Years ago - about 40 years really - I said, “Yes Lord, I’ll follow you.” About 20 years after making that commitment, I began trying to figure out what it actually meant for me and my family. So I began a serious search to put a real meaning into that five word commitment. I wanted to know what "Yes, Lord" means for the DuValls. I knew "Yes, Lord" couldn't possibly mean sit in the pew; I wanted to put teeth to the phrase and make sense of my commitment. So after several months of deep Bible study, prayer and thought, I wrote this simple purpose statement: “I will bring the world closer to Christ beginning with my family.”. This purpose has guided my family through many decisions both big and small for all these years since. This statement was written well before we felt called to overseas missions. I didn't even consider the international portion of that statement when I wrote it; I just didn't feel like personally limiting what God might want to do with us. The interesting thing is that when we finally felt that call to foriegn missions it made our decision to take our very young daughter and move to a place we had never seen so much easier. For us it wasn't a leap into the unknown, but rather it was just a new turn in the adventure called “Following Jesus.” That statement kept us overseas when it was rough being there. There were times the language acquisition was extremely difficult and quite frustrating. There were times when we felt terribly alone, but we stayed because that was the purpose of our lives. We never questioned our decision. That statement even brought us back to Georgia to care for aging parents when we really didn't want to come back to the states. You see, Costa Rica was our home by then. Our purpose has led us to places we never could have imagined nor dreamed possible.
Recently that statement helped us make another decision. As most of you know, both of my parents and Deb’s father have passed away. It's been a long five years of mostly constant care, and as you might have guessed it has been a very hard few years for all of us both physically, mentally and spiritually, but it was worth every minute, not only because we loved our folks, but also because we were fulfilling that part of our lives’ purpose. Right now we are getting our batteries recharged on the thirteenth floor in a condo in Panama city. We are getting ready for the next adventure.
A couple of months ago I was approached by Jimmy Barry, who is the president/CEO of International Missionaries for Christ. Apparently, a mutual friend Mike Faulkner recommended me to serve alongside Jimmy with his mission agency. I had never heard of this mission, nor did I know Jimmy Barry. In fact, I wasn't looking to return overseas. It was a shock when he called. Honestly, I had figured in my mind that since the IMB was no longer looking to return us older guys back overseas, that my international adventures would be limited to leading the occasional mission trip, helping to plant ethnic churches here in the US and maybe influencing young men and women to consider a lifetime of service overseas. I didn't even dare to hope that I would be able to again call myself a real live missionary. Then out of the blue, Jimmy called and offered to buy my lunch. We were scheduled to meet for an hour or so, but when we finally called it a meeting almost five hours had passed. He asked me to consider working with him, and I said I would talk to Debbie and pray about it. He asked for references and left our waitress a really big tip. The next week I did my research on him and his mission agency and came away very impressed. At the same time he was contacting my references. I think they exaggerated too much - probably just to get rid of me - so they made me seem like a reasonable, well-intentioned adult, but whatever they said didn't scare him away.
A week or so later he asked me to travel to Africa with him to see the work. At first I hesitated partly because of family issues and partly to continue searching my heart and partly because it is 20 hours in the air. My first thoughts were: “Why me God? It's Africa. What do I know about Africa? I speak Spanish.”. I did pray about it, but I found no peace. I did find the thought exciting though, and it was nice for the old ego to be considered for the position. When Barry called again, I suggested that there were better candidates. In fact, I recommended a certain friend of mine. I told Barry that my friend was fitter, faster, younger, and smarter. Barry mostly ignored my recommendation and asked to meet face to face one more time. He said, “I want you. You were IMB trained. This mission has continued IMB ministries that were abandoned. I want you because you can work across the cultures. I want you because you have been there and done that. I want your contacts and your spirit.”. (Actually, that's a pretty good paraphrase of what he said.). After he said those nice things, I thought for a few moments, and my life’s purpose statement came flooding back into my mind, and I said, “Well then I guess I’m going to Africa. I don't need to see the work, it's what I’m supposed to do.”.
This past Sunday I stood in front of people I love with a letter of resignation in my pocket. I decided not to read it, but rather share from my heart its contents while looking them in the eye. You see, I love them too much to read a simple letter. I’ll be with Macland Baptist Church until July 14 or so, and then I’m on a plane July 16 bound for Entebbe, Uganda, Africa. I’ll work on two continents. My missionary call and the purpose of our lives wil require me to be both in Africa and here in the US. I'll let you know more as I know more, but thank you for taking the time to read this note. Thank you for praying for us. I'll even ask that you consider joining our efforts in East Central Africa. I would love to host you - my friends - in your adventure of "FOLLOWING JESUS" overseas in Africa. Come with me to Kenya or Uganda. For us - it's Africa or bust.
