How I spent my summer vacation 😉
Psalm 115:1 Not to us, O Lord, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
Early for church, imagine that. I looked at the power point and watched a request for housing fade to something else. I nudged my wife the next time it came around, “do you see that?”
“Umm humm” which is yes when she says it.
“Look like something we’re supposed to do?” I asked, thinking already that it was.
“Probably” which is also yes when she says it. “We’ll go find Patrice after the service”.
During the service Patrice was called up front to pray for someone to house two couples during an upcoming outreach event. It is exciting to see a prayer answered even before it is prayed! I could hardly sit still through the service.
Later that week we picked up Jackson and Anneke and began a weekend of ministry, prayer and sharing along with a great measure of laughter.
One hundred sixty four of a crowd of two hundred sixty four came forward to receive Jesus at the outreach event. When I looked around the arena after everyone went forward I knew almost everyone left—all believers already! I’ve never seen anything like it. In the ten days the group spent touring our region 800 souls came to Christ. EIGHT HUNDRED! God is good.
The impact of that weekend was a little more personal also. My wife was delivered from a life long obsession with candy. This may seem funny to some but a culturally acceptable addiction is still bondage.
I was given something also; a heart for Africa. “There is a never ending parade of people who need Jesus right here in my own back yard”, I thought, “Why would I have to go to Africa to find more?” Africa matters to God. He has instructed my heart, healed my heart, taken my heart of stone and given me a heart of flesh and made it necessary for me to care about the people of Africa. I have a brother from there, Jackson, a “bushman” like me.
My wife spent the day fighting tears and losing the battle when they left, (I’m not telling) but the idea of a return visit was discussed. When their plans for a week of rest before returning to Kona were literally flooded out, they called us, and we have been privileged to have them with us all of this week.
It has taken most of this week for some idea of the enormity of Gods plan in Calabar to sink in. Give a man a fish and he is fed for a day, teach him to fish and he is fed for a lifetime, give him THE Fish and he is fed for eternity. This “University” will train generations of Christian tradesmen to steward the abundant resources of Africa to create wealth with which to feed people and save lives, spread the Gospel and bring Glory to God. And I get to know two people intimately involved in making it real! I even get to participate from all the way over here on the other side of the world by helping figure out how to harness the sun, wind and river current to provide electricity for this university/village/hospital/farm/ clean water supply and beacon of hope. And also to think and pray about the changes that this technology brings and the impact it has on family and culture.
My wife and I also get to support Jackson and Anneke and their coming child in the things that they are gifted for that we are not. It is an answer to my prayer, a desire to give more to something that would be effective in making disciples that was above and beyond our tithe. It is our hope some day to stand in heaven with a small crowd of people involved in fulfilling this vision, with an enormous crowd of those impacted by it while we all praise God for what He has done. Hope to see you there!
I returned them to Fargo for their flight to Kona yesterday. So many things to pray about! No tears this time, joy for what God is doing! Joy also for the many people personally
ministered to by Jackson and Anneke, many precious prayers and intercessions for me and my family, and many of my friends. God spoke so powerfully through Jackson at church on Sundaythat the Pastor never delivered his sermon. (No sermon; that never happens.) Two people were saved, many were blessed! Some “vacation”.
I am writing this because God has shown me the enormity and importance of what He is doing, and that Jackson and Anneke are vital to it. It is my desire to exhort you all to prayer for this effort, and if God so leads, financial support, for by it many will become sons and daughters of the Most High.
One turtle said to another, “Sometimes I’d like to ask God why there is poverty, famine and injustice when He could do something about it.” The other turtle said, “I’m afraid He might ask me the same thing.”
Mark Bonasera, 6/27/2011
Psalm 115:1 Not to us, O Lord, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
