Venezuela. A country that has been sitting on the drawing board of Distant Worlds for many months. A name that has been written on our itinerary and on our hearts. And finally, a country that we can say we have been able to share the Good News with.
Due to turmoil within the country's borders, Distant Worlds was kept from going to Venezuela. We detoured to Santa Marta for ten days, waiting upon The Lord for our next step. Sure enough, while praying, Venezuela seeped into our prayers again. Here is a point-form summary of how we were able to enter Venezuela.
• Steve, one of the people we met in Fusagasuga at New Tribes Missions, emailed his father working in Venezuela, telling him that 11 crazy people wanted to visit the country. His father replied in explicit detail that we should stay as far away as possible.
• The decision was that we would not be going to Venezuela at this time, possibly later.
• The team then received Matthew 10:25-28, which confirmed that we would go at some stage.
• The team then received various pictures, such as a picture of an airplane - a mode of transport that was impossible with the team's budget.
• The team also received an image of a hairy coconut that fell to the ground and split open, revealing a golden centre.
• The Lord told us to take a step of faith and to go north, so the team purchased bus tickets to go to Santa Marta, since doors were opening there. The blessings we received while staying there confirmed that this was The Lord's plan.
• Venezuela pressed on the team's heart again and was confirmed several times. The White Team (Maxine, Fred, Charlotte and Arthur) felt to go sit in the airport. Nothing happened, but this was a step of faith.
• The next morning, I mentioned that I had dreamt that we were going to Venezuela - at this stage, only the White Team knew about the plan to go to Venezuela. My dream was a confirmation and contained vey specific details. The team was informed of the change in our travel plans then.
• Another step of faith: purchasing bus tickets to Caracas, Venezuela. We did not have any contacts there.
• Maxine and Fred got word that Jansie would unlock something on this bus trip. Indeed she did, since she spoke to a man on the bus, who we later found out was part of a YWAM group of missionaries in Venezuela who was on the bus with us. Two missionary groups on one bus! The man then gave us the name of a pastor in Venezuela and even organized for the pastor to come meet us.
• Arriving in Caracas, we were met by Pastor Juan, a true Man Of Peace. He took us to a church and provided a ministry point, accommodation, food and toiletries for us. We were even blessed with free haircuts!
• We were notified of the risk we experience in being in that country at that time: on the afternoon of our arrival, all the soldiers were deployed to walk on the streets. 10 000 foreigners were deported from the country two weeks ago. And, somehow, the citizens and military were made blind to 11 foreigners walking through the streets with their overstuffed duffel bags on their backs. Glory to God!
• On our second day, an urgency settled over the team: we had to leave Venezuela. ASAP. We knew we wouldn't be staying in the country for a long period of time.
• Upon trying to purchase flight tickets to Guyana, since a bus was an impossibility, we were short on finances. Fred had been feeling for a long time that he wanted to donate finances to the team. To cut a long story short, he generously paid for the flight tickets from money he had recently received. He was our hairy coconut! The two churches at which we had ministered also generously donated money and we were able to fly out of the country.
We were on a plane to Guyana, which stopped over for a short while in Trinidad airport. With a two hour delay to our connecting flight, the airport allowed us to enter. Our team got quite excited: another stamp in our passport!! We landed in Guyana on the afternoon of 15 May with no idea where we were going.
• A man we now know as Raul got woken up by his wife on the afternoon of the 15th. He runs a baggage handling and taxi service at the airport and he was put in charge of us.
• Arthur and Luiza were strumming a few worship songs on the guitars, singing in Afrikaans and Portuguese. Raul recognized that we were Christians and came over to speak to us. He said he recognized the music as worship music!
• Raul called his pastor, who was doing his weekly visit in Guyana. That was what the urgency in Venezuela was: the pastor only comes in once a week, so he was at church that night!
• The Light Of Life church welcomed us with open arms, providing us with several ministry points and accommodation. They opened their hearts and their homes to us. Their hospitality and their faith is very inspiring and encouraging, making it easier for Distant Worlds to pioneer Guyana!
The God that loves us.
The God that is with us.
The God that goes before us.
The God that hides us.
And finally... the God we serve!!