives so bright.

But home claims seemed to say "Stay," and I thought it was His will; it was, perhaps, till yesterday. I can't explain it, but lately the need to go seems to have come closer...I went to my own room and just asked the Lord what it all meant, what did He wish me to do, and, Mother, as clearly as I ever heard you speak, I heard Him say "GO YE." I never heard it just so plainly before; I cannot be mistaken, for I know He spoke. He says "Go"; I cannot stay. Mother, I feel as if I had been stabbing someone I loved...the certainty that it was His voice I heard has never wavered; though all my heart has shrunk from what it means, though I seem torn in two, and just feel one big ache all over, yet the certainty is there--He said to me "Go." Oh, nothing but that sure word, His word, could make it possible to do it, for until He spoke, and I answered, "Yes, Lord," I never knew what it would cost. These are the verses He gave me, when He spoke to me: "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it." "He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me." "To obey is better than sacrifice."

Many difficulties have risen in my mind; they seem very great, the "crooked places" seem very cooked. But it seems to me that all He asks is that we should take the one step He shows us, and in simplest, most practical trust, leave all results to Him. Mother, I know that very few of our friends will think I am right. Those who don't know the Shepherd's voice themselves will be quite sure I am very wrong and mistaken, but He has said, "Walk before Me, and be thou perfect." He knows, and He won't let me dishonor Him by making a mistake and following my own fancy instead of Him. If it is so, He will show it to me, but if it is His will, I must do it."

Jesus Only

This is an account from Dr. Helen Roseveare's book "He Gave Us A Valley," in which she is talking about preparing to leave Africa and retire from over-seas mission work. She is speaking of her pride in her own accomplishments and the rebuke she received from the Lord that renewed her perspective and reminded her that the work was not hers, but His.

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"There was an overwhelming sense of privilege, that Almighty God should stoop to ask of me, a mere nobody in a forest clearing in the jungles of Africa, something He needed. They had called Him 'a worm, no man.' I said I wanted to be identified with Him, yet did I really want to be a worm, trodden on, spurned, ignored? No! Yet this was the privilege He offered, the privilege of being a missionary, His ambassador, identified with Him among those whom He wanted to serve. 'You went home and told everyone that I was sufficient at that moment, in those circumstances. Isn't this true now, in today's circumstances?'

I tried to say: 'But of course, Lord. You know it's true.' 'No,' He quietly rebuked me. 'No. You no longer want Jesus only, but Jesus plus...plus respect, popularity, public opinion, success, and pride. You wanted to go out with all the trumpets blaring, from a farewell-do that you organized for yourself: with photographs and tape-recordings to show and play at home, just to reveal what you had achieved. You wanted to feel needed and respected. You wanted the other missionaries to be worried about how ever they'll carry on after you've gone. You'd like letters when you got home to tell you how much they realize they owe to you, how much they miss you. All this and more. Jesus plus...No, you can't have it. Either it must be "Jesus only" or you'll find you've no Jesus.' A great long silence followed--several days of total inner silence. At last I managed to tell Him that with all my heart I wanted 'Jesus only.'

He Chose You to be Trophies of His Grace

"You yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:5

God builds a palace for Himself in heaven, made of 'living stones'. Where did He get them? Has He brought forth the richest and the purest marble from the fine quarries of Paris? No! Christians, look to "the hole of the pit where you were dug out of, and to the rock where you were cut from!" You were full of sin. Far from being stones that were white with purity--you were black with defilement, seemingly utterly unfit to be stones in the spiritual temple, which would be the dwelling-place of the Most High God. And yet, He chose you to be trophies of His grace!

Goldsmiths make exquisite jewelry from precious materials; they fashion the bracelet and the ring from gold. But God makes His jewels out of base materials. From the black pebbles of the defiling brooks--He has taken up stones, which He has set in the golden ring of His immutable love, to make them gems to sparkle on His finger forever. He has not selected the best--but apparently the worst of men--to be the monuments of His grace!

~Grace Gems