In 2014, my 2nd trip to Malawi, we stopped in a village on the 2nd day I believe. Should have kept a daily journal!
As my translator Dave and I made our way through the village sharing the Gospel and leading groups of people to Christ, we came across an elderly woman and her grandson. It was a divine appointment for them and a divine inspiration for me.
Dave and I led the two villagers to Christ telling them the Good News about Jesus Christ. The elderly woman, prompted by the Holy Spirit who had entered her upon conversion from death back to eternal life, asked a question of me that forever altered the way I do mission work.
She asked me how she could learn more about this Jesus I had just spoken about. Dave was a pastor of his church. He needed his Bible. I had one English Bible in my backpack.
I asked her if she could read. She said no, but her grandson who accepted Christ as well, he could read. Then I asked if he could read English. He said, “No”. I told her I would get her a Bible in their language. Then we left and continued to evangelize the rest of the day.
When we got back to the Baptist House in Lilongwe, I asked Joe Veal, the President of U-Turn Ministries about Bibles. He said he could get us some. How many did I need? I asked, “How much do they cost?” Joe answered, “$10 each”.
So I pulled out my wallet. All expenses had been accounted for and I had $135 left in my wallet. Inwardly, I told God that I would purchase 12 bibles. That would leave me with $15 to get back to Texas! I was going to do what I felt led to do and Lord, you have to get me back to Texas. I was using my mustard seed!
I was using my mustard seed!
Joe bought me 12 bibles! I asked if we could drive by that village so I could go find that elderly woman the next day and give her the Bible I had promised. Our team leader, Greg, said we would not be going back in that direction.
So I went to bed, then got up and got ready for another day of hut to hut evangelism. I packed about 4-5 bibles in my backpack. I was ready now more than ever before.
As we started down the road, I was told we had to make a detour to see the old chief of the village where the elderly lady was waiting. I didn’t care what the reason was for the detour, only that I had the chance to give away my 1st Bible in the mission field!
We arrived at that village. The team leader left to go see the village chief and Dave and I took off to find that elderly woman and her grandson.
And this is how God works! She was sitting in the exact same location as yesterday with her grandson!!! I gave her the Bible and she gave it to her grandson. He opened it and starting reading. “In the beginning, God created….” In their language. The elderly lady had a smile on her face and so did we!
From that 1st Bible, the Holy Spirit laid it on my heart to provide as many Bibles for the mission trips as we could afford. Once in Malawi, we purchased every Bible they had in stock and gave them all away.
Today, we carry enough Bibles so that every person we minister to in these medical clinics will have their own personal copy of God’s Word in their hands. Many, many people have donated money for the purchase of Bibles for these trips. The Lord knows who they are and the gifts they have given and it’s credited to their heavenly account.
The Bible says, it’s better to give than to receive. And so we give….
