Despite recurring bouts of malaria, a scorpion under her pillow and evenings where the only entertainment was watching geckos catch spiders on their ceiling, Marian Vandermeer still treasures the missionary life that she lived serving God in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The forty guests who stayed for lunch with the Vandermeer family last Sunday heard these, and other stories, as they contrasted their life in Africa as technical support staff for Wycliffe Bible translators with life in North America. “I went to the mall and had to get out of there,” Marian admitted, shaking her head about the overwhelming choices that she faced at the Oshawa Centre. She much prefers the simpler life that the family enjoyed in the Congo where preparing lunch involved making meals from scratch and the chicken they ate for supper spent the morning pecking and clucking in their yard.
Still, the East Congo is not an idyllic place. The Vandermeers described the hardship of life and the pain inflicted by armed rebel groups. They also spoke about the spiritual warfare faced by Bible translators as they neared the completion of their Bible translations. “Pray for them,” John urged. “Whenever we get close to finishing another Old or New Testament, bad things seem to happen to slow down our work.”
It was especially heartwarming to hear their daughters speak about their heart-changing experiences in the Congo. During the worship services, Maaike spoke about yielding her stubborn attitude to God after resisting the family’s move to Africa. At lunch, Joanna explained how she fell in love with the idea of nursing on a medical missions trip even though she had always disagreed with her Dad’s opinion that she’d make a good nurse. Michelle added her own life transforming experience, describing her dislike for children until the village kids charmed their way into her heart by coming daily to play with her.
John plans to return to the Congo this spring for five weeks to provide on-site satellite and Internet support. The rest of the family remains unsure about the future now that all six children (including three older sons who are working or studying faraway) are older and searching out their own career paths and educational options. That’s why they covet our prayers as they sort out God’s will for each member of the family.
- Pastor Peter
Still, the East Congo is not an idyllic place. The Vandermeers described the hardship of life and the pain inflicted by armed rebel groups. They also spoke about the spiritual warfare faced by Bible translators as they neared the completion of their Bible translations. “Pray for them,” John urged. “Whenever we get close to finishing another Old or New Testament, bad things seem to happen to slow down our work.”
It was especially heartwarming to hear their daughters speak about their heart-changing experiences in the Congo. During the worship services, Maaike spoke about yielding her stubborn attitude to God after resisting the family’s move to Africa. At lunch, Joanna explained how she fell in love with the idea of nursing on a medical missions trip even though she had always disagreed with her Dad’s opinion that she’d make a good nurse. Michelle added her own life transforming experience, describing her dislike for children until the village kids charmed their way into her heart by coming daily to play with her.
John plans to return to the Congo this spring for five weeks to provide on-site satellite and Internet support. The rest of the family remains unsure about the future now that all six children (including three older sons who are working or studying faraway) are older and searching out their own career paths and educational options. That’s why they covet our prayers as they sort out God’s will for each member of the family.
- Pastor Peter
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