Student presentations
Thursday morning, Juelma asked me to be at a presentation she was giving at 11 am. The mission students had each prepared a sermon and were presenting them. Juelma went first at class time, and Ngunza asked Ernesto to translate for me. Juelma did a very good job; she was confident and spoke clearly. Eliseu went next, and he too gave a strong sermon. Not all of the students were able to present that day. Ngunza helped translate some for me, but it was still difficult for me to focus on the speaker and try to process the translation. Ngunza said that was Ernesto’s first translating job. Tonilson was shivering as he gave his presentation. He put on a long coat, and he looked miserable. He had malaria and was showing the typical symptoms of aches, pains, shivers, and headache.
Something goes wrong
I had learned that morning that Angola would close its borders at midnight that night, 12 am, 20 March 2020, the same day I was supposed to leave. We had another discipleship meeting that evening near the base at a small church. Joan asked me to share my situation and thoughts with the group. Through interpretation, I explained why I was in Angola. I talked about some of my experiences and the beauty that I had seen in the country. I expressed my gratitude to God for bringing me there at that time, and that we should always want to be right where God wants us. I stated that God is all-knowing and omnipresent, so I don’t need to worry about the outcome. We prayed for me, my family, Angola, and the world.
Making some calls
I talked to my boss, Jamie, about my situation. He said not to worry, just get home when I could, and that things were “weird” at work. Everyone would be working from home for the foreseeable future. I talked to Carmen and my mother, who had both been calling senators and anyone else who would listen to try to get me out by that day, but I didn’t feel that I was meant to leave yet. There was something more to do or see, or there was someone else to meet. That night reading my Bible before bed, I randomly landed on a passage in Joshua 6. Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in … See I have given into thine hand Jericho.
I ended my devotions with a prayer. Lord, give me Angola, give me the language, and give me my family.
Mission Aviation Fellowship
I called Mission Aviation Fellowship and talked to Brent Mudde. I told him who I was and asked for his help in getting to Luanda. He told me that MAF’s normal operations had been severely curtailed, as all flights had to be approved by a special government committee on a case-by-case basis. They had received urgent requests from oil workers, missionaries, and a group of doctors, but so far, they had been unable to help any of them. He advised that I get comfortable with the situation and wait. I responded, “Then it’s a good thing I like it here” and I really meant it.
Welcome to Angola 