MOVING DAY

Though I walk in the midst of distress, You will revive me;

You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

and Your right hand will save me.

Psalm 138:7

When we returned to Africa in 1988, the rebel activity in Chad had settled down. After finding a house in Moundou, we went to the Central African Republic—where we had worked during our first term—to gather our stored household items. We asked local gendarmes (federal police) to watch as we loaded the large mission truck, but they refused, stating they were not customs agents.

We had everything packed by Thursday evening and started out late Friday morning. By then, the gendarmes had already begun celebrating the weekend and were drunk. They stopped us in front of their station, demanding we unload everything for inspection. To demonstrate their seriousness, armed men pointed automatic rifles at us from every window. They laughed as we began unloading. Thankfully, well before we finished, they tired of their amusement. We reloaded our stuff as best as we could and resumed our trip.

We dreadfully anticipated what would happen at the border. However, a local tribal pastor had asked us for a ride. When we arrived at the customs office, the official in charge came out and hugged him.  It just “so happened” that this pastor had led that very official to the Lord years earlier. Instead of the hostility we expected, we were greeted warmly and served a snack. The official filled out the required paperwork without inspecting a single thing. We crossed into Chad, and the rest of our trip was entirely without snags.

David faced many dangers in his life, yet he knew that Yahweh was always present to protect and guide. Likewise, the Holy Spirit dwells within us and will never forsake us (John 14:16-18). Let’s face life with confidence, knowing that God is sovereign. On moving day, He protected us from danger and perfectly arranged the schedule so that we were greeted by a brother in Christ at the border.

Les Vnasdale