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Dream
come true
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 DEREK
PERRY on a life changing trip to Africa |
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Derek...
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 s
a young boy I used to love watching wildlife programmes on the
television about Africa, especially the children’s ones like Tarzan
and Daktari with Clarence the cross eyed lion.
After watching these shows I would dream of great adventures -
catching wild animals on my camera, or owning my own zoo like
Gerald Durrell. Little did I know that over thirty years later
God would give me a great adventure in Africa, but not in a way
that I could have begun to imagine! This was not only going to
be three weeks of work, but also this was going to be the first
time that my girlfriend Immaculee and I were actually going to
meet.
We
had been e-mailing each other for over two years (just as pen
friends to start with) but we soon realised that we both wanted
to more than just friends. And after a very short time of sending
maybe one e-mail a week, it was nearly every day, and when possible
a few minutes talking on the telephone. For both of us this was
a huge step in faith in trusting that God would indeed bless our
relationship.
In
November 2002 Pastor Colin and I arrived at Kigali airport, after
a very long and tiring journey, to be met by Bishop Sadiki and
a small group of friends including Immaculee. I knew in my heart
from the moment that I saw her that she was the person I wanted
to marry and spend the rest of my life with, and the next day
she admitted she felt exactly the same.
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...Immaculee...
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Now
as all Christians will tell you, when God bestows his blessings
on you, it usually has more than your heart could wish for, and
in my case it is not only a loving fiancée but also her
beautiful little 5-year-old daughter Stella. We are praying that
we will be able to marry here in Tavistock in May this year, with
a civil service first at the registry office, then a service at
our church (Tavistock Community Church).
Our
plans for the future are to spend two more years here in Tavistock,
and then return to work and live in Africa. But we know only too
well that God may have a different plan for us. And as long as
we as a family honour what we believe God will call us to do,
then I know we have a future, with lots of adventures in it.
 hen
I arrived in Africa, I thought I would be able to handle any situation
that I came across. But no amount of reading, watching videos
or talking to other people can prepare you. I saw abandoned bombed-out
buildings where the smell of death still seems to linger in the
air. But, even stronger than this was the beauty of the countryside
with all its different colours and smells. On several occasions
I found myself wondering how on earth the war and the genocide
could have happened here.
In
the three weeks I was in Africa, I think I experienced every emotion
known to man. There were times I was very angry to think that
the Western world stood by and did nothing when the terrible events
of 1994 took place. Then we would drive to another village, and
maybe visit the small school, where we would be greeted by lots
of wonderful smiling faces. Here we would be able to witness first-hand
the Africa of the future being formed, and once again God would
remind me that we look forward with love and hope not back with
anger.
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...and
Stella
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The
first two weeks involved a lot of travelling first south to the
Congo, where Pastor Colin had been invited to preach at many churches.
For most of the first week I found it difficult to concentrate
on the duties Pastor Colin had asked me to perform, mostly because
Immaculee was travelling with us as part of the pastoral team,
but also because I realised that God, through the bible teaching,
prayers and sermons, was asking me to look at my own life, attitudes
and thoughts, which was, not only over the next few weeks but
for the rest of my life, going to require within me a huge change
(I think in many ways God was calling me to grow up not just emotionally
but spiritually as well).In the first two weeks travelling from
place to place, two things seemed to always be present - firstly
that wherever we went the people greeted us with such joy and
love, secondly that there are a lot of other churches and charities
like us from all over the world helping the local people build
a better future for themselves and their children.
The
last week was to be a real test for me, as Pastor Colin was leaving
me in Rwanda to carry on with the projects I had been set, while
he went on into Kenya to teach at a pastors conference. I think
for the first time since becoming a Christian I was having to
rely totally on my God to carry me through what lay ahead. On
several occasions I felt so alone even though I was with friends,
I was beginning in a small way to understand what my future wife
and daughter might feel when they first come to England. Even
though I never felt in any danger, I was a long way from home
in a strange country, and to make matters worse I could not speak
anything but English. To sit in a room with maybe ten or more
people, and not have a clue what is being said is very stressful.
But
once I handed all these fears over to God and just trusted in
him, things got much better. And just when I thought things were
going okay, Bishop Sadiki informed me that for the last week I
was to take over Pastor Colin’s role and preach to several more
churches and groups of pastors. The fear that gripped my body
was indescribable, as I never have and probably never will see
my self as any sort of preacher. But again I believe this was
God’s way of testing my strength of faith in him. And in fact
I really enjoyed myself, though I’m not sure if the Africans enjoyed
my singing.
Well,
everything went well (and according to God’s plan) and I met up
with Pastor Colin at Nairobi Airport in Kenya for our flight home.
Since coming back home to Tavistock, I know I am a different person.
And in many ways I hope a much better one. At the time, I did
not realise it but this trip was my own personal walk in the fiery
furnace. And thankfully I was to have a lot of things burnt away,
which were hindering my growth in God’s kingdom, and also to prepare
me for becoming not only a husband but a father too.
Derek
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