On February 13, 2009 Beverly, my beloved wife, went to be with her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Beverly had an eleven month fight with cancer. I miss her. We had only been married 14 months. In fact we only met for the first time February 10, 2007. "Was it worth it?" She asked me that several times in January. My answer was and is ABSOLUTELY YES! It was a most awesome relationship. "Adjustments?" friends would ask, and we laughed and said to each other, "What adjustments?" (OK she didn't like it when I licked my knife.) Neither of us was interested in the other beyond spiritual mentorship at the start. I saw Christ in her. She exhibited a deep personal relationship with God and experienced God working in her life in a deep and meaningful way. Her favorite phrase was "talk to the Boss," about everything and I do mean everything, and always do what He says. She lived Phil. 4:6. But both of us argued with God as we "talked to the Boss" when we felt God nudging us toward each other. I can only guess how empty my life would have been had one or both of us not been listening or had chosen to disobey God on this one. This was a marriage made in heaven. I'm glad we were listening and in the end willing to obey. Should you ever argue with God and not do what He wants you to do you will always miss enormous joy. How could the God who planned the universe not know what is best for you? Talk to the Boss! Obey the Boss! "You will have peace that surpasses all human understanding," Philippians 4:7.

"Watching God Work"-Yesterday

"Watching God Work" was Bev's phrase. It was never "her work" or "others' work," it was always "God's work." God gave us wonderful experiences together in Africa last year "Watching Him Work" in Kampala and Gulu Uganda through Action International Ministries. Prison ministry, street children, orphans, radio ministry, pastoral training, Butterfly Moms (young women abducted as children for sex slavery now rescued but with both child and AIDS), Men of Courage (young men abducted as children and made "killing machines" now rescued but traumatized). Both men and women without education. There are now education programs for both, and for their children.

In Zambia the schools are doing very well. A new church is being built, as I write, at Streams of Living Waters Church beside its' new school, completed in 2007. A new Action Bible Institute has been started for pastors, taught by two deeply spiritual former US pastors. Sixteen men are in regular attendance. Not only are they learning for themselves but they are being taught how to pass their new knowledge on to their congregations. It was awesome "Watching God Work"!

"Watching God Work"-Today

In 2005, "Grandma Bev" was "Watching God Build" a school complex at Emmanuel Church in Kenyama Lusaka Zamia. A retired school teacher was also watching, and offered Beverly her own farm for another school campus in another area. While viewing this farm at that time, God showed Beverly where on the property He wanted a high school, with boarding and dining facilities, an elementary school, medical clinic, worship center and shops for a variety of skills and agricultural training just as He had previously shown her the arranging of the various buildings in Kenyama. Beverly was unable to proceed with this new project at that time. This High School will be an essential addition to Lusaka as there is nowhere for public school graduates from Emmanuel School, Streams of Living Water School and other Christian public schools to attend. All government High Schools while "free" demand fees for books, uniforms and shoes and these kids have nothing.

In January 2009 God made clear that this farm property was still available. The donor would give it to me in the event of Beverly's death. God has given Beverly's vision to me and I am prayerfully proceeding with this building project under the auspices of Mission for Advancing Theological Education & Friends Committed to Caring (MATE/FCC), which already has ministries in Zambia and other countries. The property will be "owned" by an African board on which I will sit.

Action International Ministries Zambia is, under God's direction and guidance, in a period of consolidation of existing ministries. In January, as Beverly and I prayerfully considered God's direction to leave Action so that we could begin this new project with MATE/FCC and return to Zambia together, Beverly suddenly took a severe turn for the worse, passing away in February.

"Watching God Build" a Team

God has aligned MATE with a large Zambian church to provide us much needed guidance. Pray for them. God has directed a young man, an architectural student to request an available grant from The University of Toronto for development of this school project, this summer. Pray that the grant will be provided if it is His will. God has led a volunteer to design a web page, literature and the format for this letter. God has provided several to assist me with computer skills (now that's a really big one) and various computer applications so far totally beyond my grasp.

I have no doubt that God will add to this team any who are listening for His guidance. Above all God asks you to pray - "talk to the Boss" for workers (Matt. 9:36), volunteers and full time, here in North America and in Africa. We believe that we need a volunteer Administrative Assistant here in Toronto to handle every aspect of the Canadian end of this project. Do pray and obey!!! Do totally submit to God's direction in your life!!! You will be shocked and thrilled at the peace and joy you will experience as you let God manage your life!!! Don't miss the thrill!!!

"Watching God Work"- In Me

I do not understand God's ways and timing sometimes but I do find as I continue to experience God in my relationship with Him, "talking to the Boss," that I have perfect peace and joy when and only when I listen, trust and obey Him. During the period of Beverly's increasing illness, yes increasing pain and need of advanced medical care, we only had peace when we continued our plans to return to Zambia together. Humanly this was, and we knew it, a ridiculous idea. But each time we stopped planning, our peace left us. Until near the very end. Only then could we see that God did not look as though He was going to make it possible for Beverly to return. We had read Philippians several times prior to her death including during the two hours before she died. But only in rereading it again several days after did I notice Chapter 1 verses 25 and 27. Paul, in a Roman prison, knowing he was near the end of his life, "knew" (verse 25) that he would remain and see the Philippians again, yet in verse 27 he says "whether I come (to see you) or whether I don't ....So Paul "knew" that he did not "know for sure." James clearly tells us in Ch. 4:13-15 that all plans must proceed only with the thought, "if the Lord wills". The Lord did not "will" for Beverly to return to Zambia.

Today April 2nd confirmation came from British Air. I leave "if the Lord wills" in June for several months in Lusaka to continue God's work on this project. That was a miracle too. It has taken between 6 and 8 hours on computer and phone to get Bev's BA air points transferred for my use...Give Thanks!!! Phil.4:6. ...God has promised to provide "ALL our NEEDS," Phil. 4:19.

God had many more promises for me in those final moments of Beverly's life. This one stood out: Philippians Ch. 1:6

"...and I am sure of this that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion...".

And then there is Grandma Bev's ultimate promise from God,

"He who calls you is faithful He will surely do it." 1 Thess. 5:24

If God has called me He will make it happen. My job is to listen, trust and obey and "Watch God Work".

“Watching God work”