Nov. 30 - Dec. 13, 2020

Travel, and the Muslim World

Because of the sensitive nature of some activities, almost all names and places in this post have been changed or removed, some facts have been slightly altered (but are in essence true to what happened), and there are no photos (see me privately for those!).

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Mon., Nov. 30: I was invited to a significant contact’s home for lunch, and while there he noted that I had asked several times if I could be helpful, and that there was something I could uniquely fulfill: helping a young Somali man come to maturity in Christ on my return in January (my return is pending, but may well happen). 

This was on my heart the next morning when waking, and I wondered what to do beyond just “throwing a book” at him and telling him to answer the questions at the end of each chapter. Also, this young man has at least one graduate degree, is highly articulate and asks appropriate, focused questions that I felt there needed to be something that would fully engage him with real “meat” to chew on, and that would call him to account. There was also a prompt about a particular from Scripture that needed to be addressed, and in response to the command to “take every thought captive”* I immediately got up and logged it. Like the widow’s cruse of oil** one thing flowed into another, and two hours later when it came to an end I had a seven point curriculum/agenda to work out with him, and which I felt met this unique need. I’ve since shown it to the man who asked me to do this, and he also has been very supportive that I’m looking forward to what this might hold, for the young man it is intended for and possibly for others as well.

The young man and I had already met, but the next day he and I went to a restaurant for a substantive, open-ended visit. It was very good natured, and covered some serious spiritual ground as well as other life issues - it was a good and necessary preface to further engagement. In addition to asking about his coming to Christ, I asked “If I bring back 100 books from the USA (it won’t be 100, but for the sake of discussion), what should the top three content areas be?” His responses weren’t surprising, but very helpful to confirm what the priorities should be.

Tues., Dec. 1: Had the privilege to meet a couple who has been working among a large group of Muslims for some time, and had a chance to help them establish a meaningful working relationship with others in like ministry.

Meanwhile, back at the guest house the ladies were making their annual batch of beriberi, a spice/herb powder blend of red hot pepper, sun dried garlic, rosemary, and other items.

Thurs., Dec. 3: In the afternoon I left for a four day trip to a Muslim country, with two trusted friends who minister both to Muslims and to Christians from the Muslim world. On arrival we had to negotiate the covid issue (no problem) and then on to immigration. The eVisa website hadn’t accepted some of my information so I planned to get a visa on arrival, at the airport. The man I dealt with was very brusque, and handed my passport and letter of invitation off to another official who told me to stand against the wall ... while he gadded off to do other things. Eventually he came past and I asked what was happening, but off he went again and passed my passport to another (polite) official who came and said they were needing to contact the references in my letter of invitation. Oh ... but that shouldn’t take long (and they’ve had sufficient time already). Not much later the tall man returned and again said “Follow me,” took me to a door that said “Transit,” unlocked it, told me to go in and to the top of the stairs, and locked the door behind me. Oh … oh!! One could see sufficiently but the staircase was not well lit like the other public areas, but I went to the top as instructed. It said “VIP Lounge” above one of the doors and there were a lot of Emiratis (Arabs) seated in the main lounge, who were talking vigorously and obviously not concerned about their states of affairs.

Time continues to elapse, with no trace of anyone responsible and I’m now separated by a locked door from my co-travelers, and no wifi (no chance of communication with them). I got out my laptop and finished some work, but am increasingly wondering what’s really going on – is it a matter of not being able to contact my references? Is there something else?? The one co-traveler and I had very briefly talked about a few Christian things on the plane, in low, hushed tones – had someone heard us and turned us in? Was an interrogation developing, for me and for him? ... ??

We had arrived at 6:20pm, and it was now 8:30pm. All the other people in the “Transit Lounge” had just left on two flights, and the prospect of those being the last flights of the evening with no further contact with any airport personnel was becoming increasingly real. I had spoken to two airline agents assisting with those flights saying I needed assistance, but when the flights were gone, so were the attendants. At about 9:00pm a white man came up the far steps, came directly to me and asked “Are you Galen Reed?” “Yes.” “I’m the one who wrote your letter of invitation. Go back down the way you came up, and they will unlock the door and let you out.”

The airport manager/CEO happened to come into the airport, and on learning of my situation gave the order to grant a visa and release me. Apparently several days before arrival the country had decided to stop granting visas on arrival, but they had not been forthright with me about that being the real issue, and were holding me to “no visa on arrival” even though we had contacted their embassy and had been told such would be available. Once “deliverance” came though, it was quick and speedy – one of the others said it was 12 minutes until I had my visa and was outside the airport. Hallelujah!

It took a day to deescalate from this, but we continued on our way, meeting various Somali and other Christians. Among other things, I met a Somali Christian who told me to his father had gone through mission schools, and whose son is the 3rd generation in a row of Somali Christians. This man’s family of origin is apparently all Christian, and he shared the grief of three of his brothers being martyred for their faith, the last being in July of this year. There was also a young Somali lady who has been a Christian less than a year, but whose vibrance, interest, and commitment to the things of the Lord is truly a joy - her baptism is scheduled to happen yet in 2020. There was also a Somali Christian family with a recently and profoundly handicapped father (and hence no job), a glowing mother, and three gracious daughters. It was a joy to watch their vibrance as well, and when, in later observing a meal of women only, the one daughter led in a beautiful, extended prayer.

I had an opportunity to show the 50th anniversary slide show of Somalia Mennonite Mission to a group of 15-20 people. Sharing this information from past with Somali Christians and others was a real highlight - it provided longer term information of the history of Somali Christians, and Christian activity. All culminated the morning I left with our seasoned host saying that many had been encouraged by my visit. I came expecting to play “second fiddle” and very much be in the background. What a blessing that the body of Christ had been genuinely edified and built up. 

In the closing days I had a chance to debrief with my main contact in the area. Again, there was affirmation of the encouragement I had been, and of the interactions that had happened. A special blessing for him was that it was Mennonites that had led him to Christ, but because of the geo-politics of his situation those interactions had mostly stopped, quite a long time ago, and even though he wanted ongoing contact. My coming had helped to answer that desire, and helped to bring things full circle for him. Various other specifics were also discussed, some in extended detail and both in retrospect to the 10 weeks already spent, and in looking forward. It seems the door is open to return.

Sun., Dec. 6: In the evening I received word of Brother Mose Stoltzfus’s passing, after approximately 10 days in the hospital (he is senior pastor in my home congregation and a minister-at-large to the broader conservative Anabaptist church). I was able to get back to Addis the next afternoon as scheduled and had two hours to gather everything together and get back to the airport, where I had my return ticket to the US re-written to leave late that evening. The original plan was to return on Thurs./Fri. in time for the congregational Brothers Retreat, but this worked out well, that I was back in the US for all the services, as well as for the 3rd anniversary of my Father’s death (to be with my mother).

What a wonderful end to a highly eventful 10 weeks in the Horn of Africa! It was truly a joy, and seems that it was fruitful. What does the future hold? Contacts have been established that the next steps forward are possible. Over the Christmas break I will also need to confirm whether to switch academic programs to the Biblical Studies program in Jerusalem, or continue with Polemics & Apologetics to Islam - there are serious merits with either program, as well as real limitations. In retrospect, God has been faithful and good, but what has transpired has been a reminder of the need for God’s protection in all of life’s dimensions, that anything less is folly and unfruitfulness!

There might be a post here in early January as plans become more firm; otherwise, posts will begin again on my anticipated return overseas.

A blessed Christmas and New Year to all! May you know God’s provision, protection, and guidance in 2021!

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*  II Cor. 10:5. We usually think of this verse telling us to take every bad thought captive, but we need to take every good thought captive too, to make sure they come to full fruition!

** I Kings 17:8-16.

Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you without blemish before the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and for ever. Amen. Jude 24–25.

Two hymns:

Until Then

We Shall Walk Through the Valley

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