When my friend Tod passed away, I wanted something to remind me of him. I have a couple of things he gave me, but I wanted something that would say this is Tod. He always had his walking stick with feathers on it. At his service a man came up to me and said I made Tod his walking stick and I’ll make you one, and then at Church one of the men made me a walking stick too. I ended up liking this one the best. Like Tod’s it had feathers on it. It has become a treasure because I know the man personally. He comes to Church every week.
I picked up the first walking stick. It is nice. It had John 3:16 carved into it, and 2 pieces of deer leather wrapped around it with arrowheads tied around the stick with a heavy cord. What finished the walking stick was the cross on top. It was too tall for me, but still very nice. Now I have two Native walking sticks. I knew someone would come along and like the first one, five months later we find ourselves hosting Missionaries from Malawi Africa. It was exciting to have them with us. This is our first time of hosting and it was delightful. At the Church they shared their testimony. We stayed afterward and the Church was able to sit down and eat with them. They spoke English which helped.
Both have been educated in Nazarene Schools. Mr. was a District Superintendent and resigned from that position because they both felt called to go to Malawi, which is a very poor part of the country. She has all of her studies finished and will be ordained. Her calling is to empower women by teaching them to sew on sewing machines and selling what they make. They both are winning others to Christ.
They stayed overnight in the parsonage. Over breakfast we learned from each other. We were able to visit for almost 2 hours. I showed Timothy the Native walking stick. He of course loved it. We found out that Rev. Timothy could have two carry-ons, and the walking stick would count as one. We were so excited that He could take the Native walking stick, made in Grand Coulee Washington, USA! We gave Grace a mirror compact that said, “Not by sight, but by faith.” She loved her gift as much as Timothy loved his. Timothy told me one more thing that made me realize that this was the right thing to do. He said all the Chiefs in Africa had walking sticks. Now he has one of his own.
I end with my Scripture that I read a little different after meeting the missionaries.
Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Blessings,
Pastor Wanda