Aired to Africa
When Mike and Wendy Buchanan left for a 12-month stay in Cameroon, they thought they could manage a year without their mattress.
Once they arrived, however, those thoughts quickly changed.
The couple had traveled to serve at the Rain Forest International School in Yaoundé, where many missionaries send their children for schooling. They would be filling in for a year in the finance and housing offices.
Yet they left behind their adjustable, foam-covered air mattress, which provides relief for Wendy’s often-aching back.
Wendy has endured back pain since college, but she joined Wycliffe Bible Translators in 1992 after she saw God’s unmistakable provision for her back during a short-term mission trip. Since then, she and Mike have served in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic and Gabon, and God provided people to care for her back in each country.
Yet after a few nights in Cameroon, Wendy’s back pain kicked in.
The couple tried several locally purchased mattresses, which had worked well in other countries—but none were supportive enough. With every new mattress, the pain continued.
Wendy soon discovered the living room couch provided enough support for her back. In a last-ditch attempt, the couple had a mattress created with the exact foam used on the couch.
Yet the pain still returned.
So for three months, Wendy slept on the couch.
And she would have continued sleeping on the couch for the rest of the year—if the Purchasing and Shipping department at JAARS hadn’t been able to help.
After months of difficulties with Wendy’s back, the Buchanans decided to have their air mattress shipped to Cameroon. They contacted the family renting their home in Waxhaw, N.C., and had them retrieve the mattress from the attic. The family then delivered the air mattress—in numerous pieces—to JAARS, where the packing began.
The Purchasing and Shipping staff wrapped every piece in heavy-duty saran wrap, fitting the 41-pound mattress into one compact box. Then, they arranged for the mattress to be hand-carried to Cameroon by visiting missionaries. The shipping was free, and the mattress arrived in about two weeks.
Once again, God provided for Wendy’s back as she pursued mission work overseas.
This time, His provision came through the Purchasing and Shipping department at JAARS.
