How Strong Are You?
Last week Saturday was the Iron Man World Championship here in Kona. This is a triathlon event where the participants, swim, bike and run.
The day before Hope and REJoyce had a “Keiki Triathlon” at their preschool where all the little kids rode their tricycles around the parking lot, ran across the sidewalk and jumped into an inflatable pool. It was the cutest event ever and our girls did so great. They both won their heat- though the winning actually doesn’t matter as everyone gets a medal. But what was interesting is that REJoyce sat down just before the finish line. We had to hold her arms on both sides and run through it together. When I asked why she did that, she said she didn’t want to finish by herself. This is our social middle child and what a perspective! You can be so fast on your own, but where’s the fun in that…? Food for thought…
At the professional event the MC would announce as the participants crossed the line “You Are An Iron Man”. Yes Wow what an achievement to sport at top speed the entire day. I am not at all undermining the skill of these athletes or how difficult it is to compete in such a race, but was reflecting on the question- how strong are we really?
You see, I’ve come to realize my physical strength only gets me so far….
Right now Jackson is in Cameroon and he has been gone for 10 days out of a 3 week trip. I am probably being “stretched” so much in every way possible and trying my best to keep up with the needs of my children, the house and the work I am doing. However what really carries me through it is not any physical ability, but truly it is the grace of God. I almost literally feel a blanket/covering over me that “God’s grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in my weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). This doesn’t mean I don’t feel frustrated, or worried over things or tired and exhausted.
But it is this grace that I can tap into if I would just allow God to help me! Yes I think that is the hardest part is letting go of all control and trusting He will make a way when there seems to be no way.
His strength will be made perfect in our weakness!
How Jackson made it to Togo and Cameroon
Many of you might be wondering, how did Jackson get his flight ticket?
In the last update we were asking for $5000 for his entire trip (flight and accommodation etc). We were waiting like usual but nothing happened. Then we received 20$. It was very encouraging but still a long ways to go. Still we all felt he needed to go, but how? We were able to book a one way ticket to Texas and trust the Lord for the rest of his ticket. We don’t have a Credit Card that could take the amount of money necessary for his flight and we didn’t want to use a friend’s Credit Card because we did not have the money to pay them back.
Then a friend came to us and OFFERED her card to us. She said the Lord spoke to her to offer this to us and in doing so she joins our faith for this plane ticket.
Now since Jackson left he has received about $1120 of offerings along the way that we know about. What an encouragement!
He really enjoyed his speaking at the Tabernacle Church in Texas which is a Bethel church plant. The pastors are going to send a team to Cameroon next year! How amazing!
Then in Togo Jackson was able to be at the YWAM DNA albeit short, but it was a beautiful time of connecting with our YWAM brothers and sisters in West Africa. Then David Hamilton (Vice President for Strategic Innovations at the University of the Nations) and Paul Dangtoumda (leader of YWAM Nigeria whom Jackson served with since 2002 and I did since 2009) flew down to Cameroon where they just finished the first African Bible Safari conference in Yaounde. There are 2 more locations to go! I get really encouraging feedback, though missing many details.
So for those of you who committed to pray for us, please keep praying! Your prayers are being answered.
And Let’s thank the Lord for all He is doing.
With Love,
Anneke and Family
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