Love crosses oceans.
It doesn't stay in it's own little corner of the world, minding it's own business...even when the world is in turmoil, and fear abounds in hearts everywhere.
Today, the love of my life is on a plane home from Africa. He has spent the last week and a half in Mushayamunda Village, Zimbabwe with a team of servant-hearted, courageous people, who went to love and serve in the name of Jesus despite the current state of our world. Plane crashes. Ebola. ISIS. The list could go on and on, and the news reports do nothing to ease the minds of travelers. In addition to the international threats, there are countless domestic reasons my husband could have stayed home. A two month old baby and a wife left to be a temporary single parent. A recent move and the uncertainties of unemployment...
But he went.
Because over 50 years ago, love crossed an ocean.
In 1958, a physician in Winston-Salem, NC uprooted his young family from the safety of suburban America and moved among the witch doctors in war-torn Zimbabwe (formerly known as Rhodesia). He dedicated his career to sharing Christ with unreached people groups in Africa, stating "Medical evangelism is the best way in the world to put Christian ideals into action. You see with your eyes, touch with your hands, and feel with your heart the love Christ had for people when he helped them. This is made more wonderful when you see the appreciation from a people who now understand that the love God had for all people is manifested by his servants." [Read the inspiring details of Dr. Pruett's life here.]
As a result of this doctor's love for sharing the Gospel, many came know Christ in Zimbabwe... including the Mushayamunda family. This family of prominent village leaders fell in love with Jesus, and ultimately decided to move to America.
Once again, love crossed an ocean.
They settled in Winston-Salem, where our paths crossed in an amazing series of events which I wrote about here. At the time I wrote that story, it was our prayer that we would be able to accompany our friend from Mushayamunda family back to their home village in Zimbabwe someday. In His goodness, God placed us in a perfect position to do just that several months later after a cross-country move and a new baby. It was that love - God's love - that allowed me to encourage JJ to go on this trip without me, when my fearful human nature wanted him to stay. It was the reassurance that, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." -1 John 4:18
Love crosses oceans. Even big, scary, dark oceans.
I have missed my husband tremendously over the past week and a half. It was not easy to say goodbye, even for a short amount of time. The thoughts that raced through my mind before he left were filled with the "what-if's" that nearly stopped me in my tracks. Not only is he my husband, but now also a father to our precious baby... and what if...?!
But what if there were people waiting to hear the Gospel in a small village in Zimbabwe? Thousands of children who would be taught about Jesus through crafts, recreation, and stories? Native Zimbabwean preachers whose houses badly needed repairs? People who desperately needed to know about the Love that drives out the fear in this crazy world?
I am so glad love crossed an ocean. I've already heard from the team that the Gospel was shared with thousands - and several men, women, and children made decisions for Christ.
Now, that is worth crossing an ocean for..
-L
It doesn't stay in it's own little corner of the world, minding it's own business...even when the world is in turmoil, and fear abounds in hearts everywhere.
Today, the love of my life is on a plane home from Africa. He has spent the last week and a half in Mushayamunda Village, Zimbabwe with a team of servant-hearted, courageous people, who went to love and serve in the name of Jesus despite the current state of our world. Plane crashes. Ebola. ISIS. The list could go on and on, and the news reports do nothing to ease the minds of travelers. In addition to the international threats, there are countless domestic reasons my husband could have stayed home. A two month old baby and a wife left to be a temporary single parent. A recent move and the uncertainties of unemployment...
But he went.
Because over 50 years ago, love crossed an ocean.
In 1958, a physician in Winston-Salem, NC uprooted his young family from the safety of suburban America and moved among the witch doctors in war-torn Zimbabwe (formerly known as Rhodesia). He dedicated his career to sharing Christ with unreached people groups in Africa, stating "Medical evangelism is the best way in the world to put Christian ideals into action. You see with your eyes, touch with your hands, and feel with your heart the love Christ had for people when he helped them. This is made more wonderful when you see the appreciation from a people who now understand that the love God had for all people is manifested by his servants." [Read the inspiring details of Dr. Pruett's life here.]
As a result of this doctor's love for sharing the Gospel, many came know Christ in Zimbabwe... including the Mushayamunda family. This family of prominent village leaders fell in love with Jesus, and ultimately decided to move to America.
Once again, love crossed an ocean.
They settled in Winston-Salem, where our paths crossed in an amazing series of events which I wrote about here. At the time I wrote that story, it was our prayer that we would be able to accompany our friend from Mushayamunda family back to their home village in Zimbabwe someday. In His goodness, God placed us in a perfect position to do just that several months later after a cross-country move and a new baby. It was that love - God's love - that allowed me to encourage JJ to go on this trip without me, when my fearful human nature wanted him to stay. It was the reassurance that, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." -1 John 4:18
Love crosses oceans. Even big, scary, dark oceans.
I have missed my husband tremendously over the past week and a half. It was not easy to say goodbye, even for a short amount of time. The thoughts that raced through my mind before he left were filled with the "what-if's" that nearly stopped me in my tracks. Not only is he my husband, but now also a father to our precious baby... and what if...?!
But what if there were people waiting to hear the Gospel in a small village in Zimbabwe? Thousands of children who would be taught about Jesus through crafts, recreation, and stories? Native Zimbabwean preachers whose houses badly needed repairs? People who desperately needed to know about the Love that drives out the fear in this crazy world?
I am so glad love crossed an ocean. I've already heard from the team that the Gospel was shared with thousands - and several men, women, and children made decisions for Christ.
Now, that is worth crossing an ocean for..
-L
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