A man was praying to God and the man distinctly heard God tell him to go and push against a massive rock. Being obedient, the man went out a pushed against the rock. The rock was huge and the man's pushing seem to have no impact on the rock.
Day after day the man pushed and he could not move the rock. He tried every technique he knew of to try and move the rock but each attempt was unsuccessful. With each passing day the man became more frustrated with his inability to move the rock. After weeks of trying, he finally went back to God in prayer. He said, "Lord, you asked me to move the rock and you know that I have tried with all of my might, but I just cannot move this rock."
God replied to the man: "I only asked you to push against the rock. I never asked you to move the rock. If I wanted the rock moved, I can move it. Look at yourself, after weeks of pushing you have developed yourself both physically and mentality. I asked you to push against the rock for your benefit, not the rock's."Well, just like the man in this simple story, we have been pushing against a rock for the seven days that we have been drilling for water in the village of Bodza. We completed our day's work with minimal progress. We were able to bring up some rocks, but more rocks - some larger - still remain. So, at this point, there is no water and no well at the feeding center.
It would be very easy for us to feel like failures, but if we did that, we would be selling God short. The director of the feeding center, Jordan Dowbush, told the team today: "You have laid the groundwork for our ministry to expand its reach and influence in this village. The borehole that you started will eventually allow us to grow more vegetables, feed more children, and have more opportunity to share the love of Christ with them. More importantly, the work that your team has done here has allowed God the opportunity to do a work in each of you as you have gone through this experience."
We do not know what the end result of our efforts will be in Bodza. But as each of us examines what we have experienced during these past two weeks, we know that we have been changed. Our faith has been challenged and strengthened. We have been made more aware of how dependent we should be to God in every aspect of our lives. We have loved children unconditionally; children who long to be loved and cared for. We have supported and encouraged the missionaries that Crossings partners with here in Malawi. We have given the braintrust at Water4 more problems to solve as they expand their arsenal of drilling tools to use around the world.
All in all, it has been a rewarding trip for everybody involved with this trip. God has honored our obedience and faithfulness. God has heard the prayers of his saints around the world who interceded on behalf of our trip. Lives have been changed, relationships have been deepened and the Holy Spirit continues to move and work in the lives of those who listen to his promptings.
Soli Deo gloria,
Michael
Author's note:
Tomorrow (Saturday) morning, at about 5:00am Oklahoma time, we will begin our 36 hour journey home. Please pray for us as we travel. After we return to the U.S. I will post one final blog about the lessons that we have learned in Malawi.
2 comments:
So proud of each and every one of you ... for the seed you've planted and the encouragement you've been to all of us! What determination!!!
Love the story, and looks like that is what happened. God's ways are higher than ours always, and what He describes as success is somewhat different than we see at times. You have loved a community and that show of love will have rippling effects that you will never know until heaven.
Soli Deo Gloria
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