Challenged by a Friend’s Example

We praise God for the privilege of working shoulder to shoulder with God’s people around the globe. This includes you who track with us in prayer and give sacrificially so that we can serve here. Thank you!

Another special privilege is to serve with nationals…and to learn from their godly example. One such friend is Beth, a Scripture Union Uganda worker (missionary to South Sudan and Ethiopia). Due to several reasons, she spent three nights with us this week plus lots of interaction…and prayer. (We lost count of the cups of hot tea we served...and the times of hilarious laughter over some of her stories and comments!) Almost always when we are with her, a fair chunk of time is given to prayer…she has challenged us with her urgency to lift each problem/challenge/question/need to God (King of Glory) in prayer, with much thanksgiving for His goodness to us in so many ways. Her attitude about difficulties has also been challenging. Her area of town has been without electricity and water for almost a week now. But when we seek to sympathize (while filling up her Gerry cans with water, providing her with drinking water, and charging her phone and computer), she reminds us that this is nothing compared to the suffering that people are experiencing in South Sudan right now. And her generosity truly humbles us. Quite spontaneously she shares (without any boasting) needy situations that she’s met and how she tries to find a way to do something to help.

Her zeal to see children come to Christ and be discipled is also admirable. She was asked to handle the Children’s Story at the church this past Sunday and chose to use the CrossTalk tract. After explaining it to the children she then encouraged those who know Jesus to use the CrossTalk to share the message with their friends. What a joy for me (Laura) to help behind the scenes and then to share the tract again with some children who had missed the presentation.

But perhaps the most challenging aspect of her wonderful example to us has happened this week as she’s allowed us to wrestle with her in prayer about her going for ministry into troubled South Sudan. “They need encouragement and moral support.” After much prayer and communication she has decided to go leaving here Thursday morning. A youth conference awaits her, several Christian workers, hundreds of Bibles that she hopes to see distributed and plans to use the CrossTalk tract. As you "hold the ropes of prayer for us," now we together do the same for our friend as she ventures forth with God’s Word (and His presence and promises) to a people so in need of encouragement and hope. Please thank God with us for Beth and pray with us as she follows God’s direction, despite the risks.