The War is Won But the Battle Rages On

Although I have complete assurance that God is going to accomplish this work of translating the Bible and that nothing can stand against Him, it doesn’t stop the enemy from fighting us. Even though our enemy knows that he is defeated he is determined to take as many of us down with him as he can and prevent us from reaching people with the gospel.

Never has this been more real to me than with this first translation workshop. Starting the week before the workshop began, events escalating causing us to wonder what was going on. From personal financial difficulties to serious illnesses to major issues at the office the problems have not stopped. Issues continue to arise each week and sometimes I wonder if we will make it through the third week. The participants are also affected and sometimes have to miss sessions to attend funerals or take care of personal matters.

This battle was vividly demonstrated one morning when we were distracted from the lesson by a group of people attempting to cast a demon out of somebody next door. Over the screams of that person the participants tried to focus on how to translate Biblical key terms. We did take a moment to stop and pray for those people as well. But it was a very real reminder to me that Satan is doing everything he can to hinder us.

And I must admit that his strategy is effective. If he can wear us down with issues at home and frustration with things not working very well at the office, we lose our effectiveness quickly and are tempted to give up. If one of the key leaders of this workshop can't focus because of problems he has to deal with back at the office and because his child is sick, the work suffers. If participants miss too many sessions, they are not able to translate well. Little by little we are worn down, distracted and discouraged.

Thankfully, God does not leave us in this place but He brings people to join with us in one of the best ways possible, praying. Christians in all different parts of the world are praying and God is working. He is giving us the strength to go on when we have none and He holds everything together when we're sure it will fall apart and collapse completely. God answers prayer in so many ways and it demonstrates what the body of Christ can do when we come together, united by the power of Christ.

Perspective

I had a good dose of perspective this last weekend and I think God likes to give those to me occasionally. I spent Saturday and Sunday out at a village about two hours from Musoma. Hazel and I drove out with one of our Tanzanian friends we met at the Bible school named Sara. Sara brought one of her good friends along as well and both girls are loads of fun. The village is where Sara was born and grew up and where her parents and family still live.

When we drove into their yard we were greeted warmly by Sara's parents and sisters. Her mother couldn't stop telling us how thrilled she was to have visitors and of course how great it was to have Sara home again. We were welcomed warmly the entire time and treated as honored guests. It was fun to see pictures of Sara when she was little and get to know her family a little bit.

However throughout the whole time we were there I couldn't help but compare how this family lived to the way I lived. I thought back to how I complained that our floor is dirty all the time from the dust blowing in and looked at the dirt floor that the girls painstakingly swept and cleaned. I thought about my annoyance when our water stops for a while and knew that this family had to go far to get their water. I thought about how my hard mattress bothered me sometimes and knew that if any of those girls in that house had the luxury of their own room and nice big mattress they would be thrilled.

I have seen poverty before and I have stayed in a Tanzanian village before. Yet somehow this house and this family struck a chord within me and I felt the disparity between our lives. It brought my life sharply into perspective and suddenly I couldn't remember the Canadian luxuries that I sometimes miss so much but saw only the enormous blessings that I do have living in Musoma.

I wish that no one had to live the hard life this family does and yet there is a happy ending still to come. For on Sunday morning we all went to the same church to worship God and when you are standing before the Almighty God who loves each one of us equally, the disparity melts away and we are all sisters and brothers together. I watched Sara's mother dancing and praising God and knew that her happy ending has nothing to do with the physical things around her but with a God who gives her what she truly needs.

Does God want me to preach?

Whenever I say the words "should women preach in the church" people cringe, not wanting to discuss what is a sensitive issue for many people. Don't worry, this is not going to be a theological argument for women preaching in church. I've already been there and done that, concluding that this is a difficult issue and there is no clear solution that will satisfy everyone.

However, now that I am living in Tanzania, I face a unique dilemma in regards to this issue that never occurred in Canada. I have been asked to preach in a church Sunday morning on more than one occasion. The first time I was asked, I politely turned down the request as it was late Saturday night and I had no time to prepare. As well I felt that my Swahili was simply not up the task. Then about two weeks ago, a respected pastor who has a real heart for seeing the Bible translated into his language, asked me if I would preach in his church on Sunday, October 5. That gave me lots of time to prepare and my confidence in speaking Swahili had grown (even if my actual skills haven't improved). I looked at this face of this friend and knew I could not turn him down so I told him I would preach.

Looking back on that moment of decision I can see lots of reasons why I said yes. After getting some experience in teaching, I remembered how much I loved it and wanted the challenge of preaching God's word as well. I knew that preaching would be a great way to continue to improve my Swahili and also to continue to build my relationship with this pastor and the people at his church. I have only attended that church once before but enjoyed it.

However now as I am preparing my sermon and the nerves are starting to hit, I have begun second guessing my decision. Am I qualified to stand up in front of those people and preach God's word to them? What if I teach them them something wrong or what if my Swahili fails me while I am up there? I guess the real question is, does God really want me to preach this Sunday?

As I ponder that question I look back on how God has led me to this point. He spent many years preparing me in Canada, from my years at Bible school where I learned to teach and preach to last few years where I had practical experience teaching. During that time He gave me a passion to teach his word and to see it change people's lives. While I have been in Tanzania, He has continued that process and during this last month in particular has given me opportunities to teach and to preach in chapel. God has given me the skills to preach, the desire and the opportunity. I didn't ask for it but here it is and so I must conclude that this is where God is leading me. Therefore the answer to my question is yes, He does want me to preach this Sunday.

So I will put aside my doubts and fears and walk forward in confidence that God has everything under control and He will enable me to do what He has called me to do.