3 Steps Forward, 2 Steps Back

Our African friends are accustomed to disappointment.  Life's journey is full of potholes and ditches for them.  Every advance forward is met with countless setbacks.  It makes their faith resilient and strong.  They have Hebrew 11 faith ... the kind that does not get defeated when God's promises seem elusive.  

All these were still living by faith when they died.  They did not eceive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance.  And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

Hebrews 11:13

This week it was Navice who again strengthened my faith.  I wrote to Navice to let him know that Dave and Zack would not be joining him in Serenje in August as we had planned - a last minute change of plans.  In fact, we are really not sure when we will be able to get some help over there to build the Hope Center's first facilities. 

I worried that Navice would be discouraged.  I worried that he would question the strength of our resolve to bring help to them.  I guess I wondered if he would have the same lapse of faith I was experiencing.  Here is the response I received from Navice...

I am equally aware of the Devil's attacks on God's work but also strengthened that he is a defeated enemy.  Let us continue praying.

Clearly I am in the seat of learning under men like Navice.  And I am eager to be taught more and more.

Please pray as we seek wisdom and direction from God as to who should go and when.  I am comforted by the words God gave to the discouraged people of God who saw the completion of the second temple as daunting and discouraging.  Through Haggai and Zechariah God let His people know, "I am with you!"  And that's enough for me!