I was going on a journey around the world but I didn't care so much about going to China or Thailand. I was looking forward to the adventure across the Sahara from Cairo to Cape Town. I even bought myself a map- of Africa.
When we arrived for training at the Alabanza mission station in Pretoria (in that first year training basically consisted of a two week get-to-know each other and Anthony Jacobs drilling us in the rain with physical exercises) I constantly looked at my African map.
I remember spreading my map out on a table in the barn where we held our meetings. I was looking at it when Anne-Marie Franken and Floyd McClung came to stand next to me. We were staring at the map for a few minutes and then I asked: “Wouldn't it be great if we could have an African Challenge?”
A week later we were off on our journey. And I must say, it was probably the year of my life. India was incredible, Thailand was amazing, China just plain blew me out of the water.
The way God was using us, and the things he allowed us to see and discover was profound. It changed my life.
I started dreaming into a new direction- what if I lead the expedition the following year? This started to dominate my thinking and I even indicated to Stefan that I would be willing to lead. The only thing was that somewhere in the back of my mind I kept hearing the whisper: “What about Africa? What about Africa?” To ease this I somehow reasoned that I would lead the team the following year, while planning the Africa Challenge, and then I would lead the Africa Challenge the year after that. Anybody who has lead an expedition before will know this is nuts.
Then Anne-Marie came to visit us in Egypt. Things always happen when she's around. She said that she would be fine if I lead the next team. “But what about Africa?”, she asked. Echoing the thoughts in the back of my mind. She told me that if I didn't pioneer this soon, somebody else probably would.
That struck a cord. I couldn't allow that to happen. I ended up taking 3 days to pray and think about it; and when I came back there was no uncertainty in my mind: I was going to pioneer the expedition through Africa.
2008 was thus set aside for planning. But first Floyd invited the guys from GCEX to come and participate in the first ever, 6 month Cpx (Church Planting Experience) course, presented by his organisation, All Nations, in Cape Town.
The things God did with us in this time was incredible.
To be continued….