God of Second Chances

In July 2005 Peter & I were visiting a church near our static caravan in Hampshire. The speakers were a returning missionaries who had gone out from that church to Bolivia and a team from Bolivia who were going to an Eastern European country with Bibles, where the punishment for this could be 8 years imprisonment. The theme of the service was “What are you afraid of? Do you know what God wants you to do, & what is stopping you from doing it?” There were some very moving testimonies from the group which included two 15yr old Bolivian girls. I was 2 weeks off retiring from my main job, and very much seeking what God wanted me/ us to do.

There was an opportunity to go to the back of the church after the service for those who felt God was speaking to them. I did feel touched, but felt that as I was with Peter & Felicity they could pray with me later, but I did ask God to prompt someone else if He wanted me prayed for there. I was sitting next to the speaker’s wife. She turned to me at the end of the service and said “I really sense the power of God on you, and the Holy Spirit at work in your life.” I explained that the service had really spoken to me, and I was 2 weeks off retiring, and I really wanted to know what God wanted me to do. She replied “You will” and then she said “ Do you mind if I pray for you?” I agreed, and she prayed. During the prayer she said “It could be that there is something that you were called to do as a child, but you haven’t done it yet. You have done some good things with your life, but the Lord wants you to know that it’s not too late. It is still possible to do what you were called to do in the past, but haven’t done.” I knew that God was speaking through this woman.

Out of the blue, it seemed God was giving me another chance!

Tears were streaming down my face and I felt the Lord’s touch on my life. I felt that I was called as a child to be a medical missionary, and I had been a missionary candidate with USPG (United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel) However, I had been very muddled as to what a Christian was during my teenage years, and I did not pursue the calling. Now, completely out of the blue it seemed that God was giving me another chance. My first reaction was “What about Peter?” and then I thought “Of course God knows about Peter.” Then I thought “ What about my family, grandchildren, fears about creepy crawlies, small planes, and probably lots of other things.” I realized that having said in my heart “Lord, I want to do your will with my life whatever that means” and responding to the message about not letting fears stop you from doing what God wants I really couldn’t let any of that stop me.

I shared with Peter and we both felt that this was of the Lord. Over the last 9 months we have been seeking the direction of this call. We have been through various interviews and have now accepted an offer from CMS (Church Missionary Society) to go to Zambia for 6 months. Subject to medical clearance we will attend a training course in July, and leave for Zambia late September. There are 2 projects we could be involved in. One in Chingola nd one in Livingstone. The Regional Director, John Kafwanka, is at present recovering from cerebral malaria, so we will know more details when he is well enough to return to work.

We would very much value your prayers for him and us during this time as we are aware there can be Spiritual battles when stepping out to obey a call. We are very aware we are stepping into this new venture because we believe it is a call from God. We will keep the website updated with any further news or prayer needs.