The High Calling of God
When we were preparing to work in the Himalayas, people discouraged us. "...cut off by snow most of the year... little or no communications... -40°C in winter... low oxygen level... no Christian fellowship!" But the Lord gave us a challenge and a promise.
At first we lived near the Himalayas, where it was -5°C in winter. "Lord, we need your grace to withstand this cold!" we said, but he challenged us: "If my grace is sufficient at -5°C, won't it be sufficient at -40°C?" We had no answer, and no more doubts. Now we can testify that his grace is sufficient—even at 14,000 ft, throughout the freezing winter.*
His promise was in John 14:23. "WE (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) will come and stay with you." God was asking us, "Would I give you this impossible task and just stand back and watch? No! We will stay with you!" That was reassuring. We trusted him and he was faithful.
When we moved to the Himalayas I had jaundice and Sumi was three months pregnant. Our relatives were worried. One aunt enquired if there was a good hospital or doctor to attend to Sumi. "Yes, three of them have promised to come and take care of everything," we said. She wanted to know if they were local, and all men. "Yes," we said. "They're called Father, Son and Holy Spirit!"
Our baby was due to arrive on April 2nd. Friends 20 km away invited us to stay. They advised us to travel in February before we were snowed in. The roads were blocked before the end of January but God's word assured us, "He will make a way where there seems to be no way."
On February 7th a bulldozer came and cleared the snow! Everyone was surprised, because it doesn't usually come until April, to clear the land for cultivation. "The bulldozer came for you!" they said. So we reached our friends' house. A few days later snow blocked the road again. God made a way where there seemed to be no way!
April 2nd passed and panic spread. Our relatives phoned. "What if there is an emergency? Where is the nearest gynaecologist?" Actually, there was only one doctor and he was not qualified to operate. "Be still and know that I am God!" God reassured us, and on 6 April he blessed us with a healthy baby boy, born safely at our friends' home. All three of them were there! God was teaching us another lesson: Safety is in God alone. (Psalm 4:8)
The Himalayas are not impossible, they're himpossible!
Father, please open doors for Mathew and Sumi to win the confidence of the people and for the people to open their hearts to you.
*The highest year-round inhabited village in the world lies in this region -4,270 metres, three times as high as Ben Nevis.
