Stories about Hearing God.

 While I intend to continue to once a month post a general update here I'd like to start a different kind of post that will fall more under the reflection category.

As suggested by the title this will be a telling of stories of times in my life where I clearly heard God's direction and answer to prayers. These will not be in any particular order.

While some people hear God audibly I have not.

Some stories will be longer than others due to the timing involved, important details, and general complexity. I hope that they will encourage you and point to the faithfulness of God.

He is interested in each one of us, every big or little aspect of our lives. 

Mostly I hear from God for as a strong inner prompting or realizing that events are guiding me in a particular direction, directly related to something that I'd been asking the Lord for guidance about. 

Road Signs

You may know I'm dyslexic and throughout my long school journey I often struggled with different subjects and testing. My particular issues fall under receptive language [hearing sounds], grammar, and spelling.

My level of physical and mental fatigue directly affects how much trouble I encounter with writing, learning, and studying.  So as you may imagine, the sheer volume and pace of learning in college, followed by medical school complicated figuring out the correct balance between learning and rest.

During medical school students need to complete and pass two of three separate levels of the United States Medical Licensing Examination [USMLE] standardized testing. The third level occurs during residency. 

 Step one occurs after the first two years of medical school and tests general science knowledge, and basic clinic knowledge. Because this day of testing is based on lecture/book/laboratory learning and not actual clinical experience I struggled to memorize and remember the needed facts.

This exam was a pass/fail.  I did not pass, therefore I needed to take time off of my medical school journey to study to be able to pass and continue my education.

The added time to my educational journey caused me to complete the necessary rotations and graduation requirements in December of 1994. Knowing this as the day drew near I started to pray about what next well in advance. 

Residencies in the USA participate in Match Day in March when 4th year medical students receive an envelope that contains the name of the program and location where they will be continuing their education in the area of medicine that they chose to pursue. 

Interns, or first year residents start working on July 1st in teaching hospitals across the USA.

What was I to do during the time? I continued praying and started to ask questions. **

I decided to go visit a residency in Indiana that had a 'rural medicine tract'. I figured that it would give me additional training that would be helpful when returning to Haiti or some other developing country.

My Grandpa and Grandma DeWent traveled with me down to Terre Haute, Indiana. I toured the residency and talked to the director about the possibility of starting in January vs. waiting for July.

He strongly advised against this idea. He explained that the learning curve was very steep and I would feel very behind. Not only that, for the first three months after the new interns start working a second year resident remains overnight in the hospital to teach and provide backup. This system and schedule is not in place in January.

I left having learned a lot of information and knowing I would not be starting any residency in January. My wondering what I should do with the time while I waited had been multiplied greatly. I remember being in the back seat looking out the window talking with the Lord.

I toyed again with the idea of traveling to Haiti for a few months to help out and learn at the Wesleyan Hospital on LaGonave. The same island and hospital that captured my interest as a 7-8 year old child when we lived there.

However, as often in its turbulent history, Haiti's continuing political instability worried me. I didn't want to have a 3-4 month trip planned and have things fall through in the last minute leaving my plans once again up in the air. 

So watching the flat Indiana roadside slip past I cried out to the Lord silently for guidance. Grandpa was driving through Clay County when I saw a sign post, two green signs with white lettering and arrows. One arrow pointed one way and the second the opposite. The words instantly caught my attention as they flew by: Cory and Brazil.

My high-school classmate Cory worked in Brazil in agriculture. I heard from Cory now and then. I knew that PAZ mission included a medical boat ministry that traveled along the Amazon river and its tributaries. 

That sounded interesting but I don't remember thinking about a trip much at all until I saw the road signs.

Then I knew. 100%. Instant peace. 

I did end up traveling to Brazil. Actually on the same plane from Miami with Cory and the director of the mission's widow and children returning after his death in Brazil from an ultralight accident.

It was during the 3 months in Brazil that Cory and I connected in a much deeper way. Our engagement occurred in the Amazon rain forest with a paper ring. A tale for a different time...

As I wasn't in the USA for Match Day...a phone call with my folks let me know that I would be spending the next three years [along with Cory, a short engagement] in South Bend, Indiana at St. Joseph's Family Practice Residency participating in the International Health Track. 

** Before the Match each medical student decides which medical area they would like to specialize in for their career.

 I knew since being a child in Haiti watching surgeries, clinics and hospital patients that I wanted to return to Haiti and be a doctor like Aunt Marilyn, Dr. Emmett, Dr. Jackson, and the others I saw helping people.

Then one would apply to residencies in that speciality for a position. Visit, if invited to learn more about each program, meet the staff and residents, tour the hospital[s], clinic and answer questions.

Once you visited the locations each student submits a list ranking in order their preference from first choice on down of where they would like to train. Each residency in turn ranks all the candidates from top to bottom in order of their preferences.  A scientific algorithm is then used to figure out where each student will go- depending on how fast the available positions fill up in each specific residency. 

If your top pick is full before you're in then the algorithm looks at your second spot and so on.

Live every day... thoughts about the end of life.

With lots of natural extremes around the world in addition to manmade chaos, many Christians are thinking and talking about the end times. A friend posts on Facebook about nuclear attacks on USA soil that the Holy Spirit has warned her about with dates of July 4th, August 3 and September. 

A recent post encouraged the following: 

'If you had 55 days left to live, how would you spend them for the biggest KINGDOM of HEAVEN impact?"

The first thought that came to me and continues to reverberate in my thoughts is that none of us are promised 55 days or 40 or 30 or 10 or even the end of today.

She wrote:

"Who would you share the gospel with?

Who would you spend your time with?

Who would you forgive?

Who would you make amends with?

Who would you call to encourage?

Who would you visit?

What would your evenings look like?

What would you read?

What would you watch?

What would you listen to?

What would your conversations around the table sound like?

What would you talk to your children about?

What would you say to others, to leave nothing unsaid?

How would you spend the next 55 days, if they were your last?

Do those things.

Do them from a place of genuine love.

There is no room for the counterfeit.

Walk in love.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.'"

Yes! These questions should always be on the forefront of our minds. 

We don't know how much time remains for us or the one we should apologize to, forgive, encourage, visit or talk to. 

Sometimes folks have an idea, as my father did that his days were short. Many others do not know they are living out their final minutes on this earth.

Lord, help us to listen to Your voice at all times.  Turn fears into faith. Replace lies with Your truth.

    When You nudge us with a thought about something we need to do or deal with may we take care of it as soon as possible. 

    Don't let us get distracted by things of this world and put off being obedient to You. If it is a hard thing or easy help us prioritize being obedient to You. Give us the wisdom, courage, time and focus to get it done. 

    Remove procrastination far from us. Don't let us forget. 

    Walk with me, guide me, encourage me, strengthen me, equip me and protect me. 

    Do the same for my family, friends, and other humans in Your family.

    For those not yet following Your truth- open their eyes, soften their hearts. Amen

Mid-May Update

 In one month's time the green of rainy season is fading into the browns of fall.

Thankfully with the irrigation working the trees and areas directly around them should remain green and growing.

The slashing of the lawn and a lot of the weeding around plants and campus will slow down considerably, however with the watering of the nursery plants the weeding there will continue.

Both the Bible College students and the Jembo boarding students returned and classes resumed for the final trimester of the academic year. Graduation should occur for the Bible students on July 18th.

Cory's first agricultural class was to visit the orchards and learn about the irrigation project.

Praying that soon the date for completion of the 'Farming God's Way' training can be set for the leaders to travel here.

Fritz and I draw near to completing his freshman year of high school as less than a month remains. We plan to celebrate with a short break and weekend trip to Livingstone in mid-June. 

Rev. Patrick organized the harvesting of the project's corn crop this week, complicated by his needing to be away for several days.

A neighbor's corn waiting for a truck to transport.

Fall weather is dry with cool nights and warm days. Clouds are becoming less frequent as moisture lessens. 

The huge lake Kariba to our south continues to fill (now at 40%, one year ago was 16%) due to rains in other areas. 

 This is a good thing as most of Zambia's electricity comes from hydroelectric power plants. 

Thankful for our solar panels that provide power for our electronics including the water pump.

Weeds, Laundry, and Prayer

 

While I considered having Cory do a long post on the irrigation project it is still on going so he's very busy so that will come later.

I'm writing this on a Saturday afternoon. So after getting up, breakfast, and my devotions I worked on the school schedule for next week. 

Once I get it worked out Cory joins me to double check and pray over the next week's lessons before we print out the copies for myself and Fritz.

Then I did the dishes so they could be drying on the rack before heading out to weed the nursery trees in bags. I could hear the children who attended this week's children's conference getting ready to leave for home as the different trucks and vans came to transport them back.

I prayed not just for their safe travels but that all the truths that they learned this week will find good soil, grow, mature, and bring forth a strong faith that grows throughout their lives. I pray they will change the world wherever the Lord sends them and advance His Kingdom. That they will be able to fight the good fight and avoid temptations and distractions. Lord bless each one of them.

Can you see the dragon fruit?

Knowing that the water would be more available I washed 3 more of the guest linens. Generally Cory does our wash during the week and Fritz does his owe. Hand washing like weeding gives one time to think and pray. 

Seeing the dirty water even though there were no visible stains or odor reminds me of how our lives can look good on the outside while things can be dirty and messy in our minds, emotions and hidden parts of life. Lord bring those hidden things into Your healing, cleansing, purifying light! Bring things to light in our supporting churches, in organizations, families, as well as in my life and the lives of family and friends. Help us know how to change and deal with each issue according to Your will. Grant wisdom and courage to confront those needed changes and challenges so that no further harm is done. 

After I hung those on the fence and refilled the water buckets I returned to weeding. 

The transplanted aloes by the house look so-so with some thriving and others struggling. Isn't that like us as well...some deal with change very well and with enthusiasm while others mourn, loose parts of themself and just look horrible making folks wonder if they will be able to recover or not. Thankfully for us the Lord is present and active. He's strong enough to support us no matter what happens or doesn't. I found myself praying for those in transition times: graduations, pregnancy, natural disasters, man-made conflicts, new relationships, change of jobs, health issues...and more.

Next I moved on to the dragon fruit plants. Now this one takes some planning as the weeds are high and it's a bit out of the way. I grab a machete to attack big weeds and push them out of my way when walking because I don't want to step on any critters. I remembered my bucket to sit on but needed to return to the house for my leather gloves. 

As I cleaned around the prickly plants my thoughts again turned to life. How easily and rapidly fears, pride, sin, LIES can crowd out and distract from the good things in life: the Lord, peace, hope, truth, joy and gratitude. Like the dragon fruit branches underneath the weeds they remain- often unseen, not growing, not appreciated. Lord help us to regularly put up and deal with the negative patterns and habits in our lives that are negatively impacting our maturity, growth, impact, and interactions with those around us. 

On the last one I didn't complete weeding around because a bee found me [was fairly close to the been hive at that point and it also happened the last time I weeded that plant] and I know better than to ignore them. 

These African honey bees are very tenacious! So I retreated into the house. I plan to go back and finish this afternoon. [Time will tell because last time I didn't return to finish weeding making more work this time around. One of the students was stung today while slashing weeds for Cory] [Update I did finish!]  

Lord, I, we need wisdom to know when to change plans, to delay a plan and return later or to stay the course even when things get hard or dangerous. Give us the wisdom to know what plan of action is best or if we should wait. Thank You for being there for us in each and every situation.

I think my morning was much more philosophical because I did not listen to music or an audio book. No one was talking to me.

 I think we've lost mostly this type of thinking time because of the 'noise' in our lives. I think that in the past and still in cultures where jobs like shelling peas, weeding, sewing by hand, plowing by walking behind a ox or chopping wood with an ax are done over and over allow one to think deeply and pray while only part of the mind pays attention to the task at hand.

In my world where technology either removed the need for such tasks, significantly changed how or how fast they are done one needs to be intentional to find repetitional jobs where thinking can be done at the same time. In addition to carefully choosing labor that allows thinking and processing of ideas one needs to reject the temptation to talk, sing, listen to a podcast or book in order to provide the quietness needed to stimulate the brain.

May you find some quiet thinking time in your day and week. Courage!

Field Trip to See Farming God's Way, By Cory

Thursday the 12th at 6:50 I departed with the Bible College students and teachers to Overland Mission to see their Farming God's Way gardens and hear  their experience. 

The 62 passenger bus was nearly full. I have been suprised how enthusiastic the students have been before and during the field trip. 

I enjoyed the singing of the students, (they take turns serving as the college choir for student chapel twice a week) and  I'm sure the high school bus driver also enjoyed these passengers more than his usual passengers.

We stopped in Pemba to pick up lunch that we reserved for take out to eat later at the mission.  

The bus drove slowly and safely which was fine but with the stops at the restaurant, for tire air and missing the mission driveway due to the road being recently paved, we arrived an hour late, close to 10am.

Corn and peanut fields

Several of the Overland staff taught a summary of what is normally a two day course. They offered to come to Jembo to do a second day which was enthusiastically accepted, the principal saying early next term will be good (next week is finals for this 2nd trimester).

The 3 foundational requirements of Farming God's Way:

1. Biblical principles 

2. Technology 

3. Management

The three are integrated for high yield agriculture. 

So principles from the Bible and nature are used with technology and the resources God has provided and the work is done at the right time to high standards.

Chicken or poultry "tractors" are mobile cages.

When I first started reading about Farming God's way I was suprised to learn it started not far from here in western Zimbabwe.

I have always liked using mulch but here in Africa the termites are aggressive and eat up mulch quickly. 

 Apparently it isn't a big problem since usually the crop plants mostly cover the ground by the time most of the mulch is gone.

In the afternoon before we left we toured the farm and gardens. 

The mission is only about 6 years old. 

When the land was purchased from the chief, the local people laughed because the land was overgrazed and degraded. 

Where there was some grass it was only a few inches high. 

People are moving out of the area to more fertile areas because after about 4 years the land is no longer fertile.

Soaking bean beetles to make
 spray to kill bean beetles

The first year the 3.5 acre corn field gave only 2 110 pound bags of corn. 

2nd year 7

3rd year 28 

4th year 52 

5th year the worst drought "ever", 20

6th year 101

Each year on the same field (or at least the same size field, I think the corn and peanut would be rotated, according to the Farming God's Way teaching) and they hope to have higher yield this year. 

It is an open pollinated local corn variety and only using manure and ashes. 

101 bags per 1.5 hectare works out to about 53 bushels per acre, which is about 1/4 USA yields but it is without plowing and just local inputs and thier own saved seed, so the only expense is labor.

Almost all the corn fields in their area failed in the drought year but they had a modest harvest.

I assume this is because they prepare the fields in the month or two before expected rain so when rains come the seeds can be quickly planted. 

Grass is cut from surrounding fallow fields as mulch which helps conserve moisture. 

The mulch also reduces weed germination.

Their soil was nearly black instead of the usual grey or brown of soils in this part of Zambia.

There is a farming God's way website that has the details and also tells how it was started by a tobacco farmer when he realized he was harming peoples health.  https://farming-gods-way.org/

A common Zambian meal.
Corn is usually white and
prepared like a thick version of grits.
The corn is used to scoop up the chicken
gravy and greens