Miles In Missions

All week long we had talked and planned our 2^nd camping trip to Prayer Rock. The kids were so excited and so was I. Getting off the 30-acre compound and out of the routine of life here is always a joy. Upon arriving to the campsite we immediately saw the herd of Fulani cows at the bottom of the mountain. Lenny, the kids, and our visitors went to go ahead and trekked up the hill. Lenny and I decided letting our two dogs out was not going to be wise. I returned back to the compound to take the dogs home and on my way back I saw 3 more Fulani men heading for prayer rock on a motorcycle. It was dusk so I immediately knew they were heading to camp for the night.

When I returned, minus the dogs, sure enough, all the Fulani men had posted up camp at the bottom of the rock. I knew that the situation was not the best and needed to consult locals to see what their thoughts were on us camping with the Fulani so close. One phone call was all I needed as a friend asked us to leave immediately. We packed up everything we had put together, tents, coolers, chairs etc etc. Once home I called my friend back to question his advice. He advised me we had no interpreter and Fulani don’t understand English. He said that it would only take one misunderstanding between the two camps due to the language barrier and violence could break out. He also advised that even the calm Fulani are known for their thievery and it wasn’t wise to sleep through the night with such a temptation for them only steps away.

We were all so disappointed. Just another time we try at planning something fun for our family to be together and it doesn’t work out. I tried to make the best of it for the kids and we made s’mores in the oven and I promised pancakes in the morning. The s’mores were wonderful but the morning revealed we had no flour for pancakes and of course there is no grocery store or Bisquick available, HAHA!

As the morning went on it was time for church and we realized our DVD collection of sermons were finished. We had watched them all. Internet was 5 bars and 3G so we thanked God and started streaming a sermon. It lasted only about 10 minutes and then the buffering stopped. Everyone knows what that means. Stop and go, stop and go of the worship music and sermon. “God really! We just want to worship you! Why are you making this so difficult? We wanted a little family time last night and a little time with you this morning. Is that too much to ask? Can we please get a break?”

There is so many times like today that I just want to close up shop and stop trying. I just want to eat a bowl of sugar, go to bed, and loose myself in a book for hours. I am so spoiled rotten. Just because I didn’t get to go camping and the Internet didn’t work I am depressed and frustrated. I live in Africa and am surrounded by people with no food, no clothes, no education, poor health and a faith that is only skin deep. What am I complaining about? I am so selfish! It was then I realized that I have let Satan trick me again. Trick me into not seeing his handy work pushing at my buttons. Pushing at exhaustion, boredom and a sense that I deserve everything b/c I am serving the Lord in Africa. He so easily swindles his way in through my circumstances and tries to get me down. Does he do that to you? Does he know your buttons and push them? I read somewhere that we should be proud to know that Satan tries to push our buttons because he doesn’t care about anyone unless they are important to God…unless they are a threat to him. I don’t know how I feel about that? I do know that I am grateful today for recognizing the true culprit in the last 48hrs of my life. I am capturing my thoughts and throwing them out. Satan will not win this battle today!  Don’t let him win one over on you either!