“..He works all things according to the counsel of His will..” Ephesians 1:11Well.. it's been a while. We haven't yet shared that Guinea Bissau is going through a rough time. Some of you follow the news and may know, but here are a few of the recent updates (from someone we work with in Guinea Bissau) over the past month:
April 12th: "THERE IS POLITICAL TROUBLE RIGH NOW IN GUINE,GUN SHOTS DOWNTOWN AND THE PRIME MINISTER APPEARS TO BE MISSING WE ARE TOLD TO REMAIN IN HOUSE AND NOT TO VENTURE OUT, WE ARE ALL FINE, ORPHANS AND MISSIONARIES OK,PRAY FOR GUINE ...PHONE LINES ARE NOT WORKING WELL"
**Prime Minister and President captured by military**
April 14th: "THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MILITARY ARMED FORCES ARE PRESENTLY IN A MEETING TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT DIRECTION THE NATION WILL FOLLOW. THE COUP IS BEING DENOUNCED WORLDWIDE. THE NATIONS ARE REQUESTING THAT THE PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER WILL BE RESTORED TO THEIR POLITICAL POSITIONS, NO ANSWER HAS BEEN GIVEN BY THE MILITARIES. WE ALL WAIT TO SEE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, PRAYING AND TRUSTING FOR A SMOOTH TRANSITION, BUT WE KNOW THAT WILL BE A MIRACLE, AND WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES, DON'T STOP PRAYING"
April 15th: "Bissau shuts down private radio stations. The Military Command on Thursday that seized power in Guinea-Bissau have returned today to close down private radio stations"
April 23rd: "Guinea-Bissau's military junta says it would not accept the presence of U.N. peacekeeping troops in the country, rejecting a proposal from the ousted ruling party. A spokesman for the junta, Daba Na Walna, told reporters Friday that Guinea-Bissau does not need peacekeepers because the country is not at war. He said any foreign troops sent to the country would be considered an invasion force. Thursday, the foreign minister of the ousted government called on the United Nations Security Council to authorize the deployment of peacekeepers. Mamadu Saliu Djalo said the force would stay until civilian rule is re-established, following last week's military coup."
April 24th: "WORKING AT SCHOOL , ALL THE KIDS ARE PRESENT...A PARENT JUST CAME IN, HE IS CONCERNED , HE LIVES NEXT DOOR TO TWO MILITARY FAMILIES, ONE HOUR AGO, THE MILITARY MEN CAME HOME, BROUGHT IN A TRUCK, LOADED ALL OF THE BELONGINS AND TOOK THEIR FAMILIES OUT OF BISSAU. THIS MAY MEAN TROUBLE IS IMMINENT OR LIKE THE REST OF THE CITY THEY ARE JUST MOVING OUT TO THE VILLAGES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE SAFE. (JOINING THE MORE THAN FIFTY PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE OR MORE WHO HAVE LEFT THE CITY ) "OUR HOPE IS IN THE LORD WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH" HE IS TRULY THE ONLY ONE TO LEAN UPON !!!! GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS. PRAY THAT THE MILITARY WILL HAND THE GOVERNEMENT OVER TO THE PEACE KEEPING TROUPS WITHOUT BLOODSHED, IT WOULD BE AWESOME ,IT WOULD BE A MIRACLE !!"
April 27th: "good news , great joy in Bissau, the prime minister and the president have been set free and flown out of the contry for medical help, keep on praying we need a miracle in regards to a peaceful transition, I hope the miracle has started , thanks for your prayers"
May 8th: "WENT DOWNTOWN TODAY, SOME STORES CLOSED , AND THE AREA CALLED THE BANDIN OR MARKET IS QUITE EMPTY, I WAS TOLD AT THE GAS STATION THAT THERE WILL ONLY BE ENOUGH DIESEL FUEL FOR 15 DAYS, AND THAT PERHAPS THE UN NATIONS MAY DONATE DIESEL JUST FOR THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO PUMP IT WATER , THINGS ARE ABOUT THE SAME. JUST WAITING TO SEE WHEN THIS NIGHTMARE WILL END. OUR CHILDREN ARE DOING WELL, NOT ABLE TO UNDERSTAND OR KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING, WE THE ADULTS . SIT WAIT AND PRAY , PRAY FOR A MIRACLE."
May 10th: "UNITED NATIONS WANTS THE GOVERNMENT IN GUINEA BISSAU TO BE HANDED OVER TO THE RIGHTFUL ELECTED OFFICIALS. PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE MILITARY."
We are praying for the people of Guinea Bissau. We are trusting that God is working. In these things, I do have some good news! God is good. =) Here's more good news:
God is faithful.
God is just.
God is righteous.
God is love.
God is kind.
God is everlasting.
God is immutable.
God is Salvation.
God is Healer.
God is Father.
God is sufficient.
God is gracious.
God is awesome.
God is Warrior.
God is Advocate.
God is SOVEREIGN.
Amen? Wow. We serve a great God. And those only vaguely describe Him- the great I AM. God works all things together for our good and His glory.
You see, I've been on this "faith journey" as I call it. A journey of learning that God is sovereign (aka- all things He ordains and happen according to His will) AND, further, that He loves me.
In college I learned and came to believe whole-heartily that God is 100%, fully sovereign- good, bad, pretty, ugly. In the past year, I've began to really believe that He loves me, though He is sovereign. And can I just say that *WOW* what an amazing comfort it is knowing these two specific truths and learning, daily, how they work together? It is a HUGE comfort.
We have peace with the situation in Guinea Bissau. Will our children come from there? I don't know, but God does. When will they come? I don't know, but God does. Will they be sick? I don't know, but God does. Will they have a terrible, horrific past? I don't know, but God does. Will they be little? Big? Girls? Boys? I don't know, but God does. He knows. He wrote it. He allowed it. And, He is so, so good.
I really believe this in the depths of my heart.
I am human and I have plenty of moments where my mind wanders to the questions above. But what overshadows is this overwhelming peace that "God is not walking the floors of Heaven worried about these things." (Thanks, friend- you know who you are.) He has them taken care of, already. PRESSURE IS OFF of me. Whew! It sure feels good. It feels good to know that I don't have to figure out all the answers. I get to rest in the arms of a sovereign God who will open and close doors. He will direct me and speak to me about when and how. He will lead me. He won't let me "miss" anything. Kimberly: STOP TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT. Rest.
Also, I've come to understand that the stronger my faith gets, the more I surrender. The deeper I'll go. Am I scared to go to Guinea Bissau? Scared that this kind of thing will happen while I'm there? No. If it does- God has a plan. He's got this. He's got me. He's got Nathan. He's got Caitlyn. He's got our other kiddos. FOR HIS GLORY and OUR GOOD. Whatever happens, we are blessed.
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." -Jim Elliot
Praise Him! Praising God for His work in my heart. This was not me even 1 year ago. Praying my faith continues to grow. That I will go deeper and deeper and deeper. That I will love God more than my life, my family, my stuff, my dreams..
When faith is deep, when God is cherished above all, things like this happen:
http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-story-of-ian-larissa
It is worth 9 minutes of your time.
To Him who is able to do more than we ask or imagine, be the glory forever!
Thanks for reading- and thanks for praying!!
Kimberly
