My husband that is. On Tuesday morning the kidlets & I drove a very excited Joel to the airport for a nearly 3-week long mission trip to Sudan, Africa. The trip came on very suddenly, as we didn't think we would be able to afford the $3,500 it would cost him to go. He signed on to go back in September, but come February it was looking like we wouldn't be able to swing it. In comes God.
Joel went with a group called Far Reaching Ministries, and basically they told him to come anyway, they would cover it and basically have faith that God would provide the money. With his tickets purchased, he started telling others of his upcoming trip and God did provide. Friends donated money here and there and as of Monday we had raise $2,000 of the total. We know that God is going to provide the rest.
So, what is Joel doing in Africa? He is teaching the book of Jeremiah to a group of chaplains who will, in a year's time, go out as missionaries to their own people. These chaplains come to the compound to study the Bible for a year as the ministry brings in teachers to teach them 2 books of the Bible every 2 weeks. Joel is one of those teachers.
Joel is not alone. He flew out on Tuesday with his friend Jake Huling, who is teaching the book of Lamentations. It's an exciting trip for Jake as it is his first trip out of the US. What a way to get your feet wet! Joel is very experienced in world travel with his frequent trips to Europe when we lived in California, but this is his first trip to Africa.
When Joel left on Tuesday we thought we wouldn't be able to communicate with each other until he returned home on April 18. The compound has no electricity except for a generator they run 3 hours in the evening to recharge the refrigerator. Well, amazingly enough, Joel can send out text messages from the African bush! So each morning (evening for him as he is 10 hours ahead of Pacific time) he texts me some of what he has done that day. This morning he sent me this picture of him & Michael, the director of the compound. And of course the picture would not be complete without a cup of coffee in his hand. As it is Saturday, he did not teach today. Instead they went to a hospital where they prayed over the sick. He said it was incredible. I must say it is a relief to get to hear from him each day & to know that he is all right. I know that God has his hand on Joel & Jake. It is so evident even in just the way the trip came together.
I look at this picture and I'm so proud of my husband. He told me that when he was in high school he remembers the pastor saying, "Just because you become a Christian does not mean that God will send you as a missionary to Africa." He said he thought, "But what if I want to be a missionary to Africa?" I miss him so much, but my heart is thankful for a husband who will follow God's leading in faith and obedience.
Please pray for him and our family through these next few weeks. Joel & Jake will be home April 18.