3/13/12
When anyone decides to pursue overseas missions, the first question asked by loved ones is, “But what if you get sick?”
My response has been that I’m obeying God by going and trusting Him with my wellbeing. Admittedly, as soon as my safety net is removed and I step off a plane into a country with no 911, ambulances, or sterile hospitals, I have to wonder if my decision to follow God’s leadings wasn’t foolish and unfounded. However, each time God had given me sufficient evidence showing me He had undeniably been the one to lead me to this point.
Over the last month God has proven Himself a faithful orchestrator who organizes events in miraculous ways to care for His children. A month ago three of the missionary men from our village set off on a 3-week trek. They planned to travel 500 km (~310 mi) by riding on/in large semi-trucks that haul goods around the country and by walking. The purpose of their journey was to sell Scripture in the villages they passed through on their way to a neighboring country where their mission organization was holding meetings.
This was by far the longest trek these men took this dry season and we were all praying that their physical needs would be met throughout its entirety. By this I mean that all they take with them in their backpacks is Scripture to sell, a change of clothing, water bottles (to be refilled at every opportunity), and very limited toiletries. They rely on villages to feed and house them, but there are many times when these accommodations aren’t found or given. After even a 1-week trek, the men are exhausted and experiencing intestinal troubles.
After 2 weeks in the bush the men were finally on their way to the neighboring country’s capital. They had all been sick for quite a few days the previous week, but were generally feeling better by the time they piled onto a truck to make the 6-hour ride. However, when they finally arrived Luke expressed that he wasn’t feeling well. Assuming it was just an intestinal parasite or an amoeba, he was simply given some medicine and told to rest now that they’d reached their destination. However, the next day his abdominal pain had increased to the point that he couldn’t eat or get comfortable in any position. The following day the pain centered over his lower right side so he was taken to the local hospital where their suspicions of appendicitis were confirmed. That evening he had an appendectomy where they found that they were just in time because his appendix had perforated slightly.
Despite the horror stories Luke had heard the night before being admitted to this hospital, the truth is that this is one of the best hospitals in West Africa. Its main criticism is their post-op care. Knowing this, one of the two other men always stayed with Luke to ensure all medication and care were being administered properly. It’s been two weeks since his operation and he is finally well enough to travel back to the village.
What makes this story incredible is how God disrupted all of our human efforts to change their plans. We’d learned new travel details that meant that Luke and one of the other men should return to our village instead of continuing on to the capital. For several days all of our efforts to communicate this were done in vain. When at last we were able to communicate with them, we learned that we were a day late. The last truck going back towards our village had left the previous day.
Had we gotten our way, Luke and one of the other men would never have made it to the capital and would have been in the middle of the bush with little to no communicate and certainly no way of traveling anywhere quickly. But even if they’d somehow gotten back to our village before this happened, his appendicitis could have been fatal. We are a 10-hour drive from the nearest airport that could fly us to another country with a decent surgical hospital (from our village it’s a 20-hour drive to the hospital he went to).
Without a doubt it was God who orchestrated everything so that these three men would go on this trek, along the route that they did, arrive in a city with decent medical care, and be able to ensure care for Luke throughout his recovery.
But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. Psalm 71: 14-16
God’s sovereignty is overwhelming. When I remember this, fear and worry seem futile so long as I am trusting in His will even when His way seems illogical to me. There is a much bigger picture than I could ever imagine and it’s within that context that His plans are made crystal clear.
In June, I plan to return to PBT’s annual conference, Pioneer Mission Institute, where two years ago God asked me to be faithful to Him and go teach in West Africa. Pioneer Mission Institute (PMI) is an opportunity for people to learn more about all the different branches of ministry within PBT as well as to become acquainted with the ministries that are going on all over the world. I am eager to get back and hear about how God is moving throughout the world and to see Him call more people to join the PBT family.
This is an amazing event that changed how I view missions, missionaries, and the peoples of the world. I would encourage all of you to pray about attending. God is moving in SPECTACULAR ways and it is a joy to be able to be a part of that. If you feel God calling you to relinquish control of your life to Him or if you’ve been searching for a way to be more active within His Kingdom, then this could the route He wants you to take.
Trusting In Him,
Julie
Pioneer Mission Institute (PMI)
Sunday, June 10 - Friday, June 15 (Dallas, TX)
A doorway to serving Bible-less peoples with Pioneer Bible Translators
Discovery
This program is designed for those interested in learning more about Pioneer Bible Translators' ministries and finding where God might be leading them to serve.
• Explore ministry roles within Pioneer Bible Translators*
• Meet missionaries currently serving with Pioneer Bible Translators
• Learn about the skills necessary for successful cross-cultural mother tongue ministry
• Gain a vision for how you might serve in God's Kingdom
Cost:
Register before April 30: $150.00 (plus room and board)
Register after May 1: $175.00 (plus room and board)
For more information or to sign up go to:
pioneerbible.org > Events tab > Pioneer Mission Institute
Still have questions?
Email Matt Weldy (matt.weldy@pbti.org) the event coordinator or me (julie.mckee@pbti.org).
*Pioneer Bible Translators has a wide range of ministry roles. I was astonished to learn just how varied and impactful they are. Some examples include:
o Bible Translators
o Scripture Distributors
o Church Planters
o Literacy Workers
o Community Development Workers
o Prayer Warriors
o Teachers (K-12)
o IT Workers
o Electronic Communication Workers (Websites, Videos, etc.)
o Printed Communication Workers (Magazines, Pamphlets, etc.)
o Ethnomusicologists
o Bookkeepers
o Administrators
o Recruiters
o Missionary Trainers
o Finance Workers
o Missionary Care Members
When anyone decides to pursue overseas missions, the first question asked by loved ones is, “But what if you get sick?”
My response has been that I’m obeying God by going and trusting Him with my wellbeing. Admittedly, as soon as my safety net is removed and I step off a plane into a country with no 911, ambulances, or sterile hospitals, I have to wonder if my decision to follow God’s leadings wasn’t foolish and unfounded. However, each time God had given me sufficient evidence showing me He had undeniably been the one to lead me to this point.
Over the last month God has proven Himself a faithful orchestrator who organizes events in miraculous ways to care for His children. A month ago three of the missionary men from our village set off on a 3-week trek. They planned to travel 500 km (~310 mi) by riding on/in large semi-trucks that haul goods around the country and by walking. The purpose of their journey was to sell Scripture in the villages they passed through on their way to a neighboring country where their mission organization was holding meetings.
This was by far the longest trek these men took this dry season and we were all praying that their physical needs would be met throughout its entirety. By this I mean that all they take with them in their backpacks is Scripture to sell, a change of clothing, water bottles (to be refilled at every opportunity), and very limited toiletries. They rely on villages to feed and house them, but there are many times when these accommodations aren’t found or given. After even a 1-week trek, the men are exhausted and experiencing intestinal troubles.
After 2 weeks in the bush the men were finally on their way to the neighboring country’s capital. They had all been sick for quite a few days the previous week, but were generally feeling better by the time they piled onto a truck to make the 6-hour ride. However, when they finally arrived Luke expressed that he wasn’t feeling well. Assuming it was just an intestinal parasite or an amoeba, he was simply given some medicine and told to rest now that they’d reached their destination. However, the next day his abdominal pain had increased to the point that he couldn’t eat or get comfortable in any position. The following day the pain centered over his lower right side so he was taken to the local hospital where their suspicions of appendicitis were confirmed. That evening he had an appendectomy where they found that they were just in time because his appendix had perforated slightly.
Despite the horror stories Luke had heard the night before being admitted to this hospital, the truth is that this is one of the best hospitals in West Africa. Its main criticism is their post-op care. Knowing this, one of the two other men always stayed with Luke to ensure all medication and care were being administered properly. It’s been two weeks since his operation and he is finally well enough to travel back to the village.
What makes this story incredible is how God disrupted all of our human efforts to change their plans. We’d learned new travel details that meant that Luke and one of the other men should return to our village instead of continuing on to the capital. For several days all of our efforts to communicate this were done in vain. When at last we were able to communicate with them, we learned that we were a day late. The last truck going back towards our village had left the previous day.
Had we gotten our way, Luke and one of the other men would never have made it to the capital and would have been in the middle of the bush with little to no communicate and certainly no way of traveling anywhere quickly. But even if they’d somehow gotten back to our village before this happened, his appendicitis could have been fatal. We are a 10-hour drive from the nearest airport that could fly us to another country with a decent surgical hospital (from our village it’s a 20-hour drive to the hospital he went to).
Without a doubt it was God who orchestrated everything so that these three men would go on this trek, along the route that they did, arrive in a city with decent medical care, and be able to ensure care for Luke throughout his recovery.
But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. Psalm 71: 14-16
God’s sovereignty is overwhelming. When I remember this, fear and worry seem futile so long as I am trusting in His will even when His way seems illogical to me. There is a much bigger picture than I could ever imagine and it’s within that context that His plans are made crystal clear.
In June, I plan to return to PBT’s annual conference, Pioneer Mission Institute, where two years ago God asked me to be faithful to Him and go teach in West Africa. Pioneer Mission Institute (PMI) is an opportunity for people to learn more about all the different branches of ministry within PBT as well as to become acquainted with the ministries that are going on all over the world. I am eager to get back and hear about how God is moving throughout the world and to see Him call more people to join the PBT family.
This is an amazing event that changed how I view missions, missionaries, and the peoples of the world. I would encourage all of you to pray about attending. God is moving in SPECTACULAR ways and it is a joy to be able to be a part of that. If you feel God calling you to relinquish control of your life to Him or if you’ve been searching for a way to be more active within His Kingdom, then this could the route He wants you to take.
Trusting In Him,
Julie
Pioneer Mission Institute (PMI)
Sunday, June 10 - Friday, June 15 (Dallas, TX)
A doorway to serving Bible-less peoples with Pioneer Bible Translators
Discovery
This program is designed for those interested in learning more about Pioneer Bible Translators' ministries and finding where God might be leading them to serve.
• Explore ministry roles within Pioneer Bible Translators*
• Meet missionaries currently serving with Pioneer Bible Translators
• Learn about the skills necessary for successful cross-cultural mother tongue ministry
• Gain a vision for how you might serve in God's Kingdom
Cost:
Register before April 30: $150.00 (plus room and board)
Register after May 1: $175.00 (plus room and board)
For more information or to sign up go to:
pioneerbible.org > Events tab > Pioneer Mission Institute
Still have questions?
Email Matt Weldy (matt.weldy@pbti.org) the event coordinator or me (julie.mckee@pbti.org).
*Pioneer Bible Translators has a wide range of ministry roles. I was astonished to learn just how varied and impactful they are. Some examples include:
o Bible Translators
o Scripture Distributors
o Church Planters
o Literacy Workers
o Community Development Workers
o Prayer Warriors
o Teachers (K-12)
o IT Workers
o Electronic Communication Workers (Websites, Videos, etc.)
o Printed Communication Workers (Magazines, Pamphlets, etc.)
o Ethnomusicologists
o Bookkeepers
o Administrators
o Recruiters
o Missionary Trainers
o Finance Workers
o Missionary Care Members
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