Things often don’t turn out as we hoped. We plan, we even use math, we weigh best- and worst-case scenarios, yet we still find ourselves surprised by how life unfolds. So where does faith fit into all of this?
Acts 27:25 (NASB) “…for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.”
Paul spoke those words while standing on a storm-tossed ship as a prisoner on his way to Rome. His future already looked uncertain because of the trial awaiting him there, and now a violent storm threatened the lives of everyone on board. An angel had assured Paul that all would survive, but survival did not mean an easy escape.
Acts 27:26 (NASB) “But we must run aground on a certain island.”
Faith did not keep them from the shipwreck. It carried them through it. If you read Acts 27 and 28, you see that although the ship was lost, every life was spared. They came ashore on Malta, where the islanders showed unusual kindness. Paul was bitten by a snake and suffered no harm. He went on to share the Gospel, and many were healed and came to faith.
The storm was real. The shipwreck was violent. The snakebite was frightening. None of it felt like the fulfillment of a promise in the moment. Yet God was working to accomplish His purpose in the middle of the wreckage. Paul could have given in to fear or frustration, but he chose to keep trusting what God had said. Because he did, an island full of people encountered the power and message of Christ.
So, when your plans fall apart and the journey takes an unexpected turn, it does not mean God has changed His mind. Sometimes the very detour you would never choose becomes the place where His purpose unfolds. Don’t let the storms or the snakes convince you that you’ve missed God’s will. They may be the very means He uses to carry you exactly where someone is waiting to hear about Him.
We Ran Aground
Recently, we shared the health challenges facing a dear friend, colleague, and son in the faith, Kadjabe (48), in Bujumbura, Burundi. Three weeks ago, we were shocked to learn of his passing. Despite his many health challenges, he continued to serve faithfully. The day before he died, he was at church running sound. He was gone the next morning.
Jamie traveled to minister at the church and at the funeral. It has been, and continues to be, a deeply difficult time. We have known Kadjabe and his family since the late 1990s. While we grieve, we do not grieve without hope. We are confident he is with the Lord, and we will see him again.
He leaves behind his wife, who pastors the church in Bujumbura, and five children, ages 5 to 21. We have stepped in to help with the children’s school fees for this year, trusting God to continue providing for them as they grow. Please pray for the family. They are coping as well as can be expected, and the church community is surrounding them with support.
Other News
- We are still planning to travel to Burundi in March to dedicate Anna’s House.
- The church in Pretoria, South Africa, is now nearly four months old. We are preparing to move to a new meeting location, as our current space is too small to accommodate further growth. Thank you for praying with us about this.
- Our 11-acre farm in Malawi has struggled to produce due to an insufficient water supply. Rainfall has been erratic, and much of the harvest has been lost to drought. We are grateful that God has provided a donation to dig a well on the property. Please pray not only for the well to be successfully completed, but also for added provision to install an irrigation system for the farm.
In closing, we encourage you to keep pursuing God’s plan, even in the face of the shipwrecks and snakes you encounter along the way. There are blessings and unexpected moments of provision waiting on the other side of the challenges, as we continue pressing forward in sharing the Gospel. Thank you for standing with us.
Jamie, Lea, and Andreya
Connect with us:
Email: JLPeters@africa-and-beyond.com
Online: www.africa-and-beyond.com
Lea’s blog: www.aculturalshift.com
Pictures from the Hope Center and school in Gatumba, Burundi.
