Please, God, Don t Make Me Go!
203 pages
English

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203 pages
English

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Description

What’s a comfortable—and cowardly—suburbanite to do when her husband wants to move their young family to Colombia, South America, so he can teach missionaries’ kids?

Linda K. Thomas has always planned to chase the American dream. Adventure doesn’t appeal to her, and she’s ill-equipped for missions work. She begs God, “Please don’t make me go!” but after months of soul-searching, she hears him say, “Go!”

So, with flimsy faith and wobbly courage, she sets out with her husband and kids on a life-changing adventure at the end of the road in the middle of nowhere with Wycliffe Bible Translators.

When culture shock and tropical heat threaten to undo Linda, she’s tempted to run away and hike back to the U.S. Instead, she fights to settle in and soon falls in love with her work alongside modern-day heroes of the faith disguised as regular folks. God has sent her where she didn’t know she wanted to go.

Once life is under control and easy, she gets a surprise—a request to go to one of the world’s most dangerous drug-dealing regions where hundreds of people have lost their lives. Colombia is perilous in other ways, too. Marxist guerrillas don’t like Americans or missionaries, proving it with bombs, kidnapping, and eventually murder.

Linda won't trust God to help her make the trip, and she can’t trust herself, either. Gripped by anxiety, she longs to stay in the only safe place, the mission center. She prays, “Please, God, don’t make me go!” But once again He urges, “Go!” Thus begins a fierce internal battle. 

In this heartwarming, sometimes humorous, sometimes shocking memoir, you’ll walk alongside a young wife and mother as she faces two universal struggles: choosing between her plans and God's, and choosing faith and courage over fear and cowardice.

Please, God, Don’t Make Me Go! will motivate the timid to cancel membership in the Society of the Faint-Hearted, and it will inspire every reader to enjoy God more and embrace new adventures He dreams up.

 


Dedication

Map of Colombia

Contents

Please, God, don’t make me go!

“Strategic times of internal war”

“Terrorism was to affect our lives very significantly. . . .”

Of pescado and jamón and bif, of kind people and cool, damp bedding

Of Andean hairpin turns, vast azure skies, and steaming plains

“Ya wanna see a real, live boa constrictor?”

So much dogged effort

“Failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.”

Baffled, bamboozled, and befuddled

Learning from strong people

“Happiness, not in another place but this place. . . .”

And God said, “Let there be critters and creepy-crawlies.”

"From ghoulies and ghosties and long-legetty beasties. . . .”

They lived on the edge—through many dangers, toils, and snares.

Ordinary folks slogging along because of God’s grace

A black Christmas and a life turned around

Wrongly accused—again

Another bomb threat, and a dead pig on the kitchen floor

“Sorting these pieces, finding a pattern. . . .”

A visit from Mom

Airstrip escapades on a trip to Uwa-land

Those were the quirky days the Lord had made.

A matter of life or death

Please, God, don’t make me go!

God your Father knows your needs even before you tell Him.

My choice: The pain of courage or the shame of cowardice

Three vulnerable women, three small children—easy targets

He couldn’t say the words “plane crash” but. . . .

The Whistling Place

Wayuu-land

Fear is a curious thing.

God, “our last and feeblest resource”

When the going gets tough, you can count on a JAARS pilot.

“We was cripples all of us. . . .”

The mundane, chaotic, unexpected, and seemingly inconsequential

“God’s in His heaven—All’s right with the world.”

Our big decision: Would we stay or leave?

Without young people, how poor our lives would be.

“We’re coming back later and if you’re here, we’ll kill you.”

It’ll be the hardest thing you’ve ever done.

If a man’s gift is teaching, let him teach.

Better, higher, and finer than anything I could have dreamed

At the hanger in The Evangel one last time

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Glossary

Endnotes

Sujets

Informations

Publié par
Date de parution 04 juin 2019
Nombre de lectures 0
EAN13 9780692196533
Langue English
Poids de l'ouvrage 1 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0400€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

Please, God, Don’t Make Me Go!
“Linda K. Thomas's memoir, Please, God, Don't Make Me Go! , is more than the story of a heel-dragging servant, it's a historical portrait of project, place, and community. Before reading this book, I thought all missionaries were out thumping Bibles and preaching, maybe working in medical clinics during the week. I'd never heard of Wycliffe Bible Translators and the work they do, and my mental image of Colombia was simple: ‘It's dangerous. You go there, you die!’ More than once it seemed possible Linda or others in her story might just do that, whether from a bullet, snake bite, or plane crash. Each chapter seemed to bring a new challenge, some personal, some community-wide, and suspense remained high. I find special relevance in this story forty years later as an example of life off the grid. Whether or not her testimonies of faith during her personal challenges resonate with you, you're bound to close the covers with deep respect for the resourcefulness of the Lomalinda community in Colombia, South America, and insight into the political climate during the late 1970s.” Sharon Lippincott , author of The Heart and Craft of Lifestory Writing and The Heart and Craft of Writing Compelling Description , and two memoirs, The Albuquerque Years and Adventures of a Chilehead
“Love of God and a desire to trust and serve Him underlie every bit of Linda K. Thomas’s memoir, Please, God, Don’t Make Me Go! It’s the story of her initial resistance to a calling and her ultimate joy in answering it. With letters, anecdotes, history, and in lucid, engaging prose she chronicles her journey as a behind-the-scenes missionary in Lomalinda, Colombia, from 1976-1979. Thomas highlights vividly and intimately the immediate challenges and rewards of entering a country and culture where everything is new—landscape, transportation, housing, creatures, flowers, food, drinks. Adventures and surprises abound, for her and for the reader. Throughout is the authority of a sharp mind, good eye, and loving heart. Many descriptive pages are poetic litanies that are stand-alone beautiful. This is a book one can enjoy for the style, the humor, the knowledge, and the message. It’s a book to own and to share.” R. M. Kinder , award-winning author
“Initially Linda K. Thomas did not have control of her life in Lomalinda. She couldn't be the mother, wife, or woman she always envisioned. Truth is, Linda was never in control back home in Seattle, either. But in Lomalinda, she had the faith, begrudgingly at first, to force herself to live out the truth that the One who loves us and our families more than we do is indeed in control. Once she figured that out, everything fell perfectly into place, with no messes, failures, or doubts. . . . Or not. Oh, if it was only so simple! That was only the beginning of her adventure. And what an adventure it was! Linda's memoir will entertain you, challenge you, inspire you, and haunt you. If you are like me, you will wish her husband, Dave, had left well enough alone and let them live out their lives as good parents, good friends, good Christians, and good people—in Seattle. At least early on, you will. At times I told myself, ‘See! See, I was right! Dave should have let them stay in the Pacific Northwest.’ But deep down, I never really believed I was right. Linda’s writing is just that good. Thank God for the Thomas family and for Linda's incredible gift of telling a story. That gift became a gift for me. And it will for you, as well.” William A. Sanders , award-winning and Pulitzer Prize-nominated writer and editor, and author of Staying: A Multi-Generational Memoir of Rescue and Restoration
“Linda K. Thomas has delivered another captivating memoir from her family’s service on the mission field. In Please, God, Don’t Make Me Go! Linda invites readers to a turbulent time in a volatile region. Threats from anti-American Marxist guerrillas were just one of the many very good reasons not to move to 1970s Colombia. But Linda, her husband, and their two young children answered God’s call anyway, and her account is a reminder that a call to the mission field is a call to sacrifice. It can be uncomfortable, challenging, and at times tragic. But Linda’s story also reveals the amazing work God accomplishes through His people when we trust Him with what seems impossible.” Bob Creson , President/CEO, Wycliffe Bible Translators USA
“A humorous, adventure-filled, inspirational memoir.” Stan C. Smith , author of seven adventure novels
“Linda K. Thomas excelled in showing that while she believed in God, her faith allowed her to question His role, and hers, in her life. This story will appeal to readers who struggle with God because Linda shows that’s normal for humans and characteristic of an active, loving relationship with Him. In a writing style that is engaging and clear, Linda shows God as a true partner in her journey.” G. A. Edwards , speaker, editor, author of Mirror Images , and founder of Writers of Warrensburg
“There’s a vast difference between knowing truth and walking it out. While the former is vital, the latter transforms us. Linda's memoir, written with warmth and wit, demonstrates the life-changing power experienced when the truth of God’s Word is applied. This book is a must-read for anyone wrestling with fear in response to divine assignments. Her example of ‘doing it afraid’ encourages readers to do the same. Therein lies the path to greater intimacy with the Lord—something that head knowledge about spiritual matters alone cannot grow in us.” Grace Fox , Global worker, international speaker, and author of Moving from Fear to Freedom: A Woman’s Guide to Peace in Every Situation , www.gracefox.com
“In central Colombia lies a vast grassland, the llanos . There on the shores of an isolated lake, the Summer Institute of Linguistics built Lomalinda—‘pretty hill’—their center of operations for reaching out to indigenous peoples with a focus on literacy and Bible translation. It was staffed with dedicated people from North America and Europe. Linda K. Thomas and her family volunteered to work in this unique community but upon arriving, she entered a whole new world and struggled with the heat, snakes, new foods, and language. Her well-written book documents the help new colleagues offered, her change in attitude, and the joys of living in Lomalinda. Over time, the roars of howler monkeys and the putt-putt of motorbikes became the sounds of home. Sweat running down her back felt normal. The flow of Linda’s story is excellent, her descriptions are detailed and engaging, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.” Jon Arensen , Professor of Anthropology, Houghton College, and author of several books including Drinking the Wind: Memoirs of an African Odyssey , Where Antelope Roam , and other stories of Africa

Copyright © 2019 Linda K. Thomas
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by reviewers, who may quote brief passages in a review.
Unless noted otherwise, Scripture is paraphrased.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by Permission. All rights reserved.
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any Web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author.
Author photograph by Chase Kelly
Poetry by Stacy Sanchez and Janet Bly used by permission
Interior photos property of the author except where noted
Printing by IngramSpark
Printed in the United States of America
Published by Wayfaring Wordsmith
California Washington Missouri
Paperback ISBN: 978-0-692-19647-2
Ebook ISBN: 978-0-692-19653-3
This is a work of creative nonfiction. Because these events happened nearly half a century ago, some people’s memories might not match mine, but memory is a wobbly thing—for both writer and readers. Based on journal entries, letters I wrote in Lomalinda, verifiable historical incidents, and accounts supplied by many people, I believe I’ve written accurately about places, dates, events, individuals, and situations. I recreated dialogue to portray the original conversation in tone and content. For security reasons, I changed some names, as noted.
Dedication
I dedicate this memoir to the people of Lomalinda. You’ll always have a special place in my heart. Who would I be today if you hadn’t welcomed and mentored me?
And to Dave, my husband of fifty-one years and counting. Life with you and our God has been one adventure after another.
And to our kids, Matt and Karen, who enriched those three years in Lomalinda in delightful ways. Thanks for joining us—not that you had a choice!
And to the friends and relatives who supported my family and me during our Lomalinda years with their prayers, finances, letters, and packages.
And to those who have been labeled—if only by themselves—the lily-livered, the weaklings, and the scaredy-cats; to the worried, the anxious, and the nervous nellies; to the mousy, the fretful, and the yellowbellies.
To you I say this: Learn from my mistakes. Don’t imitate my cowardice and initial lack of faith. You don’t have to renew your membership in the Society of the Faint-Hearted. Instead, believe this:
Everyone knows fear. Everyone. The questions we each must ask are: What will I do with my fear? How can I turn it into an opportunity?
Always remember—and don’t forget— what you’ve seen God do. Preserve those memories. And be sure to tell your children and

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