This last week we went to Victoria Falls, which is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It is the world’s biggest waterfall in square feet. Its height tops out at 108 meters and its width is 1,708 meters. In comparison it would be the size of 34 football fields (American Football) sitting side-by-side and standing upright. The indigenous name for the falls is Mosi-oa-Tunya, which means “the smoke that thunders,” This seems to be a very good name considering that the mist or “smoke” that the waterfall creates sometimes towers over 400 meters, 4 times the height of the falls themselves.
As we walked up to this massive, powerful force of nature, I could hear the thunder coming through the trees and I could see the mist rising overhead. The expectation was huge as the roar of the water crashing against the rocks below grew louder with each step. As it came into view I thought that my expectation was too big and would lessen the experience and make the falls seem small, but this was not the case. When we came thru the final group of trees the falls came into full view, and I came face to face with the majestic power of Mosi-oa-Tunya. I don’t have the verbal capabilities of portraying with words what I was seeing and a picture can’t help you understand the sound and feel of what I experienced. It was truly breathtaking.
As I looked on from the first viewpoint I saw the falls extend down one side of this canyon and into a thick mist that made them seem like they extended into eternity. I could have walked away at this point and still been stupefied by the beauty and power of the sight that was in front of me. But as all tourists must do, I kept walking down the boardwalk that was constructed on the opposite side of the canyon.
To reach the second viewpoint we had to venture into the mist. As we walked we were drenched by what seemed like rain but was coming up out of the depths of the canyon. With each viewpoint I was able to see deeper into the mist that at first I wasn’t able to see thru; so with each viewpoint I was able to see more and more of the falls and it occurred to me that what I saw at first was just a small piece of the massive landscape. All the while, as I looked down the canyon further I couldn’t see the end of the falls thru the heavy mist. I thought to myself that if I could just keep going I could see how big, how great, how massive this waterfall actually is.
Here in this adventure and in this journey I find an allegory to our walk with Christ. Being brought into this world, right off the bat I was given a loving and supportive family. I was born into a country that, along with other freedoms, was based on the freedom of worship. I was also brought up in a Christian home, in a church that has always been my extended family, and I was given opportunities and support to become whatever I set my heart to. I could have stopped there and known that I had a life that was truly blessed by God. I could have stayed at home inside my comfort zone and been perfectly happy with the life I was living. Yet God calls us not to be comfortable in our own ability but to be comfortable in our faith that He is in control of all things.
As I sat in the midst of the mist my mind kept going to the song “Oceans” by Hillsong United, the first verse of which goes like this,
You call me out upon the waters, the great unknown,
where feet may fail, and there I find you in the mystery,
in oceans deep, my faith will stand.
You see, God is calling us into the unknown, into the mystery. We all have seen a glimpse of the power of God or perhaps a glimpse of his blessings. But as we continually walk where He calls us, where our faith must stand, He unveils a little more of who He is and the blessings He has for us. He is constantly calling us into the unknown, into the mystery where we have to trust in Him and His control over everything in our lives. With each step we take He shows us more and more of His character and covers us in His blessing, just as with each step further I was able to see more of the falls and with each step the mist covered me more and more until I was soaked to the bone.
As I’m ending my first month and preparing to leave Zambia, I know if I went home from here I could be happy with the experience I have had. I will always remember the orphans I was able to see and play with. I will look back and be glad for the opportunity to share the gospel and my testimony with the college kids that are under such pressure to be sexually active. I will never forget going to the home for girls that had been caught up in the sex trade and just showing them that they are loved; and even though they have been used, abused and rejected by society, they will never be rejected from the body of Christ.
As I said I could go home today, back to the comfort of my home and my family and friends, and be so grateful for the experiences I have had here. But God is continually calling me into the mist, into the unknown that comes with each new day here on the world race. So please continually pray for me as my team and I follow the call on our lives to the people in Malawi. Pray for health as we go to each country and grow in our spiritual walk as we continually search for the Kingdom of Christ.
