Stephen and Ginger Jordan
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A Story Problem

October 30, 2015 by Stephen and Ginger Jordan

Do you like story problems? Let me give you one: A missionary, along with several national believers, were traveling to a Bible Conference 50 miles away (a three-hour drive). After 45 miles the missionary’s vehicle suddenly stops running on a lonely dirt road. What does the missionary do? A. Call a tow truck; B. Kick the tire; C. Put on his hazard lights and wait for a police officer to arrive; D. Pray and see how the Lord works. If your answer is “A”, “B”, or “C”, then your missionary would still be sitting, waiting by his vehicle, but enjoying the surrounding view of rice fields and mountains. “D” is the correct answer and the story problem happened yesterday with your very own missionaries . . . us.

Agutaynen Believers at Conference
Agutaynen Believers at Conference

Yesterday morning, as the sun was rising, Stephen and our partner Manfred loaded two vehicles with excited believers to go to their very first Bible conference. As mentioned above, within 5 miles of the conference, Stephen’s vehicle “died”. Thankfully, we were close to the conference. We quickly decided that the problem was the fuel filters, again. However, before working on the vehicle, we decided that Manfred should make two trips to get everyone to the conference. With only 5 miles to go, this only took Manfred 1 ½ hours. Don’t forget the “lonely dirt road”.

On a Lonely Road
On a Lonely Road

For the next 4 hours, during the conference, Stephen and Manfred returned home to the village to pick up our village mechanic, purchased new fuel filters at the nearby town and returned to the vehicle. The filters were quickly replaced and the real problem was discovered: blockage in the fuel line from the fuel tank. In other words, no gas was reaching the engine and the fuel line needed to be cleaned with an air compressor. Did we have one of those in our “back pockets”? Of course not. We needed to somehow get the vehicle back to town . . . with no gas tank. Did we mention that was 50 miles away? Did we mention that there are no tow trucks and no police to help?

During the next three hours, we acquired a 7-gallon container, a few gallons of gas, and a small hose. With these items, our village mechanic made a new “gas tank” that was placed inside the car, right behind the driver’s seat. It worked! By now it was after 5pm, the conference was finished, and the sun was setting. Even though the missionaries missed the conference, it sounds like

the believers enjoyed it and were encouraged. Praise the Lord, we made it safely home at 8pm. We would like to say this is the end of the story. Today, Stephen and the mechanic attempted to clean the fuel line and try to get dirt out of the tank. However, the vehicle keeps on stalling as dirt keeps on clogging the line. Please pray as we attempt to get the vehicle to a city 100 miles away. If we can get there, the gas tank can be removed and cleaned. We are not discouraged. God still used a village mechanic, a container, and a hose to answer our prayers yesterday and we know He will answer our prayers in the days to come.

What is He using today to answer your prayers?

Stephen with Improvised Gas Tank
Stephen with Improvised Gas Tank

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Ethnos360, New Tribes Mission

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COMING TO A CHURCH NEAR YOU!

July 13 – Faith Baptist Church, Cornell, WI (Morning Service)

July 20 – Bethel Baptist Church, St Clair Shores, MI (All Day)

July 27 – Vicksburg Bible Church, Vicksburg, MI (Morning Service)

August 3 – South Boston Bible Church, Lowell, MI (Sunday School & brief update in Morning Service)

August 10 – Jenison Bible Church, Hudsonville, MI (Morning Service)

August 24 – West Somerset Baptist Church, Appleton, NY (Sunday School & Morning Service)

August 31 – Pullman Bible Church, Pullman, MI (Sunday School & Morning Service)

September 7 – Howardsville Gospel Chapel, Marcellus, MI (Sunday School & Morning Service)

September 13-14 – New Richmond Baptist Church, Holland, MI (Missions Conference)

September 21 – Rives Church, Rives Junction, MI (Open House after Morning Service)

September 28 – Byron Center Bible Church, Byron Center, MI (Evening Service)

October 5 – First Baptist Church of Newberg, Jones, MI (Sunday School & Morning Service)

October 12 – Robinson Baptist Church, Grand Haven, MI (Sunday School & Morning Service)

October 19 – Mayfair Bible Church, Flushing, MI (Evening Service)

October 26 – Maple Grove Bible Church, Marshall, MI (Morning Service)

November 9 – Green Lake Calvary Church, Caledonia, MI (Sunday School & brief update in Morning Service)

November 16 – Homestead Community Church, Beulah, MI

We greatly appreciate your prayers for us and the Agutaynens. Below is a list of links to pages within this blog. One of those links is our monthly “Praise & Prayer Updates.” Please click on this link to find our most recent praise and prayer requests.

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Stephen and Ginger Jordan

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