Power, Love, and Self-Control

 

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2 Timothy 1:7 Good News Translation

⁷ For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, his Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control.

 

We were on our way to teach at Ikizu in Tanzania. We had been waiting in Zambia for ten weeks for a work permit to enter Tanzania. Finally, we got word that the work permit had been issued, and I could pick it up in Livingstone. Not accustomed to the ways of Africa, I took just enough money for the train to and from Livingstone.

I went into the consul’s office and handed the consul our passports and requested the permit. He took them and said, “Come back at 4:00, and I’ll give them to you!” I encouraged him briefly to do it now, to no avail.

I wandered around the small town of Livingstone all day and showed up at the consul’s office at 3:45—they closed at 4:00. He looked at me and said, “I’m sorry. I can’t get it today! You’ll have to come back tomorrow.” I had flaming red hair in those days and was tempted to give him piece of my mind. But the Spirit urged me to practice self-control.

One straight-backed chair stood over against a wall. I walked over to it and sat down. I looked around the large nearly empty room. The consul’s old wooden desk occupied the back-center of the room and this chair along one side—nothing else.

At 3:55 a South African Truck driver walked in and asked for his permit to enter Zambia. The consul rifled through a small pile of papers stacked neatly on the left side of his desk. He pulled out one of them, looked at it, and announced, “I’m sorry, it’s not ready yet; come in tomorrow!”

The driver remonstrated with him. “I have been told this for two weeks now. The materials I have are needed up north!” But the consul dismissed him.

I understood. He was waiting for a bribe. I had no bribe. I barely had enough money to buy a train ticket back to Monze. I sat there quietly. I knew that the recent colonial regime had made people wait interminably. The consul was merely doing what he had undoubtedly seen done in the past.

I prayed silently and sat upright. The consul sat upright, too. He did nothing. He evidently was aware of me, but he did not look my way. I was amazed and thankful that he hadn’t chased me out. After 4:30—and well past closing time, the consul, picked up his phone, dialed, and in due course said, “What is that number for Clarke?” I heard no reply. “Thank you!” He reached down into the neat pile and drew out our passports. He opened each one, wrote down a number, and stamped each a couple times. Looking at me, he smiled, “Here are your passports!”

I stood up, walked unhurriedly across the room, and took the proffered passports. “Thank you very much, sir!” I said—and meant it. With passports in hand, I walked straight out the door without a backward glance, fearing lest he might change his mind and call me back. 

Thank You, Lord, for giving me the power, love, and self-control I needed at that time. And thanks for changing the consul’s heart!

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[1] https://jenmansafaris.com/the-town-of-livingstone-zambia/

Patience is a Virtue

 

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Proverbs 19:11 Contemporary English Version

¹¹ It's wise to be patient
and show what you are like
    by forgiving others.

 

In 2003 we had rented a car in Nairobi, Kenya, then headed south towards a meeting we had in Arusha, Tanzania. When we got to the Kenya-Tanzania border, we passed through the Kenya border with no problem. At the Tanzania customs, the official looked over our documents very carefully. Then he demanded to see my log book. I explained that they don’t require nor give log books for car rentals.

“No! You have to return to car rental and get a log book. You cannot enter Tanzania without a log book.” He was adamant.

I knew he was pushing me to give him a bribe. I don’t believe in bribing people. I could feel the ire coloring my face. My nature wanted me to shout at him and threaten him that I would report him. I was between a rock and a hard place. I didn’t know how much to bribe him with, even if I were willing to do so. I knew what the car rental place would say—they don’t supply log books. Besides it was 155 km (about 100 miles) and three hours’ drive one way back to Nairobi. After talking with the official for a while, just to be friendly, he indicated that I still needed the logbook. Finally, I walked out of the office and sat down in my car.

I grew up in Africa and knew a little of the African way. So, Sylvia and I sat there for well over a half-an-hour. We chatted about our predicament with each other. We prayed silently but displayed only patience—what else could we do?

Eventually, the official came out to our car. “Ï have my aunt here, and she needs a ride to Arusha. Can you take her there?” S well-dressed middle-aged woman with several packages stood behind him.

“Sure,” I said. “We’ll be happy to take her.” I got out and put her things in with ours and made room for her in the back seat of the car. He gave us the correct documents and sent us on our way.

Our passenger spoke excellent English and told us all about the area we were driving through. She was familiar with Tanzania Adventist College (Now Arusha University). She promised that if we dropped her at her place, she would send someone with us to guide us to TAC. He turned out to be a good guide. Without him, we would have had a terrible time finding the place. We paid his bus fare back into town, and he was happy with that.

My red hair, what hadn’t fallen out, indicated natural impatience within me. Reluctant patience paid off, however, benefitted us, and saved us more time than we spent waiting.

Thank You, Lord, for a lesson in patience and for resolving the predicament. Thank You for doing exactly that over and over again with us.

 

 

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[1] https://cdn.britannica.com/34/153434-050-863E8023/Mount-Kilimanjaro-Tanzania.jpg