The devotional times at the Bundescamp in the mornings, built up to that moment of asking us whether we were ready to accept the challenge of being sent and used by God. You might wonder why this was so significant to me as Dries and I have been in the mission field for years. It has never been straightforward nor easy, but we were never uncertain of the fact that we were called to Madagascar. The last two years were so challenging; the probable closure of the school on Nosy Be and the constant shortage of funds to keep going. The long time apart did add to our asking the Lord whether our time in Nosy Be is coming to an end. When the solution to keep going with the school came in the form of starting with less than we had the first time, I could not get my head around the fact that we will have to once again ‘start from scratch’.
I coped well with the camping environment. Sleeping on the ground, not many opportunities for showering, the lack of privacy and having to concentrate so much on understanding what was said all the time. My blistered feet really bothered me and I also woke up every morning with eyes almost swollen shut for no reason which I could comprehend. All of this added to the ‘mise-en-scène’ of wondering why I was there and what will come of it.
We met together as many outposts in the morning and I was taken aback for a moment when the leader who was going to lead the devotions, showed up in the red robe of a Catholic cardinal. It fit in with the whole theme around Marco Polo and that first Monday focused on what it meant to be truly free. Oppurtunity was given for Rangers to be sure what it means to be born again. The next days dealt with God making us whole and complete in Him, purified us and filled us with the Holy Spirit and provided us with a spiritual armour.
And then the question: “Are you ready to go wherever Jesus sends you to share the Gospel?”
Simple really, but profound in the sense that I knew that God was reminding me afresh that this was after all what it was all about. Pivotal point for me. A ‘start from scratch’ moment so to speak as I had to dedicate myself once again to God’s calling in Madagascar.
Isaiah 6:8
“Here am I! Send me!”
It is comforting to know that we are not alone. I found these two images from the camp conveying a spiritual message…
There are many things that try to keep us from moving forward in what God has called us to do eg disappointment, discouragement and our own lack of faith. But when we are rooted in Christ and in the Word and hold on to God’s promises, we are able to stand. With the prayer, support and encouragement of our supporters, we are able to move forward.