This week, I thought I would share three experiences that helped me see the heart of God. All of these came from a Youth with a Mission trip to Zimbabwe in the 1980s.
Our group was ministering in a village. I call it a village but it really was a white farmer's plantation, where the workers had permission to build huts on the owner's land. The land was rich in corn maize and tobacco. Anyway, after the evening service, I was invited by a local to his hut. It was a two room mud-sided and thatched roof hut with no electricity or plumbing. As we sat down and talked, he handed me some money. It was five Zimbabwe dollars, which at the time was worth maybe four U.S. Dollars. To refuse to take the money would be considered ungracious. So I took the money and asked him how much in savings he had. He told me, he still had four Zimbabwe dollars left. Needless to say, this was the greatest giving I have ever seen.
At one point I was shopping for gifts in the capital of Harare. I heard some music playing in the alley. A couple were singing something I believe I had heard before on an Oral Roberts program, the lyrics included, “God is a miracle working God.” Anyway, as I looked more closely, I was amazed by their great joy. This joy especially struck me because not only were they impoverished, but they both had severe disabilities. One of them was blind and the other was missing a leg. I think they had other issues too, but those were the most obvious. In spite of all that, not only was the song one of faith and sincerity, but they were praising God when they could have easily been discouraged and forlorn.
My third impressionable encounter came from a visiting Mozambican pastor. Though Zimbabwe is next door, my understanding was that this was the Pastor's first time ever out of Mozambique. He and another brother shared the challenges of their churches. I knew things were desperate there, as they were in a prolonged civil war at this time. I later too would learn that during this time, Mozambique was deemed the poorest nation in the world, from the U.N. Human Development Index. Anyway, the problems he mentioned were immense. They had no soap for months, many in his church would not attend because they had no clothes that would cover everything. Food was scarce and there was always a threat from both government or rebel forces. Later, I got a chance to pray privately with the pastor. The one thing I noticed from the meeting and now in person, is that he knelt always in prayer. This pastor, far removed from any Western Christian influence, or formal bible training, prayed in the spirit quite similarly to me. (I pray somewhat unusually, so to me this was exciting in itself). At the end of our prayer time, I had one scripture impressed on me, it was not one that I expected. I shared: “God's grace is sufficient for thee.” At the time, I considered all the problems, yet instead of some grand encouragement, it was the same word that Paul got for his thorn in the flesh. Honestly, I did not even want to say it, yet he received it humbly. I still to this day have some problems with what that means. Certainly, it is not just the health and wealth that often is preached in America. No, instead it is something far deeper and sobering.
Altogether, these experiences and others have helped show me the heart of God. While I do still grumble too much, and sometimes get discouraged, I know that the inconveniences most of us face, pale in comparison to many brothers and sisters.
To analyze these stories versus the culture of the Western church I have to think there is a great chasm. On giving, how is it that those so rich still have to beg for more funding? On need, why are we upset at small inconveniences like no hamburger meat at the store? On church, if attending in person is so important, (it is) why do so few of us give rides to church to those less fortunate, or fail to offer meaningful home visitations to those that are unable to attend?
I pray we each are more than conquerors, that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us and be content in whatever circumstances we may encounter.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Our group was ministering in a village. I call it a village but it really was a white farmer's plantation, where the workers had permission to build huts on the owner's land. The land was rich in corn maize and tobacco. Anyway, after the evening service, I was invited by a local to his hut. It was a two room mud-sided and thatched roof hut with no electricity or plumbing. As we sat down and talked, he handed me some money. It was five Zimbabwe dollars, which at the time was worth maybe four U.S. Dollars. To refuse to take the money would be considered ungracious. So I took the money and asked him how much in savings he had. He told me, he still had four Zimbabwe dollars left. Needless to say, this was the greatest giving I have ever seen.
At one point I was shopping for gifts in the capital of Harare. I heard some music playing in the alley. A couple were singing something I believe I had heard before on an Oral Roberts program, the lyrics included, “God is a miracle working God.” Anyway, as I looked more closely, I was amazed by their great joy. This joy especially struck me because not only were they impoverished, but they both had severe disabilities. One of them was blind and the other was missing a leg. I think they had other issues too, but those were the most obvious. In spite of all that, not only was the song one of faith and sincerity, but they were praising God when they could have easily been discouraged and forlorn.
My third impressionable encounter came from a visiting Mozambican pastor. Though Zimbabwe is next door, my understanding was that this was the Pastor's first time ever out of Mozambique. He and another brother shared the challenges of their churches. I knew things were desperate there, as they were in a prolonged civil war at this time. I later too would learn that during this time, Mozambique was deemed the poorest nation in the world, from the U.N. Human Development Index. Anyway, the problems he mentioned were immense. They had no soap for months, many in his church would not attend because they had no clothes that would cover everything. Food was scarce and there was always a threat from both government or rebel forces. Later, I got a chance to pray privately with the pastor. The one thing I noticed from the meeting and now in person, is that he knelt always in prayer. This pastor, far removed from any Western Christian influence, or formal bible training, prayed in the spirit quite similarly to me. (I pray somewhat unusually, so to me this was exciting in itself). At the end of our prayer time, I had one scripture impressed on me, it was not one that I expected. I shared: “God's grace is sufficient for thee.” At the time, I considered all the problems, yet instead of some grand encouragement, it was the same word that Paul got for his thorn in the flesh. Honestly, I did not even want to say it, yet he received it humbly. I still to this day have some problems with what that means. Certainly, it is not just the health and wealth that often is preached in America. No, instead it is something far deeper and sobering.
Altogether, these experiences and others have helped show me the heart of God. While I do still grumble too much, and sometimes get discouraged, I know that the inconveniences most of us face, pale in comparison to many brothers and sisters.
To analyze these stories versus the culture of the Western church I have to think there is a great chasm. On giving, how is it that those so rich still have to beg for more funding? On need, why are we upset at small inconveniences like no hamburger meat at the store? On church, if attending in person is so important, (it is) why do so few of us give rides to church to those less fortunate, or fail to offer meaningful home visitations to those that are unable to attend?
I pray we each are more than conquerors, that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us and be content in whatever circumstances we may encounter.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
