Stephen Peacock traveled to Mali recently to install LifePumpsTM with Design Outreach carrying 18 audio Bibles in the dialect of the village where he would be working. As was his habit, this SonSet Solutions missionary planned to leave the audio Bibles with people in the community giving them something even more important than clean water – the eternal Word of God.
It was a huge disappointment to find that the leaders of the community had no interest in receiving the Bibles, although they were friendly and appreciative of the clean water system and monitor. Stephen writes, “At the end of an otherwise productive week, I had packed the audio Bibles in my suitcase to return to the U.S. but felt discouraged at this failed part of the mission. However, God delights in working in ways above and beyond our capabilities.”
The night before the missionaries left Mali, with suitcases packed and the audio Bibles tucked away, they headed off to a local restaurant for dinner. Standing in line, they met a Korean man who spoke English and were astonished to find this man was part of a mission team traveling to a Christian hospital 300 kilometers (186 miles) away. Their work was to address physical needs while distributing audio Bibles to address spiritual needs.
“We give out these audio Bibles, but our supply has run dry and we need more,” remarked the Korean man. “People are asking for them, but we don’t have any to give.” With immense joy Stephen ran back to his hotel room, grabbed the box of audio Bibles, and handed him the whole supply.
It appears that the delay, the timing, the waiting for this perfect moment to meet a real need from a brother they “happened” to bump into, was all part of God’s sovereign plan. Now the Bibles would be distributed to not just 18 people, but to 18 families in a far eastern corner of Mali. Stephen declared the circumstances surrounding this event a miracle.
The men parted ways giving thanks to God who truly knows all things and works all things out in marvelous ways.
(Story from sonsetsolutions.org)