A New Land

Recently, someone asked me how many states I have lived in during my lifetime. He was obviously referring to states as in United States of America. I answered "only one." But I have liived in another land in another world on another continent. And while traveling to that other land over distant seas, it has been my experience to view, touch, taste, hear and handle other cultures, spiritual domains, languages, traditions, and people who have enriched my life in so many ways for various reasons, one being just simply because they are different from the American way.

Long, long ago, Abraham, our patriarch journeyed to a far off country. Hebrews 11 (the Hall of Fame Faith chapter) commends him with these words, "Urged on by faith, Abraham, when he was called. obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go. Prompted by faith he dwelt as a temporary resident in the land which was designated in the promise of God though he was like a stranger in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs with him of the same promise. For he was waiting expectantly and confidently looking forward to the city which has fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God."

That far off land for me 30 years ago this past December was Congo, as in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It too became my inheritance. Congo is the birth place of my husband, Jim. Shaped and conformed by life as lived with Laban and Marcella, his parents, he is a man of great faith, abiding love, immeasurable patience, and devoted to chasing Jesus and following hard after God. Returning to Congo for Jim was a piece of cake. For me it was like drinking sour lemonade until. . . one day I woke up after crying for 2 years, and it wasn't strange anymore. God's grace allowed me to buy into it. The land, the people, their customs, and their love won me over.

Just 3 days ago we moved to Nashville, Tennessee. In so many ways, this new land for us is not strange at all. It is beautiful; we are near family members, and living here is a long-awaited dream. But it will also have its challenges, disappointments, heartaches, and triumphs. We are excited to see what doors God opens here for us as a couple and for the ministry. We are already won over. We already feel at home. We are so grateful the Lord has allowed living here to become a reality after decades of praying that Nashville would one day be our home.

Our home in Congo is awaiting us as well. On January 30, we will once again wing our way to that special place where Laban and Marcella carved out such an incredible work of God that they are legends there. How grateful we are for the decision they made 70 years ago to go to "Congo land" as Laban called it. How grateful we are for the inheritance they left us. How grateful we are that we will be greeted and welcomed by valiant men and women of God whose love for Him is an amazing inspiration and whose love for us never ceases to amaze us.

It will take about 21 hours to get there, leaving Nashville to Washington Dulles to Johannesburg where we overnight, and the next day on up to Kinshasa, the wild, impoverished, dark, dangerous capital of Congo. Our mission station of Nkara is 400 miles due east of Kinshasa, and Mission Aviation Fellowship will fly us there soon after our arrival. Roads are a joke, and what used to take 15-24 hours by land vehicle now can take up to 5 days, with bandits on the road and barriers to traverse that require "fines". Thank God for MAF.

So we are leaving our new land to go back to an old land that has become a place of worship, ministry, great friendship and commeradery, and a proving ground for God's saving grace, snatching men and women from the burning fires of hell, (when is the last time you heard a message on hell?), and experiential grace that enable us to actually live out the demands of each day in a land that not too long ago was practicing child sacrifice while steeped in and duped by demon worship. Will you please pray for us?

Moses in the wilderness said to the Lord Almighty, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" Ex:33:15 That is always our plea when we return to Congo. It is a land that is full of demon worship and witchcraft, unhidden, in your face. Warfare there is obvious. It is easily recognizable. We go in the Lord's strength and victory, or we do not go at all. We know Satan's devices there. We see his cunningness. We feel the oppression that is so thick one can cut it with a knife. Darkness has reigned supreme in many parts of Africa. On our mission station alone, babies were once offered as a sacrifice for sin, placed on hot coals, cut up into pieces and eaten to appease the gods, seeking good crops and ancestral blessing. Satan is a wily foe. We remember that we do not fight against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness in high places.

"For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical weapons of flesh and blood. but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds.

Inasmuch as we refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One."

Will you pray these verses over our going, staying, and coming back to America in April? Thank you. Your prayers will make all the difference. We actually feel them. We look to them. We count on them. Please intercede for us and the wonderful people of Congo land.