Exceedingly Abundantly Above

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 [NKJV]

We returned yesterday from our fourth missions opportunity in Botswana. Every memory and thought I have about the past two weeks leads me back to the above passage in Ephesians.

Last year a plan was made to take a college team from Mount Zion Baptist Church on mission to Gaborone, Botswana. My dear friend, Lisa Armstrong, shared she had always wanted the opportunity to go on mission to Africa, and requested to go along with us. Once arrangements were made for her to join us, the idea came to invite a few bereaved moms there to a luncheon to encourage and connect them with one another.

I purposefully say “the idea came” because I have no doubt now that it was not our idea, but God’s.

The small moms’ luncheon quickly turned into a weekend retreat for 14-20 parents, and then to a weekend retreat for 70 parents, and then the addition of a second event for the overflow of 70 more parents who could not fit in the facility for the retreat.

The second event, a one day “Bereaved Parents Gathering”, was hosted prior to the retreat on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, from 8 am- 5pm. Our initial plan was to model it after the While We’re Waiting events we facilitate in the US, but as the Spirit led and the day approached and unfolded, we ended up with an entirely different format.

Parents divided into smaller groups to share their stories with one another, followed by a large group session to discuss specific challenges and struggles of child loss. The weekend retreat that was held the following weekend (June 23-25), was formatted in the same way.

In the US when we host the retreats we are present and actively involved as facilitators in each of the sessions. Prior to The Gathering as we prayed about our roles in the event we felt strongly led we should not be present in their small groups as they shared their stories. The considerations that most influenced us in that decision were wanting them to have the freedom to speak in the heart language of many there (Setswana) without feeling the need to translate or interpret for us, as well as a desire to avoid unintentionally hurting someone by responding inappropriately through cultural ignorance to any specific situations that might be shared.

We had planned to lead the large group topic time discussion at The Gathering, but God raised up a humble and precious leader from the group to guide and translate that discussion as well, so we gladly stepped back allowing her to fill that role. Raising her up was once again God’s provision as much of the conversation centered around griefs specific to their cultural practices which would have been inappropriate for us to speak to.

The topic time at the weekend retreat did not require translation, but we followed what we had learned through The Gathering and chose once again not to interject ourselves into their discussion and primarily served the role of microphone transporters as group members took turns sharing challenges, hopes and encouragement with one another.

Both events were opened and concluded by Brent and Amanda Turner, (our partner missionaries living in Gaborone, Botswana) with the intention of connecting everyone there with someone living locally who can continue to point them to Christ and help them find community moving forward. Additionally, each of us on the team shared our stories of child loss, how Christ has carried and sustained us, and the Hope we have through the gospel. Brent concluded each of the events with a clear presentation of the gospel as well.

As I reflect on all we have seen God do the past two weeks alone, I stand in awe of Him yet again. I look at the progression of the events and see us like pin balls, strategically bounced to and fro as He directed each decision.

His faithfulness in guiding each step of the way is a powerfully encouraging reminder of His nearness to the brokenhearted. As we introduced ourselves at The Gathering we were moved to say “this is not about us” and we repeated it throughout that event as well as from beginning to end of the weekend retreat.

“This is not about us.” I believed it as I said it, but looking back across both events I am staggered by the reality of it. It absolutely was not about us, it was not our idea, and we can take no credit for anything that happened. From beginning to end it was God caring for the brokenhearted. He was and is moved with compassion for the grieving parents of Botswana and He was and is doing a mighty work there desiring to draw grieving parents there to Himself, the God of all comfort.

Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 [NASB95]

We closed out the weekend retreat by reminding the parents that the original idea was for a small luncheon, but God who does exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think had orchestrated all that they had experienced by His power and design to care for them specifically. We shared that God is clearly at work caring for grieving parents in Botswana and that we believe some of them are being presented with “an Esther moment.” That God brought them to the event to remind them of His care and to experience the comfort and understanding of community, to equip them to minister to other grieving parents moving forward.

For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise… from another place… who knows whether you have not come to this place for such a time as this? Esther 4:14 (paraphrase)

At the conclusions of both The Gathering and the weekend retreat parents stayed afterward to connect and begin planning ministry for bereaved parents moving forward. I can not wait to see how God works through them and others in the days ahead.

In addition to the two bereaved parents events, God opened a door for us to host a conference for approximately 40 church leaders and pastors on caring for grieving people. And a fourth event was hosted for counselors and health care providers to discuss mental health and grief care, where we were able to stress the profound importance of the Hope of Jesus Christ for suffering people.

I am indescribably grateful that God graciously chose to allow us, a team of grieving parents, the blessing of being used in some small way to care for and connect grieving parents with one another in Botswana. His tender compassion in allowing us to be used as part of His plan is further evidence of His nearness to us also, as fellow brokenhearted, and His faithfulness to use all things, even the worst of things, for our good and His glory.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to [His] purpose. Romans 8:28 [NASB95]

I stand in awe with praise and worship that He indeed is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

“1 Peter 1:23-25 What a great reminder! We are like a wisp of smoke, only here for a moment. This is not about us. Life is not about us. It is about God who is here for all eternity. So because it is about him, I want to dedicate the moment I’m here entirely to him.” – Sarah Harmening, excerpted from her journal entry the week before she left for Botswana and went Home instead.