“I have been in travels often…” 2 Corinthians 11 records some of Paul’s experiences on the road traveling from place to place.  Traveling for Andrea and I can often generate considerable stress as we imagine the different things that could go wrong and on top of that realizing that there is very little help available on the roads that we travel.  Well God challenged those propositions this trip by showing us that He is always with us and that He is all we need.  Without going into all the details we had 4 major vehicle breakdowns on our trip in and out of the village.  Each of these breakdowns required us to replace major engine parts that we did not have with us.  God had a purpose and plan for each of those breakdowns and we experienced His faithful provision of grace each time.  It turns out that “help“ was never out of reach.

After one of our breakdowns we had the jeep pulled to a nearby village using a rope we had in the car.  Just as we pulled into this town a long time friend drove by and stopped to see what the problem was.  My friend had been out visiting and was on his way home.  His brother was traveling with him and just so happened to be a mechanic.  He took a look at our truck and quickly diagnosed that the bearings in our water pump were shot and needed to be replaced.  He made a couple quick calls and in 5 minutes had made arrangements for another mechanic to come and replace the water pump.  Where we saw no way forward God made a way.

We spent over two weeks in the village reconnecting with or friends and neighbors.  They were all glad to see us and very curious to hear about our experiences visiting our family in America.  I was able to spend time with one of the village leaders and further explain who we are and why we would want to live in the village to teach the Bible in the local language.  Although he is not inviting us to come do that he was open to the possibility of us continuing to live in the village.  We are seeking God and praying that He would raise up others to work with us.

I am in Java now for a week of leadership meetings and Andrea is in Pontianak with the kids.  Thanks for praying with us as we continue to look to the Lord for the ministry He would have for us.  We are constantly challenged with the high calling of “becoming” as Paul became all things to all men in order to win more.  This becoming is based on an attitude that Paul holds of himself, “For though I am free from all, yet I have made myself servant to all, so that I might gain the more.” Servant to all…pray for us that this would more and more define Andrea and I, not only in our outward actions but also in our heart attitude.

After His Glory,

Tim & Andrea Ullum