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A Letter from Timothy;
Tarkwa, Ghana, West Africa on Friday, February 15, 2008
Well the Lord has been doing a great work here in Ghana, He
continues to mold me into His image!
When I first arrived in Africa there was a bit of adjusting to be
done! We first drove into Tarkwa here it was in darkness and from
the few lights it seemed we were so very remote. Perhaps it was
simply because I have never been in a truly remote place or not, I
don’t know, but I was tremendously uncomfortable and everything
seemed to close in around me.
Suddenly it hit me:
I am stuck here for what will most likely be two years! During
this time my family will continue to grow and have many experiences
I will not be there with them. My siblings will grow and mature and
I will not be there to be the older brother who could offer
encouragement and advice. My father could have another heart
attack... my brother or sister could fall and I wouldn’t be
there to pick them up.
I thought about my fellowship and how it too will continue to grow
and go through many changes. It seemed when I left it was hanging
together by a thread and could divide at any moment.
The men will continue to meet and discuss things and make decisions
on issues that could seriously change the makeup of our fellowship.
If only I could be there! Maybe I could prevent a split! Maybe I
could offer that timely exhortation to a brother that was just what
he needed!
How frustrating it is to browse my inbox and read all the emails
about which house the fellowship will be meeting in and who all will
be attending, and how heartbreaking to read about those who chose
not to attend. I get to read all that the men will be discussing at
their next meeting! Sure the fellowship may seem monotonous at
times, and perhaps the men go round and round, but oh what and
blessing and privilege it is to have fellowship with one another!
Here in Africa, fear is everywhere. There is fear of war and rumors
of wars. Fear of sickness and financial difficulty. Most
understandably fear death because it is such a reality. Last week
there were three big funerals very close to each other, all those
who died were under the age of 35. I went to buy paint yesterday,
but the store was closed because a family member had died. There
are very few families where all the siblings reach maturity. Our
friend Comfort who cooked for us when we first arrived told us she
has been married twice but both husbands have died, just a few years
ago her son drowned in the ocean, she is only in her 40’s.
I was walking down the street the other day and the side mirror of a
taxi grazed my arm.
Fran was slightly bit by a dog that potentially had rabies, praise
the Lord she has been protected.
So the other day I was talking to the Lord and informing him that of
course he couldn’t allow me to die because he needed me. After all,
he has brought me here to Africa and if I died the work couldn’t be
accomplished!
I smile as I write this, but it’s true! We often have thoughts like
this!
The truth is, the Lord doesn’t need any of us! However, he has so
designed and set things up such that he uses each of us. He could
get things done just fine by himself, but for what ever reason he
uses me and all of us even though it seems we often make a mess of
things and do more harm than good!
And the work he has started he will finish it, he has promised us
this! So he has been comforting me with this truth, which whether
in my absence from my home and fellowship or even permanent absence,
his work will continue and so I don't have to worry.
Just like on Sunday when the Lord has a word for us, rarely will he
communicate that word through just one person, he uses many!
On Sundays and Wednesdays, he has not just chosen the men that are
over 30 to edify the church!
When a young girl needs some encouragement, her mother is not the
only one that can help her! If someone has a financial need, it’s
not only the rich that he will use to supply!
He has a work he is accomplishing, and each one of us no matter the
age is and should be involved and ready to be used.
From glory to glory he is changing us and he is using all of us!
Some may feel their role is small and therefore it is optional
whether they participate or not.
If the Lord has a work to be done on Saturday going door to door,
those knocking on the door and those at home praying faithfully are
equal in the Lord’s eyes. (Those at home because of unbelief are
another story;) If the Lord has a work to be done in Africa, whether
in Uganda, Morocco or Ghana you don’t have to be physically in
Africa for the Lord to use you in that work!
If the men are meeting and your gender does not permit your
attendance, you can still pray the Lord would bring clarity of
thought and a clear revelation of his will!
We are using an interpreter to assist in teaching to ensure clarity,
he could very well mistranslate something and cause
misunderstanding! Is he less important than the teacher?
So we see that the Lord has a work which he could do by himself but
instead he has given us the blessed privilege to join in and be used
by him. But, because we are busy or perhaps we just don’t believe
him many sit idle.
Hebrews 4:10 has been a tremendous encouragement to me of late: we
have ceased from our works! Now, we simply rest in his work=)
My prayer for us all is that we have a heavenly perspective and we
stop looking at our size or age, or the size of the giants! I pray
we obediently let the Lord use us and be content to be whichever cog
he decides!
This has been a bit lengthy, but I trust the Lord has encouraged
you.
Love and miss you all--tim |
