Do you ever feel like God’s timing doesn’t make a lot of sense?
Paal and her husband, Ezra, were scheduled to depart for a translation workshop this week. This will better equip them to help translate God’s Word into their language, Patpatar. But Paal’s older brother died, and his funeral was scheduled for the same day as their departure.
“He was a leader in the village and died after a long struggle with sickness,” wrote missionary Aaron Luse. “Culturally funerals are significant events and it is important to attend them.”
So when Ezra asked Aaron if their departure date for the workshop could be changed, Aaron was quite concerned as he explained that it could not.
“Don’t worry about it,” Ezra replied. “Paal and I have talked and we think that this work [the translation training] is what God wants us to do. We are ready to go.”
Taking such a trip in the first place was a stretch. The boat ride and a flight would take them farther away from home than most Patpatars have ever been. “In terms of miles, these trips are not that far away, but to the Patpatar it is taking them outside their comfort zone to a place they know little about,” Aaron wrote
And traveling instead of going to the funeral was not a popular choice among their clan and family.
“I know it was a difficult choice to be willing to go on this trip, but I could also see their smiles,” Aaron wrote. “They are willing to go to do the work of the Lord despite the cost. What about us? What are we willing to do in this new year for God? Where are willing to go? What are we willing to give up?”
Good questions.
Leith says
I am inspired by this example of putting away all the distractions and road blocks to God’s service. We (I included) today are overcome with apathy and excuses for our reasonings to put God’s work off. Matt. 8:22 “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” Great post and inspiration to serve God above all things.