Revival in Wax Creek
As I put the airplane into a shallow dive, I scoured the desolate savanna airstrip, looking for the bible workers. I was scheduled to pass by Wax Creek on the way to Kopinang to move Pastor Casey to yet another village. But when the villagers of Paruima heard that Angus Simeon, who is the conference bible worker in Wax Creek, was having a hard time, they took up a collection of fresh produce to send to him. Of course I was elected to be the mailman ("air mail" of course!). They stuffed my airplane with close to 200 pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables.
I spied the two men on the approach end of the airstrip. Two little dots of colour surrounded by vast expanses of sagebrush and grass. I dove straight toward them to have a closer look and inspect the airstrip before circling around to land.
Wax Creek is one of the more desolate places to get to since it doesn't reside on the river system, and isn't close to any of the major airstrips that we fly into. It's kind of in between the two areas that we operate into (Region #7 and #8). But since I fly by it frequently when I go from one region to the next, it isn't too difficult to service.
As I popped open the door, Angus met me with a huge smile. I noticed that there was another gentleman there who was quietly waiting to greet me. Angus quickly introduced me to Dennis Williams, who had just been baptized. Evidently the work is really popping right now in Wax Creek and Angus and his wife are studying with many of the villagers. But they have almost nothing to work with. He started sharing his frustration of not having what he really needs to do his work.
Halfway through his monologue, I got a flash of inspiration, grabbed my kneeboard, and interrupted him a the question "What do you need?"
He looked a little surprised, but quickly recovered. Here's how the conversation went.
"Bibles... I need at least 7 bibles, and 10 hymnals" he said.
"Ok... I'll bring you ten bibles. We don't have hymnals, but could try and buy some. What else?"
"We need bible lesson guides, DVD's, and other literature"
"What else?"
"We need gasoline for the generator so we can do the DVD programs"
"Hmmm. That might be a little harder to do since Wax Creek is in a difficult location, but we'll try. What else?"
"We need some children's School Quarterlies for my wife. She's struggling with teaching the children since she doesn't have anything to work with. Also we need some felts for the children's Sabbath school."
"Oooohh, I don't think we have any more felt sets, but I'll check. What else"
"We need a radio to communicate with. The only radio we can use right now belongs to the health post, and their battery is bad."
"Ok, let me see what I can do"
"And we would like to finish building the house that we're in. When it was originally built, it was only partially completed, and we haven't been able to finish it since we don't have a chain saw. If we had a chain saw we could cut some boards and finish the house."
"Ok Angus, do me a favor and make me a list of boards that you need. I'll see if I can find a person to come across to cut for you, or maybe we could locate a power saw that we could loan you."
This conversation that we had is very very common. Our front line bible workers are doing a fantastic work, and battling against all odds with very little equipment and resources to work with. They are the true heroes in God's kingdom. Those of us who fly around in airplanes will be sitting further down the table in the marriage supper of the lamb.
Before I left I put my hands on their shoulders, bowed my head, and there in the middle of that wind swept savanna airstrip I prayed that God would work in a mighty way to open up the hearts of the people to the truth of the gospel.
With a few final words of encouragement I climbed into the airplane and buckled up. Just before I fired up the engine, Angus waved at me, indicating that there was one more thing he forgot to mention.
"Please pray for the two police corporal's. They are very interested in joining the church, but they are having a disagreement among themselves. Please pray for them."
As the airplane lifted off the short strip, I banked hard to the left to make one last pass by the two forlorn looking men, before climbing past the village and up to cruising altitude.
Please pray for the village of Wax Creek. There are real people in those houses that you see in the picture, and at this moment, many of these villagers are open and receptive to the gospel. But we also know that the devil and his angels are working feverishly to snatch away the gospel seed as soon as it is sown. We also know that this window of opportunity won't remain open forever.
Jesus said it perfectly.
"I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." John 9:4
