FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you; when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them.
We remain in Arkansas, “camped” in the river ranch cabin of our mentors Marshall and Robin Orcutt, just south of Siloam Springs. For our Africa friends, it is currently 3 degrees Fahrenheit and dropping—reached –5!. We are very thankful for the home made wood stove that Marshall has in the cabin. It is managing to keep us “toasty”–the cabin can be a bit chilly first thing in the morning until I manage to stoke the fire, but it is well insulated and holds the heat very well. As I mentioned in the December Praise and Prayer (sorry we missed January!) the infectious disease doctor was “determined to get the bottom of this”– the “this” being the cause for the ongoing pain, fatique, and fevers that Debbie continues to experience. There has been a continual gradual decline in her strength and overall health. Following a capsule endoscopy on the 30th of December, in which the gastroenteroloigist basically ruled out mild Crohns disease, the infectious disease doctor felt that by putting all the symptoms, tests results, etc., together, the cause behind the pain, fatigue, and fevers could be attributed to extra-intestinal Crohn’s disease. He prescribed a treatment of entocort 9mg daily for 3 weeks. It did nothing to relieve the symptoms, so as of her appointment with him last Friday, she is now off of that. Following the appointment the infectious disease doctor sent Debbie to see the gastroenterologist again, who after carefully listening and examining her, recommended two possibilities—exploratory laparoscopic surgery or a visit to a tertiary care center like Mayo Clinic. He was to consult with the infectious disease doctor and one of them get back with us with their next step recommendations. That is yet to happen! Our friend Dr. Phil Fischer from our time at Nyankunde in DR Congo (Zaire at the time) is currently the head of pediatrics at Mayo Clinic. We have kept him in the loop on testing, results, recommendations, etc.,. He is ready to help with planning for a visit to Mayo.
A friend that we were colleagues with in Africa recently contacted us and suggested that we look in to Upper Cervical Care as a possible avenue for Debbie to get relief. The principle of Upper Cervical Care is that if the C1 and C2 vertebrae are out of alignment the result is that pressure is exerted on the nerve stem which inhibits the normal impulses between the brain and body functions (much like the effect of crimping a water hose inhibits the flow of water). Our bodies naturally heal themselves when they are healthy and at “ease”, but if normal nerve impulse is suppressed wellness is affected and “dis-ease” sets in. Debbie has had neck problems for years—since she was “launched” into the cab roof of our pickup back in the late 80’s, when I hit a ridge that ran across the road too fast on the road to Rethy. This resulted in severe pain at the time and headaches since. Debbie looked on the Internet and found an Upper Cervical Care Center in Bentonville. She had an evaluation done which revealed two previous injuries to her neck and significant misalignment. She had an adjustment to both the C1 and C2 vertebrae Friday evening and then a follow-up on Monday with a much improved thermal scan compared to the scans prior to and immediately following the adjustment.
Through all of this I have thought often of the principle that Rees Howells found in a life of intercession– “Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity!” We have and continue to learn much through this time of waiting for healing—however Father chooses to do that! We know that we are engaged in a battle that involves the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. We have witnessed direct answers to prayer and deliverance from Satan’s attacks against us, but not complete healing yet for Debbie from the symptoms of pain, fatigue, and fevers! In the meantime, as we wait, Father is at work accomplishing his purposes in our lives. Probably most importantly He has allowed us the opportunity to practice silence and solitude, where hearing his voice is learned. I came across the following in Dallas Williard’s “The Great Omission”: “Learn that you don’t have to do to be. Accept the grace of doing nothing. Stay with it until you stop jerking and squirming…Far from being a mere absence, silence allows the reality of God to stand in the midst of your life. It is like the wind of eternity blowing in your face.” I am having to learn that my identity, value, worth, significance is not in what I do. It is in allowing the reality of God to stand in the midst of my life—to hear his voice and follow him! Unfortunately, I have not learned this yet! I am still “jerking and squirming”. That may very well be why we are still here!
PRAISE:
1) That we were able to celebrate Christmas together with all of our immediate family (Abbie and Bo, Aaron, and Audrey and Francis)! Both Abbie’s, but especially Audrey’s expressions of unbelief, surprise, and overwhelming joy (truly Kodak moments!) when Aaron showed up on the 23rd at Grandma Nokes, during their party to introduce Bo and Francis to family friends in Siloam Springs, served as indelibly stamped memories and a great Christmas present. As a family we also enjoyed “creating a memory” together at Silver Dollar City with Grandma and Chisms (Debbie’s sister Valerie, husband Craig, and Ben, Ruby, and Jasmine).
2) For the encouraging visit from Lanny and Carla Arensen (AIM International Director). We were deeply blessed through the time spent in conversation, interactions related to our responsibilities in Central Region of AIM, both general prayer times together and prayer specifically for Debbie’s healing, and by the opportunity to introduce them to Debbie’s Mom and her Grandma Grace. It was a first for both of them to be in Arkansas! In an email expressing thanks for the time spent together, they used the words ‘sacrifice’ and ‘grace’ to describe their time with us. Here is a small but key portion of my response to that: How we respond to pain and suffering is a choice- a heart matter as Ravi Zacharias puts it in The Grand Weaver. There are three possibilities—”our heart will grow hard, it will be broken, or it will be tender. Nobody escapes. Your heart will become coarse and desensitized, or be made tender by that which makes the heart of God tender as well. God’s heart is a tender heart..our infirmities deeply touch God…-allow God to make your heart tender, strengthen your mind through faith, and make the cross the aortic valve of your life—the result follows.”
3) For the reports of an uplifting and encouraging annual conference for the members of AIM’s Central Region. The purpose of the conference is fellowship and spiritual refreshment. Reports are that the speaker (Eddie Larkman) “hit the mark”. The conference was held on the shores of Lake Kivu in Rwanda, which meant travel for the 130 participants from not only within Rwanda, but from Uganda, DR Congo, Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, S. Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, and the U.K. Praise for safety in all the travels! Travel in Central Africa is definitely not to be taken for granted!
4) For the peaceful referendum vote in S. Sudan! The official results will be announced next week, but what has already been made public is that over 99% of eligible voters have voted for the South to secede from the North. The official split will take place in July. Praise that our members working in S. Sudan are able to return and resume the ministries they have been engaged in. Praise for the statement from the Khartoum government that they will honor the results of the referendum.
5) Again for the wonderful place to stay on Orcutt’s farm. We have been deeply blessed by Marshall and Robin’s friendship, mentoring, and practiced intercession on our behalf. The opportunity to lend a helping hand on the farm alongside of Marshall, Robin, and Molly Torres (their daughter) has been therapeutic. We have cleared and burned brush, “worked” cattle, started a corral, and I have the building of a workbench in the shop as a project to be completed. I introduced Marshall to african tea and we have enjoyed cups of “chai” and meals together, and the opportunity that lends to interaction and learning from one another.
PRAY:
1) For healing for Debbie! That we will: “Trust in the Lord with all our heart, lean not on our own understanding, in all our ways acknowledge him, and know that he is making straight our paths”.
2) Ephesians 1:17-23 for Dale Hamilton and Phil Byler. Dale (covered my responsibilities as the Central Region REO from Oct to Jan) has of Jan. 19 assumed the role of AIM-AIR manager in Nairobi. Pray for wisdom, understanding, and revelation as he provides leadership for AIM’s aviation services. Logistical support supplied by and through small aircraft is crucial to allowing us to place members in extreme ministry contexts—most often among unreached or least reached people groups. Phil has again taken on my responsibilities as REO through the end of May. He covered for me last year from July through mid-September when Dale we expected to be back in Uganda. Phil also continues to carry his own responsibilities as the Unit Leader for S. Sudan. Not an easy burden with the uncertainties related to the South’s secession.
3) That each of the participants of the Zande/Mbororo survey, which is taking place from today (3rd-13 February) in Northeast DR Congo and CAR, will hear Jesus speak clearly as to what their personal involvement among the Zande and Mbororo should be. The survey team includes the president (Pastor Kokole) of CECA-20 (our partner church in DR Congo), the vice president responsible for that area (Pastor Lalima), Pastor Anguandia (missions department head for Shalom Univeristy in Bunia), Mukanirwa (Congolese missionary), Steve and Sharon Entwistle (AIM members currently leading a team in Mozambique), Mark Stabell (AIM member on the team in Mozambique), Ron Pontier (pilot and leader for the survey), Jay Mundy (pilot), and David Lamb (pastor of one of Ron’s supporting churches). Pray that as they interact together and with the local church leaders in Banda, Dungu, Zemio, and Mboki, they will discern what more is needed from CECA-20, Shalom, AIM, etc. to continue to bring the church to maturity, and to the place where CECA-20’s Zande believers are capable of leading other Zandes and Mbororo to an understanding of, and opportunity to respond to the Gospel, with the result being their lives and society transformed through true discipleship. I believe that what AIM CR and TIMO primarily have to offer is a model for transformational discipleship through teams made up of members that are committed “to intimately knowing and bringing others into a vibrant relationship with Jesus, so that the Body of Christ among the Zandes and Mbororo demonstrates the life and character of Jesus”.
4) For the elections in Uganda on the 18th of February—that a spirit of peace would prevail leading up to, during, and when the results are announced! Our members are being told to take precautionary measures during this time and contingency plans are in place, if needed! Pray that our leaders will be able to discern the local “temperature”, know what Jesus would have them do, make the necessary decisions, communicate those well to the members, and see them followed through as needed.
Serving together, Because He Lives!
Steve and Debbie
Tel: 479-233-0823
Blog: sdwolcott@aimsites.org
Wolcott Wanderings 