Special Guest Speaker: Wanda Martin “The PATH of Blessing”

February 23, 2010

LOOKING BACK

Dear Companions,

All of us bemoan the speed with which time passes and the insufficiency of hours in the week. Perhaps my memory is following the progress of years and becoming selective but somehow the pace of life here always seemed to be slower. That has always been one of the attractions of life in the Zimbabwean bush. We can’t see that any more. Is it due to a different position with greater responsibilities? Is it a natural consequence of trying to accomplish progress in a failed nation where absolutely nothing happens easily or as planned? Is it the expected opposition from evil forces that do not want spiritual development to take place? Is our physical stamina diminishing with the accumulation of years? Is it some combination of all of the above? I am teaching an Introduction to Bible course this term. One of the arguments I appreciate which supports the conclusion for divine inspiration is the fact that Biblical content does not reflect what a human author would write. The best example is that in the Psalms David wrote honestly about the highs and lows that seem to be an inviolate part of life. A typical “holy book” would tend to glamorize only the positive. In these communications we make a deliberate effort to be balanced in the tone of what we write. I hope that we have your understanding when we write with honesty about how things go.

The past two weeks have seen some miraculous answers to prayer. I don’t use the adjective “miraculous” lightly. Two weeks ago one of the lecturers here at EBI received a message that two of his nephews were working in an abandoned gold mine (along with some other young men) and a horizontal shaft had collapsed trapping them underground. Various professional miners and authorities came and only wanted to close the opening so that no one else could be injured (life is very cheap here). The colleagues of those trapped underground threatened them (the police) with violence if they attempted to seal the mine. The other scavenging miners (desperate people will do desperate things) stated that they would attempt a rescue on their own and that if they were killed in further collapses no one else would be responsible. Three days had already passed and it was presumed that the six young men were dead. I shared the story with the students in my class and we prayed that these men would be rescued and that the rescuers would be kept safe. Rescue efforts proceeded around the clock with the only resources being the determination of young men who refused to accept that their friends were dead. The local community responded by providing food, water, light on the surface, and a Red Cross vehicle on stand-by. No one could determine how much of the shaft had collapsed. After digging for another three days through approximately 50 meters of broken rock a voice was heard. Two of the six men had been killed in the initial collapse. The remaining four were further away and had a small space between the end of the collapsed shaft and the face of the rock. They burned their clothing to provide light to attempt to dig their own way out. They drank their own urine to try to obtain fluid. The survivors actually climbed up the vertical shaft without assistance and were hospitalized for observation. They had been buried for a full week. By the way, the mine totally collapsed less than five minutes after everyone was back on the surface. Draw your own conclusions.

This week was another of our monthly treks to South Africa “hunting and foraging” for items that are unavailable or cost prohibitive here in Zimbabwe. Some Zimbabweans (those without passports that have never made the trip) perceive that the trip is a pleasant, relaxed break from the difficulties of life in Zim. Nothing could be further from the truth. Usually the trip is compressed into three days. It takes one day to get there, one day to get back, and the middle day is the only time to frantically prioritize needed items according to limited finance, space, and export/import regulations. Tuesday morning one of our students who took a leave from the church he is pastoring to study here at EBI came to pray with us prior to our departure. He fervently prayed that our trip would be safe and successful. The first and second days went reasonably well. The return journey was fraught with incompetence, ignorance and corruption. At 2:00 pm I despaired of ever getting through the Zimbabwean border. But in less than one hour we were on the other side of the barricade and on our way to Mtshabezi. I still don’t understand what happened. One minute we were making absolutely no progress and then within fifteen minutes had the last clearance we needed. Thank you God.

Now back to the “real world.” The EBI vehicle is “down” because of the hole our wonderful roads (unbelievable corrugations) caused in the radiator. One of my student’s from 35 years ago passed away overnight as the result of a probable cardiac event. A three weeks supply of meat for the dining hall spoiled due to the inaction of one of our staff. Our personal van received a hole in the oil pan (again our wonderful roads; not my reckless driving) and so now two vehicles are down. We left our satellite phone for “safe keeping” with a neighbor since no one would be at the house. Unfortunately, one of his children got it out of the case, turned it on, and somehow managed to lock the keyboard. So we are incommunicado until I get an email off to the US from Bulawayo about how to unlock the keyboard. In order to ascertain how badly meat was spoiled I spent lunch time at the dining hall and just observed. Overall, it was pretty depressing. Too few plates, signs of several rats, a cracked concrete floor, non-functioning electric water heater, a cooking pot that hasn’t been serviced in years, embarrassing paint, clogged drainage system, etc. Earlier this year Steve Westberry (Priority One) and I had proposed a possible work team in May. I think we could keep everyone busy. But then as I was feeling overwhelmed I turned to some of my closest friends (books: I know that’s weird). Browsing through the resources that are being added to the new library I came across one by Jill Briscoe entitled “Running on Empty: Refilling Your Spirit at the Low Points of Life.” The chapter on Habakkuk was especially helpful. “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

Jake and Nancy Shenk will be out here this next week for Jake to teach a one week module for the students on BIC Polity (Structure and Organization). It will be our first attempt at such an approach. Please be praying for Jake and our students. Again thank you all for your faithful support and encouragement.

Make it count,
Steve and Chris Newcomer

We serve under the auspices of Brethren in Christ World Missions. Contributions towards our ministry may be sent to Brethren in Christ world Missions, PO Box 390, Grantham PA 17027-0390 or in Canada, 2700 Bristol Circle, Oakville, ON L6H 6E1.

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]]> http://www.gatewaychurchchino.org/2009/09/30/treasure-box/feed/ 0 http://www.gatewaychurchchino.org/2009/03/14/the-power-of-hope/ http://www.gatewaychurchchino.org/2009/03/14/the-power-of-hope/#comments Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:17:26 +0000 Lynn Thrush http://www.vertiscape.com/gateway2/?p=148 I was teaching in the University classroom using N.T. Wright’s book, Simply Christian.  I asked the students to write on what one of his statements might mean for their lives: “The Spirit is given to begin the work of making God’s future real in the present.”  One young woman wrote in response: “For me, I always assumed that there wasn’t much I could do to help improve life on this earth, and that I should await the kingdom he has planned.  But, in understanding Wright’s powerful statement I am filled with utter encouragement.”  Wow!  We’re on the right track when the good news of God motivates an eighteen-year-old to that kind of hope.