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On
February 11, 2003, Elders Brian Mundy and Russ Reid left on a
missionary journey that began in Germany and ended in Kenya on March 4.
The primary purpose for our visit to Germany was to strengthen the three members we have in Eastern Germany. We also sought to continue fertilizing the seeds that have been sown and, naturally, sow some new seeds. One of the most difficult things for any missionary to accomplish is to find good ground. As we find in the parable of the sower-Matthew 13:1-21-the only seed that was sown that brought forth fruit was that which was sown in good ground. The other thing we have to realize is that all seeds have a different germination period and even after a seed starts to grow in some cases it takes a long time to partake of the fruit. This is what we find in Germany. Upon my return home my son asked me if we had any baptisms in Germany and was a little disappointed when I said no. I cautioned him not to fall into the same trap that we had for so many years - that of judging the success or failure of a particular mission by the number of baptisms we had. This is something very difficult for many to understand. However, with us primarily working in what was formerly communist East Germany in which they were taught for 50 years that there was no God, it takes a long time and a lot of patience to even get them to a point to consider that possibly there is a God. This is a huge step for them. We must keep in mind it is not us but the Holy Spirit that does the converting. Such was the case with Doris* whom we worked with for seven years prior to her being baptized at the Odessa Hills reunion. Our spirits soared as we were able to share with Doris and see how the Lord is working with her. The spiritual growth that she has made is phenomenal. We were truly blessed one morning when Doris offered the blessing on our breakfast. I don’t think that I have ever experienced a more beautiful prayer. There is another family we have been working with for nearly five years. During this trip they asked us to bless their twin girls. Another blessing was when we had the privilege of administering to a lady that we have been sharing the love of God with for over seven years. Her son had been born with many deformities. He had gone through many surgeries and was struggling several years ago. The missionaries explained about administration and this lady said she didn’t believe in God and felt it would be a lie to ask God for such a blessing. The missionaries told her they would pray that night for him. The next day this lady approached them and said, “You know, don’t you?” She proceeded to tell them that the boy was healed. Over the years, we have had many opportunities to administer to the boy. This trip however, as we were visiting with the mother she shared with us some physical and emotional problems she was having and asked us to oil (administer to) her. We shouldn’t have been so surprised but this was the very first time she had asked to be administered to. When we finished-and oh what a spirit attended us-she just sat there. After a few moments she said, “Oh, I can just feel the energy clear to the bottoms of my feet.” For the first time in her 40 year-old life she felt the Spirit of God! What progress! So we see these seeds growing, sometimes not on our timetable but certainly on the Lord’s.
When
we were leaving Germany
for Kenya, we had our entire luggage full of books, medicine, etc. and
the ticket agent said our bags were twice as heavy as the allowable
weight. Needless to say we began praying. Soon after a phone
call, the lady said, “We will not enforce this rule today.” We were
able to take all of our luggage into Kenya, and were not even checked
as we went through customs.
There are now ten priesthood members in Kenya. There are four elders,
one priest, two teachers and three deacons representing nine different
groups. All ten priesthood gathered at a retreat under the theme of
“Magnifying Our Calling.” The Lord truly blessed us with His presence.
At the close of the retreat, one of the men, a deacon named Paul,
requested administration. He had been very ill, vomiting blood, etc.
Russ and Tom8 administered to him, and he immediately received a
blessing. The next morning, he said that he slept all night and that he
felt great. He was able to interpret for us. Leonard, another deacon
and leader of a group in Sotik, was very anxious to have Melchisedec
Priesthood come to his area. He did a wonderful job having everything
organized as he took us from home to home. In each case, the Lord
blessed us abundantly with Scripture, testimony and the power of His
Spirit in healing and prayer.
That evening we had 18 people in an 8 x 10 foot room and we had a three
hour cottage meeting. There were five young men there that we were
focusing on. However, an 18 year old girl named Edda was also at the
meeting. The next morning, she came to where we were staying and said
that she wanted to be baptized. We asked her when because we were
getting ready to leave. She said that she didn’t want to be baptized
right then; that she wanted to study more and be baptized in August
when the youth come over with Mission 2003.
A few days later, we were going to an area called Kindu Bay to check on
the translation of the Book of Mormon. Our car broke down seven
kilometers from Kindu Bay. As we coasted off the road, we came to rest
under a shade tree. The Lord always takes care of His servants. Sam *
was with us and went to get a mechanic. While the mechanic was fixing
the car, Sam Agwanda and I went to meet with the editor. We arrived
just before 5:00 p.m. The translation is done now in both Kiswahili and
Luo. They are in the formatting process. We had a wonderful visit with
the editor. He insisted that he go with us to check on the car.
For the next three hours we visited with him, sharing many testimonies
of the Book of Mormon and how the Lord is working. There was one point
that he told us that some of the professors that were doing the
translating were upset about translating the Book of Mormon. The editor
who is also the Pastor of a Seventh Day Adventist Church, told them if
they would only study this book it would help them in their ministry.
He also quoted to us some verses from the Book of Mormon. I truly
believe he has already received his testimony. In fact, he said he
moved up his annual vacation time so he could spend the month of March
working on getting it ready for printing. A marvelous work and a wonder
the Lord is performing. I would like to share with you a testimony of Eric and Pamela’s youngest son, Presler. Presler is nine years old. He said at the end of the last school year he was taking his end of the year exams. He needed to pass these in order to move on to the next grade. Just before he arrived he realized he forgot his pencil and he would not be able to take his test. When he got to school he checked under his desk and no pencil was there. He put his head down and prayed, then checked again and still there was no pencil. So many of us would give up at this point but not Presler. He prayed again and checked under his desk. There was a pencil! What faith. During his exams, his pencil lead broke. You must realize they don’t have pencil sharpeners like we do. Presler just bowed his head and said a prayer and looked under his desk. There was another sharp pencil so he could finish his exams. This is the kind of faith we find in Kenya from the old to the young. It never fails. I go to minister and I leave being ministered to. I am reminded of the scripture in Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him!” It is my prayer that these testimonies have strengthened your faith. Please pray for the Saints all over the world. *Last name has been omitted for privacy |
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Tidings of Zion Issue 60 May/June 2003 |
