Coming Rain
Date of original journal entry: September 24, 2010
I Corinthians 3:6 -7 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
With rich soil, deep mulch, and regular watering, these plants will do well through the harsh dry season
I have always enjoyed large-scale gardening. In particular I like the challenges of gardening in New England with its four seasons and short growing period.
In West Africa the seasons are very different. We now live in a tropical monsoon zone which means two distinct extremes: very wet and very dry. Balancing these extremes brings frustrating challenges to this experienced gardener and I wonder – can you teach an old gardener new tricks?
Joseph Keitor, my field helper, must wonder the same thing. He politely tolerates my attempts at applying New England wisdom to West African conditions. He teaches me a lot.
September is a transition month and as we move out of the rainy season, we must now look ahead to the dry. This peaks with the hot, dry Harmattan winds which bring constant dust and storms of sand from the Sahara. Our days will be shrouded in “Harmattan Haze” – endless dust and sand which choke the air. Anything that is going to grow and survive that harsh weather must be planted now. There will be a long stretch where we get neither dew nor rain and plants must have their roots deeply set.
To stress the urgency of getting my seeds planted, Joseph gave me some simple local wisdom, “Sista, let de rain meet your seeds in de soil.” He was telling me I needed to hasten my planting because the rains are nearly over. Profound in its simplicity – and motivating!
Joseph and Stephen using illustrations for public ministry
Sowing the word of God in hearts – Joseph with megaphone interpreting into Mende tribal language
When Stephen and I came to Sierra Leone in 2009, we both felt strongly that we were just starting a work into which others would join and eventually take over. Our ages alone would suggest that; missionaries don’t usually begin at 56 and 47! We are breaking up the fallow ground of the hearts of the people in Sierra Leone. We are removing the rocks, pulling the weeds, enriching the soil. We are planting the seeds. The seed of the word must be in the heart to meet those will come behind us bringing the life-giving water. We are laborers together, each doing his part.
Today, in the blazing heat of the early afternoon, Stephen and Joseph sewed seeds of the word of God in the hearts of those who would listen in our rural village. It’s slow going and we may never see the results of our efforts but we faithfully plant the seed, trusting God for the increase. We’re also trusting God for those laborers coming behind to water the seed.
And today, in the cool of the evening hour, I went out to my garden. As I tucked the bean seeds into the warm earth I could hear in the distance, beyond the hills glowing golden with the setting sun, the sound of thunder; the promise of coming rain which would meet my seeds in the soil.
