SENT TO BLESS


        The ten-minute walk from the Banhof had not succeeded in ridding me of this dreadful feeling of fear and confusion.  As Don and I got to the library where we have been doing volunteer work for the past couple of months, an oppressive dread of what awaited us was coming over me.  The last few nights have been sleepless as we tried to figure out what we could possibly do to resolve the confusion and problems we were running into.  We felt stymied in our efforts to function in the way we were supposed to.  There had been many prayers bathed in tears as we tried to make sense of our situation, and yet no clear answers seemed to be forthcoming.  Confused, discouraged, and feeling so alone, we felt useless.  The start of each day brought a sickening feeling that whatever could go wrong would undoubtedly go wrong.  We started to consider going home before our term was up.  

Don and I were on a six-month missionary term in Berlin, Germany directing a Christian library with a coffee bar.  We had ten volunteers worked with us assisting patrons, keeping the library shelves correctly stacked with the books, classifying, lending and receiving books, making gourmet coffee and making sure the library was kept clean and in order.  Though we were sent to manage the library, we had a lot of problems as we were pulled into a power struggle in the administration of the ministry.  Some days were harrowing, and we felt that we were entirely alone as we struggled to keep functioning.  We felt subjected to hurtful words and experiences that we couldn't share with anyone but our home office in the US.  We tried to be as discreet as possible to keep our volunteer staff from knowing our problems.

This particular morning it was with a heavy heart that we made our way to the library, trusting that somehow God would give us the grace to do what we were supposed to.  No sooner had we rolled up the window louvers and unlocked the front door when we heard steps coming into the library.  I went to the reception desk.  As I looked up, I saw Karl, the German husband of Linda Ubrig, one of our faithful volunteers, coming in.  Wearing a broad smile on his face, he approached me.  

"I was in the neighborhood and just couldn't go by without coming in here."  Taking my hand, he continued," God wants me to bless you." And with this, he started praying, "Our heavenly Father, I pray for this, my sister in Christ . .  ."

I no longer remember his exact words, but I know how he asked that God bless Don and me that day.  Through my closed eyes, the tears formed as I felt God's tremendous presence in this brother's loving act.  God knew I needed that.  Here was a brother who knew nothing of our predicament, but was sent by Him to tell us that we were not alone; that through it all, He was holding our hands.

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