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Holy, humble and hidden...

 Ahaziah and Athaliah…. Jehoshaphat, Joash, Johaiada and Jehosheba…. Yes, when you read these sometimes unpronounceable names, you'll realise that, just before my departure for Africa, I was still reading some of the amazing adventures retold in the Bible book of 2nd Chronicles. In a dramatic plot, sounding like something from a movie, baby Joash is saved by his uncle and aunt from the murderous rampage of his grandmother, Athaliah, who wants to kill off all her grandchildren so that she herself can become queen.

And so, for six years, young Joash is hidden in the temple, being cared for by a nurse, protected by his relatives, and prepared for his future destiny as ruler of Judah. When I first read this story, more than 25 years ago now, I was struck by how wise that "hiding" strategy was for the future king. Nowadays, too, the enemy will often try to rob us of our destiny and kill off our vision while it is still young and vulnerable. We shouldn't be surprised if God's chosen strategy is to "hide" us for a time, while He is preparing us to accomplish the things He has for us in the future. As I heard a speaker say recently in LDC, when it comes to ministry, we shouldn't be trying to make a name for ourselves, but should be content to be holy, humble and hidden. Often God's times of preparation in our lives are precisely for that reason: to make us holy and keep us humble, so that we are more ready to fulfil the plans and dreams He has for us.

Guard what you've been given…. and stay close to the King...

After several years have gone by, and God knows that the timing is right (2 Chronicles chapter 23), a minutely detailed plan of action is put into place so that Joash can be crowned as King. Each priest and each soldier know exactly where he should be and what was expected of him. A phrase that stood out to me in verse 6 is that the military men were told to guard what the Lord had assigned to them. In its context, of course, it simply meant that they were to observe and not overstep the Lord's command (they were not to enter the Temple, as the priests and Levites did.) But the phrase struck me as being a good way to describe our own responsibility to guard what the Lord has entrusted to us.

• What are the values that we are to guard with diligence?
• What are the tasks or visions that we are to hold on to, and not give up on?
• And what are the boundaries we are not to overstep; the good ideas we shouldn't actually be doing, and the places we are not supposed to go?

And then, in verse 7, we find another phrase that is a key to success: the men were told to, "Stay close to the king wherever he goes." Of course, in context, it meant that they were to stay close to little Joash to protect him because he was vulnerable. In our case, the opposite is true: we need to stay close to Jesus because we are human and vulnerable; we need the security of His presence and His guidance as we seek to live out our destiny and follow His will for our life.

Where in the world am I?

Yes, for the next two weeks I'll be in Senegal, West Africa. Internet access may be limited but, whenever I can, I'll post updates on my Africa blog: click here

Soon on the move...

Journals for outreach...

Writing, printing and assembling 100 booklets (in three different languages) brings a great sense of achievement when the task is finally completed. Just when I thought my job was already done (writing devotional booklets in English and French for the team members of our Planting Together outreaches) I got news last weekend that two new people had joined our Spanish team - and that, not speaking English or French fluently, these two young women would need the outreach journals available in Spanish. A friend was able to help me with the translation, and I managed to complete the Spanish journals today. The booklets have been printed now, and I spent the early part of this evening stapling them together.

These "quiet time journals" give team members three weeks' worth of devotional material, to help them spend personal time with God every day, and grow in their relationship with Him while they are serving practically in West Africa.

Now that the booklets are finished, I can turn my attention to preparing the teachings that I'll be giving during the orientation camp in Thies, Senegal. Thanks for your prayers during this week of preparation. I leave for Senegal one week from today.

Senegal, yes! Sunshine, no!

It's that time of year again. Following the success of last year's "Planting Together" outreaches in West Africa, teams will soon be heading to Senegal again for this year's initiative.

An accident earlier this year dealt a blow to my own plans for returning to West Africa this summer. Battling a bout of pneumonia in March, I was inhaling to clear my sinuses when a lump of vapour rub "exploded," showering my face with hot vaseline and boiling water… and leaving me with third degree burns down one side of my face. Four months later, the injury seems to be healing well, but doctors have told me that it will take a while for all the layers of skin to grow back, and that the new skin has no melanin in the meantime.  This means that, if my cheek is exposed to sunshine, it will turn brown and stay that way. I've been told to keep my face out of the sun this year - at least until Christmas time. That might be easy to do if you live in the winter half of the world, but it's not so easy if you live in Spain and are planning a trip to Africa. It looked for a while as if I might need to cancel my involvement in "Planting Together" this year.

However, to cut a long story short, I've been able to buy (all the way from China) a rather interesting hat that covers the burned part of my face. I have to confess that it makes me look rather like an extra territorial, or a character from a Star Wars movie, but at least it allows me to spend a little while outdoors when the weather is sunny. 

In the end, I've decided to go to Senegal for just two weeks this year, instead of for the whole month that was originally planned. I'll fly down to Dakar on  29th July, work for ten days on the final preparations for the camp, be there to welcome the outreach teams in the second week of August, be part of the "Gather and Go" orientation camp, and then return to Spain in mid-August.  The difficulty of protecting my face from the sun while out planting trees, and the fact that my strange and ostentatious  headgear would make it challenging for me to have meaningful conversations with African villagers made me decide that it probably wasn't practical for me to stay in Senegal for the planting and outreach weeks of the project. It's disappointing, but it seemed like the wisest decision under the circumstances.

I'm nonetheless thankful that I can fly down to West Africa in just twelve days' time, and be there at least for part of the "Planting Together" adventure. This year we have outreach teams coming from Spain, England and Hong Kong, as well as from Mali and Senegal. There are slightly fewer foreigners this year, and so the percentage of Africans will be even higher than it was last year. Thank you for standing with us in prayer, as the countdown begins and all these young people - African, European, South American and Asian - prepare to serve God and to serve the African continent together.