Letter 92 What will we do – 1994-04

Reacting to the rebel report

Nancy: Perry, where are you?

Perry: I am sitting out here on the veranda enjoying the little breeze that is blowing.

Nancy: Can we talk a minute? I think the kids are asleep, and the night watchman is out back.

Perry: Sure.

Nancy: Can we talk about all that has been happening? The fighting moving to the north and the turmoil of a few nights ago with the false report of the drunk about rebels?

Perry: Actually, I have been sitting here and thinking about that.

Nancy: What have you been thinking about?

Perry: I have been thinking about what would happen if we had to leave and couldn’t come back.

Nancy: That is exactly what I have been thinking about. That and the safety of our children.

Perry: That is another aspect of all my thinking. How will we know the right time to leave if we have to leave? Actually, if we had to leave suddenly?

Nancy: Really. I didn’t think it was that serious. That thought makes me a bit afraid.

Perry: Me too. But as I thought about the fighting and the commotion of a few nights ago, I realized that things could change suddenly and that this time it might not be as simple to leave as it was when we were evacuated.

Nancy: That is a scary thought. I thought we would just drive to Makeni and then to Freetown.

Perry: That would be the simplest thing, but the fighting is moving towards Makeni and that may take us into more danger.

Nancy: Then how could we get out safely?

Perry: Well, I think we have several options and that encourages me. The first is heading for the river where we had our picnic. I have crossed the river there a couple of times in the past. That road bypasses Makeni and comes out on the road to Freetown at least 40 miles the other side of Makeni.

Nancy: But what happens if the river is too high? We went there when the river was really low during the dry season. Now the rains have started, and we probably can’t cross the river even now.

Perry: You are probably right. So, the next option is head up to Forroad and to the ferry that crosses the river up there. We have done that several times. That will work as long as the workers don’t abandon their work. If not there, then up to Kamakwie and the ferry that is on the road to Madina. That road takes one to the main highway, only 60 miles from Freetown.

Nancy: Okay, but what if things really fall apart and none of that works? We will be trapped here.

Perry: No, we will not be trapped. There would be two more options. One, we could head towards Guinea. The road to Kamakwie actually continues to the border with Guinea. And there is one other road. We traveled there one time to visit one of our graduates in a remote village. From there we could make our way to Guinea. A hard trip, but possible.

Nancy: Okay. But all of them sound difficult. And in each of those, we will not have much time to prepare. Maybe I should prepare emergency bags so that we could leave quickly.

Perry: That is a good idea and I will need to have fuel containers set aside ready for such a departure as well as anything else that we would need. But I don’t think this is what you wanted to talk about, is it?

Nancy: No, it is not. I was thinking about what would happen if we left but could not come back. If when we leave in June, our normal time to leave, we couldn’t come back because of the rebel situation. How will we know what to do next?

Perry: Actually, that has been on my mind as well. I have been praying about that, and God has reminded me that he called me to be a missionary. As I thought about that, I began to realize that that call was not to a specific place but to serve wherever he sends us. Being a missionary is not about where we are, but about where we are sent to serve.

Nancy: Perry, I understand that and that has helped us so many times as we have dealt with difficult situations. But I don’t have that same understanding as you. When God spoke to me, it was about granting me a willing heart to go. And when we got the letter, it was easy to be willing to come to Sierra Leone. If you remember, I was not willing to go to Papua New Guinea, and you were not very interested in going to Brazil.

Perry: Yes, I remember. But I also learned something then about you and how God works in our marriage. I was ready to go anywhere, but you needed a clearer direction before you could go. I think that will be true now as well. I am called to go, but God will lead us through how he works in you.

Nancy: Oh Perry, thank you for that. I love you for being willing to be open to my feelings and needs.

Perry: I love you too. God has taught us so much and I believe that as long as we listen to each other and how He guides each of us, then we will know what He wants for us and where He wants us.

Nancy: I think I hear the watchman returning. And I think we can get to bed without waking up the kids.

Perry: Once we are there, we can talk a little more and pray for strength and wisdom for what lies ahead.

 

How do you make decisions, important decisions? How does God guide you in that process?