“I keep returning to it, hon. This verse.” Ann leafed through her Bible to its grand, beloved “hymnal”, the Book of Psalms.
“ ‘I will lead you in the path that you should go, I will guide you with my eye’, Psalm 32:8”. For a while now the words keep coming back to mind.”
Days later, passing through Namanga Village with minimal drama as Africa border crossings go, I slid again into the Peugeot driver’s seat. Passing our fresh-stamped U.S. passports across to Ann, I engaged the clutch and nudged the gear lever forward. Turning to my bride of nearly twenty years, I grinned, “Well, here’s a first for me, sweetheart. I’ve never driven Tanzania’s roads.”
Tonight we would lodge at the home of friends whose surname brought a smile, given their missionary vocation. The Angels.
Granger and Beverly’s Arusha home sat a short distance from Tengeru Village and the church they pioneered and now co-led with Tanzanian Pastor Charles Nkya.
As we breezed along the scenic, well-paved highway, taking in the ever-enlarging image of fourteen-thousand-foot Mount Meru ahead, I silently reviewed bits of a sermon that had been forming. I was to preach tomorrow’s Sunday service.
Sharing scripture and illustrations, encouragements and challenges next morning I wrapped up the sermon inviting Tengeru believers to further yield their lives to God’s guidance and care. As sermons go I was pleased, thankful for his presence and aware nothing noteworthy seemed afoot. At least to my knowledge. The service dismissed. A number of folks lingered.
And up walked Zubida, a lady Elder in the church.
Zubida, small but poised – an instructor in the local college of agriculture – carried herself with quiet grace. Back when she had first opened her life to Christ, converting from Islam, her Muslim husband angrily threw her and her infant from the home. He kept the older children with him and forbade Mama Zubida to visit them. Through the deep pain, she pressed ahead in love and zeal for her Savior, keenly devoted through the years in the companionship of fellow believers and the strength found in Scripture.
Zubida’s Bible now lay open in one hand as she approached Pastor Angel. Pointing to a passage, she began.
“Pastor, this verse. . . I feel God has this scripture for our guests from Kenya. Can you share it with them?”
Granger responded with a smile, “No, Zubida. He seems to have given this to you. You share it with the Louts.”
Moving our direction humbly – her finger still planted on a Bible page – Mama Zubida rallied her voice.
“Brother and Sister, I feel that God has something in this verse for you. It came to me during the preaching today.”
I noted the reference and read the Swahili words.
I turned to Ann with a chuckle and asked pointedly, “Does this resonate in any way?”
Her face lit up as she took in the English translation,
“I will lead you in the path that you should go. I will guide you with my eye”
©2018 Jerry Lout