Under Construction
I’m going to see the world!
Or so I thought.
At age 24 I joined the Spectrum Program—a partnership between Wycliffe Bible Translators and Operation Mobilization. For one year, I’d test my sea legs on the Logos Hope, and for another I’d sweat it out in Niger, producing piles of media to support Bible translation.
"Those who go down to the sea in ships..." (Psalm 107:23–24)
Joining the Logos Hope in January 2008, I was told we’d sail by April.
But I never experienced a single voyage.
When I joined, the ship was in "project phase," a period of renovation before sailing into full-time ministry. As the months passed, its maiden voyage was continually pushed back. May. June. August. October. Christmas.
My year onboard was quickly ending. I’d invested prayers and work and sweat and tears doing my part to ready the ship. I cleaned a construction zone. I scheduled cabins and keys. And I crawled into the dark belly of the ship to scrape heavy fuel oil off the tanks.
But slowly, my dream of sailing the world slipped away.
In February 2009, new recruits joined the ship, bringing fresh life and energy. Shortly after, Logos Hope was certified and set to sail. Everyone was ecstatic, except me. My plane ticket to Niger was for February 20. Logos Hope would embark February 19.
I would not sail on her maiden voyage into full-time ministry.
The new recruits danced around, thrilled they would sail. Meanwhile I burst into tears, unable to feel their joy, because I felt they were reaping the returns on my investment.
I prayed the Lord would give me grace to wave goodbye to Logos Hope. On February 19, amid laughter and crying and cheering, I said farewell ... on the quayside. The Lord filled me with peace, and I felt privileged to see her sail—knowing that my small amount of obedience played a part in the ship’s future ministry.
Another construction zone?
I’d just seen one ministry from construction to commencement. So when I moved to Niger, I was excited to work in an already-functioning program. I knew vernacular media was new to SIL Niger—but I didn’t fully take that to heart. I was ready to plunge into one recording project after the next. Instead, there was planning ... lots of planning.
And most plans didn’t come to fruition.
The romantic idea of producing heaps of media quickly slipped away. Things just don’t happen in Africa like they do in the United States. Life moves more slowly in Niger. Time is a commodity to be lavished on your friends and family, and the ticking clock is rarely a controlling factor.
I was also surprised at my coworkers’ attitude to getting sick: not if you get sick, but rather when, how often, how severe. Even so, I’m young. I thought nothing would prevent me from working. But as my year in Niger progressed, my health and energy were sapped by malaria. Then amoebas. Then dysentery.
Day-to-day life carried on. Weeks passed, until one planned project didn’t fall through the cracks: the "M" language video dubbings of Genesis and Luke.
I was in awe. I finally saw tangible fruit from my prayers for Niger—but more than that, I was thrilled that God would allow me to work on a project so much bigger than myself. I was not only witnessing, but participating in making God’s Word more accessible for an entire people group!
A Far Better Reward
Looking back, I may have experienced disappointments, sickness, conflict, boredom, and later, long working hours. But it was worth it. I faced challenges and wondered if I could possibly endure. However, in the darkest moments, the Lord was my comfort. He carried me through, and in faith I can look back and say, "His grace is sufficient!"
I love God more now, and that’s far better than any other measurable output of my own effort and design. The spiritual reward for my investment is much deeper than I imagined.
In two years, I jumped from one construction zone to another; however, it’s a good reminder that I myself am still under construction. God is shaping me, chiseling various parts, so that each day I reflect His character more and more.
—Audrey Boone joined Wycliffe Bible Translators in November 2006. While preparing to serve in Niger, she completed the 14-week vernacular media certification course at JAARS.
