FIve Loaves, Two Fish

The ominous clouds Sunday almost prevented our trip to the Savane Church plant.  We debated our assessment as to whether the roads would be safe to travel should the sultry sky open up enroute.  Yet, our desire to help the church was greater than our initial hesitation so we piled 200 kilos of food and nine people into our small 2-wheel drive pickup and took off.  Along the way we dropped off Thais near Centro Emissor (another church plant) but not without first attempting to see if the Nissan knew how to swim.  The road had become a river running through a rice field from the rains the night before and we promptly found ourselves worried about another aborted mission. All of us prayed silently as the Nissan gurgled and choked its way miraculously out of the mire.  Two jarring and jolting hours later we reached our destination but not without a shout of unrestrained jubilation.

Our first greeters at the church plant were thousands of red ants swarming the ground all around us.  We purposely had not revealed our arrival since our food was very meager considering the needs of the entire Savane area.  If word had leaked out that we were furnishing food - we would have had a crowd that even Billy Graham might envy.  Instead, we came quietly and found a small group of 16 families dancing and singing in the church fabricated from mud, bamboo and grass.  (I secretly wondered if their vigorous dancing had anything to do with all the ants under their feet.)  They welcomed us in their usual gracious manner but because of the thickening clouds,  Manuel proceeded to preach.  Studying their familiar faces and angular frames filled me with thankfulness contesting any misgivings about the journey. 

The sound of rain against the bamboo structure shifted our attention to divide the food.  Measuring in kilos the bags were quickly filled and dispersed.  Manuel reminded the flock that if Jesus could feed 5000 with five loaves and two fish, then He could be trusted to stretch this provision.  Quickly we said our goodbyes and maneuvered our way back home in time to experience an unbelievable deluge of rain that lasted for hours.  God does provide.