As I earnestly prayed for wisdom and cast my burden upon the Lord, the answer came immediately and quite unexpectedly, leaving me in quite a shock at God’s goodness and mercy in answering my prayer in the unique way He did. God seemed to have been planning His answer to my prayer years ahead. Please let me explain.
We are thankful that God has called us to Mali to do medical missionary work as the right arm of the gospel and to plant Seventh-day Adventist churches. In that context, I have recently been given quite an unexpected task: starting a soap-making industry. What does a soap-making ministry have to do with medical missionary work and church planting? This was an intriguing question I also pondered.
“Attention should be given to the establishment of various industries so that poor families can find employment. . . Let farmers, financiers, builders, and those who are skilled in various arts and crafts go to neglected fields to improve the land, to establish industries, to prepare humble homes for themselves, and to help their neighbors” (Ministry of Healing, page 194).
I knew nothing about making soap before coming to Mali, Africa. But God is teaching me, and I have been learning a lot. Our soap continues to improve in quality, and I am getting to the point where I need to upgrade my facilities for more high-scale production, like acquiring larger soap molds and cutters.
So I began researching online for professional-grade supplies for handcrafted soap. A manual soap cutter costs $1,800, far beyond my budget. Then a thought came to mind . . . if I had the right parts, I could create a homemade version. As I breathed a prayer, a bolt with a recess in the top that was perfect for making the wire soap cutter I needed fell right by my desk. Praise God, now I could thread guitar string through the opening in the bolt, stretch it tight and connect it to a board over my soap mold, creating an instant and adjustable wire cutter.
This particular bolt appeared to be a lead seal screw, which is not typically used for wooden desks, and the hole seemed to serve no purpose in the design and function of this desk. Even after looking on the internet, I have not found a reason for using a screw with this hole when any regular bolt would have worked. Indeed, God had prepared His answer far beforehand. I am amazed and praise Him still that it fell loose right when I prayed.I know He will help me get soap molds and cutters made for high-scale production, which I pray will be a blessing for many in Mali as it can provide an industrial opportunity and source of income. Further, it could be a source of supplemental income for our medical missionary work, enabling us to provide care to poor families in Mali.
God loves us each with an everlasting love. He knows our life and everything we go through, even years in advance. He makes a way for us. I love Him and praise Him for His goodness and grace. Please pray that God will lead and guide us in our medical missionary work, soap-making industry and evangelism efforts in Mali.
