Summer 2007 - Focus on Africa - Brethren in Christ Church

ies, and my family and church supportedme in my call. As I got older, I realizedmore clearly that the abundant life Christgives us is the best thing I have to offeranyone, and learning more about Africaincreased my desire to share Christ in thatcontext.Then God confi rmed my call by bringinginto my life my husband, Rich, whoalso felt clear call to serve God in Africa.We soon realized that God was calling usto serve him there together. We have stayed(into our 38th year) because of the certaintyof God’s continuing affi rmation of his callto us and also because of the wonderfulfulfi llment we’ve had in our relationshipsand work in Zambia.How have you been changed by your encounters?The clearest change is that my faithhas deepened immeasurably through seeingGod’s faithfulness in an incredible array ofsituations over our years in Zambia. Godremoved barriers and opened the way for usto minister in a strategic place. He has metour physical needs during times of severefood shortage, he has given us peace andprotection when armed men attacked ourhouse, he has given us insights from scripturethat have met cultural and relationalneeds in beautiful ways. My walk with theLord is much deeper today as a result.I have also experienced the deepfulfi llment of seeing God take my effortsand multiply them to help others in waysI could not have brought about by myself.God has used others to teach me and enrichmy fellowship with them and with him.We have had the joy of being worldcitizens and getting a glimpse of whatit will be when people from all culturesgather around God’s throne in heaven.David and Laona Brubaker, Zimbabweand Zambia; 1957-60, 1964-75Why did you go?The spirit of the Lord works in each ofus to lead us into the place of service thathe has for us. The Lord’s voice will cometo different people in different ways. Forus, it was to go to Africa. The infl uences ofour local congregations, which were verymissions-minded, along with the facultyat Messiah Academy and Junior College,planted in us a great eagerness to participatein taking the message of the gospel topeople of other nations. Even as early as ourhigh school graduation, Dave’s classmatespredicted that he would wind up as a missionaryin Africa. After we were married weheaded to Zimbabwe and Zambia for voluntaryservice (in lieu of military service),during which God solidifi ed and clarifi edthis sense of calling.How were you changed by your encounters?Our priorities changed. We lostinterest in pursuing any other career path.When we returned to the U.S. to obtainthe training necessary to become full-timemissionaries, both of us wound up on goodcareer paths. But as soon as the door openedfor us to return to Africa, we resigned ourjobs without a second thought.Our spirituality deepened, havingcommitted to this spiritual calling. Thedesire for personal possessions and wealthwas minimized. Living among those whosepossessions were so minimal taught usthat we really didn’t need as much, andwe became satisfi ed with less. We alsodeveloped strong bonds with missionaryand national coworkers whobecame like family to us. Inthe midst of cultural differences,we discovered thatpeople are people—no matterwhere they are from—andin our common purpose andeagerness to relate with oneanother, we were blessed with aremarkable oneness. Ultimately, weexperienced more contentment andjoy working in Africa than in any otherendeavor.Jennifer Stallings, Uganda, <strong>Summer</strong><strong>2007</strong>Why did you go?Each year, the Duke Divinity School’sOffi ce of Field Education provides a handfulof students the opportunity to completetheir fi eld education in an international setting.A friend and I were given the uniqueprivilege of being the fi rst women chosenfor placement at Saint Joseph Catholic Parishin Katikamu, Uganda. We are here toteach Bible and theology, along with severalother subjects in the parish’s primaryand secondary schools.How have you been changed by your encounters?While in the throws of typhoid feverthis July, I found myself thinking, “In spiteof how bad this is, I’m still glad I came.”That got me thinking. Typhoid is only oneamong a number of hardships I’ve experiencedhere. I’ve had diffi culty teachingcertain courses – especially fi ne art. I’ve alsostruggled quite a bit with the gender situationin Uganda and the little ways in whichmy full humanity has been denied to meover and over again—even by the peopleI’ve grown to know and love the most.There have been times in which I have feltquite useless and subsequently quite lonely.These feelings subside when I rememberthat my worth is not in my ability to“do” anything, but in the fact that my lifecomes from my Creator. I’m not here to be“useful”— I’m here to be “present” and toenter into life with my brothers and sisters.Entering into life with them has also beenquite diffi cult. While I’ve shared manywonderful memories with my students, theFathers, and others in the Parish, I’ve alsoshared their pain. My students go to classhungry, my parishioners are sufferingfrom AIDS, and the Fathers do theirbest to minister in this setting. Theseexperiences have been hard.But in spite of all the hardtimes, I am still glad that I came.I am only beginning to understandthe ways in which being here isshaping me— forming me into amore faithful disciple of JesusChrist. There can be no resurrectionwithout a crucifi xion, no new life withoutdeath. My prayer is that these experiencesof pain and hardship will give wayto such life... not for me only, but for allof us. ❦Rachel Petersen works at Paxton Ministries inHarrisburg, and is a member of the Grantham(PA) Brethren in Christ Church.<strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2007</strong> • Page 11