Rich and I had a very exciting day yesterday. It was our first day on our own in Africa as we began the 3 hour long motorcycle trip back to our new home. Mind you, these bikes we are using are no Harley Davidson's. We had an amazing concoction of circumstances working against us; faulty bikes, terrible roads, huge semi trucks, and no idea as to how to communicate in the language or what we are really doing. This was going to be eventful to say the least.
We prayed up and headed out. The first leg of the trip was amazing! Sunny skies and rolling green landscape surrounded us. We drove through several other villages and, of course, greeted everyone along the way. It really was lots of fun! I laughed to myself. I couldn't believe I was riding a motorcycle across West Africa. Who would have thought? Funny thing is, that was just the beginning of the adventure God had for us that day.
We were cruising along rather comfortably, dodging the occasional semi truck and usual pothole, but for the most part, our ride was enjoyable so far. That is, until I decided to look back to see if any cars were coming up on me. What I saw made my stomach sink; a dense, black storm cloud stretched across the entire African plain behind us, ominously approaching. I signaled Rich and we realized quickly that we needed to hurry if we were going to beat the storm home. We were doing well to make ground, but dirt and gnats were clouding my visor so much we had to make a quick stop. As I cleaned my visor, darkness enveloped us and the sun dropped beyond the horizon. Suddenly, the front of the storm hit us like a wall and we sped off as fast as we could. Sand and dirt stung us in waves as the wind gusted with force. As we came to a toll booth, the road turned right into more of the blackness and we realized there was no escaping the storm. We didn't know how to cross, but we knew bikes don't normally have to pay. Thinking we were cleared to pass, we began to and were stopped by the police. They proceeded to yell at us in French and pulled us off the road. One of them spoke English and held out his hand for our keys, telling us that he was going to take our bikes if we didn't give him some money. I immediately began to ask for pardon, but nothing I tried worked for him. Fear began well up and I know that is never good. I started to feel like I was going to have to defend myself and Rich for them to not take our bikes. God had a better plan.
Seemingly out of nowhere, the toll officer smiled and patted me on the back and said, "You can go." Relieved, we continued on our way into the direction he pointed us and before long, I found myself and my trusty bike in a ditch full of water. I was up to my knees in muddy water and my bike was a slippery mess. I waded through the mud and back to the road, pushing my bike. By this time the storm completely surrounded us. Intense winds blew so forcefully I could hardly see, and I remember thinking to myself, "My bike is going to blow out from under me and this is how I am going to die. No martyrdom. No glorious exit. Just a bike wreck in the rain. I don't think that gets anyone a special place in heaven under His throne?" Torrential rains and gusts of wind persisted through the rest of our journey, with no one else on the road except the occasional swerving semi. It seemed like forever before we made it across the bridge and to our town home. I couldn't believe it.
As I've taken some time to process the wildness of the day, it took me some thought...but I realized how God worked in each and every circumstance which was easily perceived to be against us. Whether it was man or nature that almost overtook us on our ride, God held us safely in His hands. He protected us. I needed to experience this truth all over again before we headed out to our village. I needed to know that no matter how alone and helpless I am, He is near to me and Hewill deliver His children from darkness.
He took me to the Psalms this morning in His word:
"If I say, 'Surely the darkness shall fall on me.' Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day.
The darkness and the light are both alike to You." - Psalm 139:11-12
There isn't anywhere I go that He is not with me. When circumstances look dire and the darkness is closing in, I need only to remember His word. Even the night shall be light around me.
No comments:
Post a Comment