Reunion after a long time

It was over 30 years ago when my story began in East Africa: Suddenly there they were. Four young conscientious objectors from a neighboring country. They had heard from us in church that we spoke their language. They were on their way to the West. Were we not the wrong address? We weren’t a travel agency, a diplomatic mission and, above all, an ATM. What did these refugees want from us? What could we do for them? Did they come to our church services just to meet helpful people? Or did they come for the snack afterwards, because they were always hungry? Did they really want to learn more about our Lord and Savior? Along the way, there were hopeful moments and bitter disappointments on both sides.

Fates

After a short time, the first of them made it to Cairo and later to America. A second allegedly tried several times, unsuccessfully. But apparently he loved the Lord and composed some worship songs that have remained to this day. Unfortunately, he soon fell ill and died. The two other migrants were not in a hurry and wanted to work with us first and learn manual skills from us. As day laborers, they helped us renovate apartments, make furniture for our language school, service cars and clean air conditioning systems. They were firmly integrated into the pump project. They helped to manufacture, install and maintain pedal pumps. One of them got married.

Joy and disappointment

Soon after her arrival, we started our working day with a short Bible study and prayer. Once a week, we studied the path of salvation through the Bible together. Looking back, the whole time was a rollercoaster of joy, hope, painful disappointment and perplexity. It was a godsend to be embedded in our team. When we were tired, others took over. Sharing and carrying things together worked. Before we returned home almost twenty years ago, my most loyal colleague threatened me with a hand grenade and demanded money from me. We had to break off contact. That left one of us, who had become a father in the meantime. His financial needs were increasing. Of course, we also felt the pressure of feeding a growing family. A lot of things sapped our strength and we returned home exhausted.

Return after many years

Years passed without finding out what happened to our friend. Was all our effort in vain? Had we invested ourselves in vain? In between, we heard about his growing family, but also about prison sentences. Four years ago, we returned to the country we knew so well. We immersed ourselves in the language, culture and work. A new network of relationships developed and former strangers have become friends. Old, familiar questions sometimes come up again. What are we doing here? Does our assignment make sense? Is it worth it?

God’s good ways

By chance, we heard from our “old” friend. He had found work as a translator. We tracked him down and visited him. The joy of seeing him and his grown-up children again after more than fifteen years was enormous and we marveled at God’s faithfulness when he told us his story. He soon apologized for his previous behavior. “I was so impossible to you because I was in need. We had nothing when we arrived in the country. You were my family. I have since learned that God provides for us and that I don’t have to beg and hassle others. That was a difficult, hard learning. I had done things that landed me in prison because they were not according to God’s will. But I gradually realized, learned and experienced that God hears my prayers, intervenes and truly provides for me and my family. And not only that, He also provides for the needs of our small group that has come into being and meets regularly. Come and preach with us.”

Jesus follower

I was gripped by an indescribable, reverent joy when I visited this group for the first time. I was late, so a participant only asked who I was at the end of the service. My friend replied: “What can I say? He is my spiritual father, but he is also my brother and he is also my friend.”

Is it worth investing in God’s kingdom, even if it seems hopeless? God’s Word encourages us to keep going. “Send your bread over the water, and you will find it again after a long time (Koh 11:1).

A story from Reachacross.