Wherever two or three are gathered . . .

     I have this picture in my mind constantly.  Several things stand out in my mind when I see this picture.  First, there are Abbey and Hild sitting on stools with the Bibles opening, waiting for the study to  begin.  There is a person sitting with them facing us.  They are carrying on a conversation about day-to-day life. All three are seated on hand-carved wooden stools. There is a chair that is empty.  That day, the chair was for me.  I had been asked to lead the study on God's covenant with Abraham.
     This picture came to mind as I sat in my youth high school class with 3 students.   Sometimes I have none, and sometimes it is just one.  But I have learned to wait and see ... not who shows up, but who God sends.  That day in Kavanga the chief and one older lady came to the Bible study.  The rest of the village was off chasing cattle out of the village garden.  However, we waited over an hour for the chief and the lady to "show up."  I sat in that chair praying and waiting.  At some  point with the chatter of Hilda and Abbey in the background, I began to wonder why God would bring me here to teach for one person (remember the other two folks were still absent).
       Across the village, about 50-75 feet away I saw a kitten.  I have spent many hours practicing how to meow like a cat.  It works to get the attention of all cats but Prissy and Smoky at home.  This tiny kitten pricked up its ears, and came tearing full speed across the ground straight at me.  Two feet away it skidded to a stop (like in the cartoons) and realized I wasn't a cat.  Slowly it approached and I picked it up to pet it.  The picture above is just after I picked it up.  About this time the village chief arrived, and we started  the Bible study.  The kitten hung around while we studied Abraham's covenant with God.  No salvation, no great revelations, just a quiet study of God's Word in the bush surrounded by the village.  I was content
     So what is my point!  I think we read the Bible and assume that every time Jesus or one of the disciples taught or shared the Gospel someone was saved, or something miraculous happens.  Or maybe we think the angels in heaven are applauding and high-fiving each other because we taught or shared.   There were no crowds there at the village of Kavanga.  Nobody prayed the prayer of salvation, and the clouds didn't part and a dove descend on anyone.  However, the Truth was taught, the Gospel was shared, and I made a new feline friend.    I think of that famous line from the move Babe uttered by Farmer Hoggett, "That'll do pig!"   I was satisfied that day that I had been obedient in going and sharing.  For me that day, Jesus spoke to my heart and said, "That'll do Sikutanta!"
     That is not the end of the story.  A few weeks later, Rosemont's mission team arrived in Zambia.  Russell Cleveland had the opportunity to lead a Bible study at Kavanga.  They were still in the Old Testament, and probably Genesis.  They had a salvation that day!!  Same guy who sat with me and the Chief when I taught.  I really don't know.  I do know that lots of people have taught that Bible study, watering and fertilizing a seed originally planted in that man's heart by God!   Not one to take verses out of context in the Bible and build a theology, but I think the most important word in Matthew 28:19-20 is "Go!"