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 PFC Newsletters!
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Bars & Stripes, Winter 2007
Failure!!!
by Greg Von Tobel
What is done with insane people in America?”
asked my foreign host on one of my most
recent mission trips to Africa.
The question caught me off guard. I’ve been
asked many odd questions during my 17 mission
trips to Third World countries. Looking back,
however, this one takes the cake for oddity.
I explained that in America insane people are treated through medical
means. Some may be assigned to hospitals, to wards in an asylum, or
if they have committed crimes, incarcerated in prisons with specialized
facilities and staffing to handle their mental needs. “Interesting,” replied
my host, “but such is not the case here in Africa.”
Whatever point he wanted to make was long in coming. An extended
silence followed us as we walked along a dusty street toward an outdoor
market. It was a warm morning, not too hot, but by mid-afternoon it
would be a toasty East African day.
Our team of medical and missionary volunteers was scheduled to minister in two prisons that day. Over the years, we have established
a tradition of bringing food and humanitarian aid into the prisons, and
intended to buy several 200 pound bags of rice and corn meal. Given
the size of these bags we made
daily trips to the market to have
the food gifts necessary for our
crusades.
“Expect the unexpected” is
a rule-of-thumb on the foreign
mission field. That adage would
hold true in what had been to that
moment, just an ordinary day.
Finally, his silence got the
best of me. “If that’s not the case,
what do you do with the insane
here in Africa?”
He was again slow to fill in the gaps, and left our conversation
hanging. It felt like a game of cat-and-mouse. But I suspected it
was his method of making a point by using an example to teach me
something unique about African culture. I played along, took the baited
hook of his questions, and felt the slackness in the line by the silence
that followed.
“In our country we leave them be. They gather around markets,
sleeping or begging, and normally…” he hesitated before adding, “they
don’t cause any problems.”
I’ve learned enough during my many foreign mission trips to sense
there was more to his words than just idle conversation. However,
there was little anxiety on his face, until he slowed his pace and looked
intently ahead. I followed his lead and focused about 50 yards ahead.
Startled, my thoughts attempted to sort out the curious sight just
ahead. “What the heck is that?” I wonder in my spirit.
My host walked around the object, taking me in a wide arch to the
other side of the street. Still 30 yards away I can’t make out the object.
Drawing closer, I’m still clueless.
My heart beats rapidly as I realize
that an obese African woman-possibly
as heavy as 400 pounds-is asleep
and totally naked in the
middle of the sidewalk. A spontaneous prayer springs from my lips:
“Oh, sweet Jesus, have mercy on that soul!”
The image of that naked woman was vividly burned into my mind.
As we pass in silence I understand why my host friend asked me about
the insane.
After our walk through the market, a maze of small shops and
vendors, I am disoriented and think our exit is the opposite side of where
we entered. However I soon see we are back where we came in, and
moving in the direction of the sleeping woman. As we approach, the
Holy Spirit nudges me to act.
“Go give her a cup of water in the name of Jesus.”
Confused in my spirit, I question what God is leading me to do. I
can’t even think how to start. But how can I not obey. In turmoil, I
conclude, “There is no way. I can’t do this.”
Suddenly another African lady approaches the sleeping woman
with a towel as if to cover some portion of her massive flesh. Within a
split second, this demon-tormented soul awakens and with unbelievable
speed, she is on her feet screaming at the top of her lungs at the other
woman.
“Give her a cup of water in the name of Jesus,” the Holy Spirit
prompts me again. I am in conflict, and responded by deciding, “There
is no way I can do this.”
I failed to respond to that still small voice. Failure! A reality of our
fallen nature may affect us all. It stung me that day. “Jesus, forgive
me,” I prayed.
That evening I was in serious reflective thought. I read the story
in Luke chapter five about the story of the demon-possessed man. The
Bible says he ran naked among countryside burial tombs, cutting himself
with sharp stones. No one was strong enough to subdue him.
I often think of that demon possessed African woman, and wonder
what could have been had I not failed to respond to that still small voice
to offer her a cup of water in the name of Jesus.
As we mature in our walk with God, we experience many victories
and failures, both great and small. I believe though, that failures are
opportunities to change and are only final if we refuse to learn from
them. With more mission trips planned to Africa, and even that same
city, I have a feeling the final chapter of this story has yet to be written.
I’m committed to be faithful next
time that occasion arises.
After Jesus expelled the evil
spirits from the tomb-dwelling,
demon-possessed man in the
gospel of Luke, the man begged
to go with Him. But Jesus
refused, telling him to “Go back
to your family and tell them all I
have done for you.”
My friends, it doesn’t get
any simpler than that. “Go and
tell.” A part of our response to
the grace God extends to us is to in turn extend it to others. What better
time to tell family members and friends than this Christmas season. It’s
an opportunity that comes just once a year.
Rhonda and I, and the rest of the Prisoners for Christ staff appreciate
you so much, and wish you all a most blessed and Merry Christmas.
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