Last week I spent three days at the SIM headquarters in Charlotte, NC.  After many months of discussion, Asian Access has formed a strategic partnership with SIM USA.  Several friends have asked, “doesn’t that stand for Sudan Interior Mission?  Isn’t it strange to be partnering with a mission to Africa?”  It used to be called that… now it is simply SIM, with a tagline of “Serving in Missions.”  And I discovered that while it is a mission that began in Africa, “SIM has more than 1,600 active missionaries (from 40 countries) serving in more than 50 countries on five continents and 2 islands in the Indian Ocean.”   (I really love the chance to reconnect with my Zimbabwe roots!)

One highlight of our times of collaboration was a visit to SIM International, where we saw the archives of the mission and heard some of the history.  I loved hearing about the missionary saints who have gone before!  Although Asian Access is their first partnership, SIM has merged with numerous other missions over the years.  But it was first started in 1893 by three men who could not find an established mission to sanction their desire to take the gospel to the country now known as Nigeria.  While in the archives room, we saw twenty-six year old Walter Gowan’s original journal from that first year, written for his mother back in Canada, which was also the last year of his life.

Here are some of the excerpts that caught my attention:

“‘He restoreth my soul.’ Hallelujah!  I know what that means; how often when I have been so cast down and the evening has come in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord has raised up a standard…Written in view of my approaching end which has often lately seemed so near but just now seems almost imminent, and I want to write while I have the power to do it.

…Well, glory to God.  He has enabled me to make a hard fight for the Soudan and although it may seem like a total failure and defeat is it not- we shall have the victory and that right speedily.  I have no regret for undertaking this venture and in this manner my life has not been thrown away…

Don’t mourn for me dearest mother if the suffering was great;  remember it is all over now and think of the glory I am enjoying and rejoice that ‘your boy’ was permitted to have a hand in the redemption of the Soudan…”

Separated from his coworkers, Walter was desperately sick with malaria, captured by an Emir raiding for slaves, and starving.  After being released, he tried to return to the coast, but he died alone in a town called Girku.

Thomas Kent also died during that first year.  Rowland Bingham, still very ill, returned to Canada and took Walter’s mom the few belongings left from her son.  Mrs. Gown said, “Well, Mr. Bingham, I would rather have had Walter go out to the Sudan and die there, all alone, than have him home today, disobeying his Lord.”

Hard words!  But a mom who knows what is ultimately important.  And through her son and two others, a mission that has played a strategic part in reaching Africa, and is now reaching across the world, was born.

I have read and re-read this page, and thought how thankful I am to be “permitted to have a hand in the redemption” of…  Japan.  The crowd of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1) that surround us encourages me so much to press on with the light pressures and perplexities that we experience, knowing that our obedience to Jesus is worth it all.

Just before dinner, a friend sent me an email that said, “Hi Sue, You’ve been on my mind for some reason today so I’ve been praying for you.  Hope you’re ok….”

It made me happy, but I thought –I’m completely fine – having a good day, got a lot accomplished…

Then the email came.  And another one shortly after that.  Both unrelated, but  concerning our move up north in two months.  Both very discouraging and disheartening. One evoked anger; the other fear.   Eric came home from teaching a class, and we were trying to process both things in the kitchen and over a late dinner while having a family movie night. We both came to the same conclusion:  We have to pray!

While trying to enter into the Ponyo movie (it is really delightful!), my mind kept whirling with so many thoughts.  I went back to re-read one of the emails (really not a good idea!)and my eye caught the devotional that had just come into my Inbox from my favorite, Charles Spurgeon.  I knew I had to read it.  The title verse caught my attention.  It is on one of the miracles of Elisha, in which God caused an axehead to rise to the top of the water in response to the faith of this one man.

“The iron did swim.”
2 Kings 6:6

The axe-head seemed hopelessly lost, and as it was borrowed, the honour of the prophetic band was likely to be imperilled, and so the name of their God to be compromised. Contrary to all expectation, the iron was made to mount from the depth of the stream and to swim; for things impossible with man are possible with God…

Beloved reader, what is thy desperate case? What heavy matter hast thou in hand this evening? Bring it hither. The God of the prophets lives, and lives to help his saints. He will not suffer thee to lack any good thing. Believe thou in the Lord of hosts! Approach him pleading the name of Jesus, and the iron shall swim; thou too shalt see the finger of God working marvels for his people. According to thy faith be it unto thee, and yet again the iron shall swim.

My heart is so encouraged again to remember Who I am following.  It is the same God of the prophets, who “lives to help his saints.”  Earlier this week as I set aside some time to focus on praying and fasting about a home in Ishinomaki, I was convicted of my praying to try and convince God of what I thought we needed (a house NOW!).   I realized that I was trying to control God – how absurd!  He does not need my opinion on timing or what our children need.  As it says above – “He will not suffer thee to lack any good thing.”  As I prayed and surrendered again my will to Him, He brought tremendous peace and freedom to trust Him.

This week — tonight! —  I really don’t know what God is doing, but I believe in a God who can make axes to swim; who works contrary to all expectations;  who has over and over again proved himself true.  I can’t wait to see how He answers.

The past few days we have had numerous reminders of the unique and wonderful Providence of God.

Over the past two days we had a chance to get together twice (and then a chance encounter at Costco to boot!) with our friend Dr. Sharon.  She lives here in Kauai. She had been Asian Access staff before I was – for many years I had heard about her and seen her picture but we had never met.

 Here is part of an email that she sent to us today:

Spent time this morning thanking God for you and your family and the incredible way that the Lord has allowed us to partner.  For years, I had been hearing your name from Teri, Alene, Mary Jo, etc.   Always with the same incredulous exclamation, “What???  You don’t know [each other]?”

We spent much of the last night of the year with Eric’s family, amazed at the continued popularity of homemade fire crackers and fire works even since they have become mostly illegal.

We had the privilege of starting 2012 by sharing about God’s work in Japan.  We spoke this morning at West Oahu Christian Church.  I was pretty emotional. We showed the congregation the Healing Hands video made about Ishinomaki – we hadn’t seen it for a long time.   The reality of the situation in Tohoku  hit both of us hard again.  And with the new year starting, our upcoming March move feels pretty imminent.

I shared a verse that  Eric’s mom shared with us last night.  She had read it yesterday morning and felt like the Lord wanted it for us.  It is Deuteronomy 11:12 – “It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.”

This verse is so beautiful;  how good it is to be reminded of God’s continued care for Tohoku, for the people of Ishinomaki, for our family.  That from the beginning of each year through its end, God does not cease to show His love.  What a wonderful reminder for January first.