Africa's Heart

Report from Africa #1
Amathunzi Nature Reserve, South AfricaWe are back in the solitude and silence of Africa.
 
Our prayer walk today took us on an unusual path. We were seeking to visit a dried up dam near our cottage. Our walk took us down the well used road until we hit a seldom used path used by the safari car. The rough path reflected the seldom use.
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Animal droppings seem to be everywhere. Gemsbock, Zebra, Mongoose, Bush Rat, Eland, Kudu and many other signs spot our trail. Then Cathy notices a single quill from a Porcupine. Excited she picks up her treasure and smiles.

The trail takes us toward the dam until I notice something just off the path. Dozens of Porcupine quills dotted an area nearby. Apparently the long black and white banded quills had been used to protect an alarmed animal during an altercation.

Once we arrived at the dried up dam only a few Egyptian Geese were present. The dam was almost dried up. 

We attempted to find another path back to the main road. We could see our cottage in the far distance. But no road appeared on the return trip. We followed a dried bed of water that pointed in the direction we desired to go. But it became smaller and smaller. Finally it disappeared into the brush.

Well we said, let's cut across the field until we find the road. The brush became thicker and more dense. We were beginning to struggle to find a open piece of ground to walk on. Finally we found a couple of animal tracks that cut a small path forward. We took it and carefully followed it until the road appeared.
We talked to each other about the pioneer path we had forged. But it was a mixture of sojourning, following worn ruts, tiny trails of hoof prints and struggling to step over the bush.

That is the kind of spiritual path that each of us travels on. No ones path is the same. We try and follow trails forged by others. We see our spiritual goal in the distance but the path seems to go blind every so often.

Jesus cut a pioneer path forward during his years of ministry. He expects us to do the same. Despite the waves of life and the winds that blow against you he expects us to also cut new ground ahead. It is our path that may become a fresh trail that leads others to the truth of Jesus.

Copyright © Danny Sartin and Deeper Still Missions. All Rights Reserved.
This on the field report is written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and our goal of missionary retention. Pictures are taken by Cathy and Danny Sartin in Africa.
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