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