Mission Leader

Eddie Cox, Prayer Director-IMB

This post is submitted by Eddie Cox, the Director of Prayer for the International Mission Board. Eddie and I entered the mission field together in 1983. Visit the Prayer Director’s Blog.

The old adage, “Be careful of what you pray for, because you just might get it” took on a whole new level of meaning for me one night in southeastern Ethiopia.

My team of 9 men had been traveling in two limping pickups all day long.  The earthen road was like driving on an old fashioned washboard.  By the end of the day, our voices were raspy from our loud, staccato conversation; our faces looked like red raccoons from the road dust blowing through the windows; and our bodies were sore from being tossed to and fro in the truck.  I remember having longed all day for the evening hours when I would be able to “stretch out” under the stars in my miniature mosquito pup-tent.

That evening, as I popped my tent rods into place, I gazed on one of nature’s spectacular electric light shows dancing on the northern horizon.  Since we would be sleeping out in the open with only a net to protect us from the rain, I quickly lifted up a prayer in hopes that God would spare us from the storm.  The following morning, I awakened rested, a bit stiff, but thankfully dry.  I whispered my heartfelt appreciation to the Lord for keeping the rain at bay.

As was our practice in each village we visited during our journey, we met with the village elders, asking them to describe their greatest needs.  Even though the priority might change from village to village, the content was identical: water, health, agriculture and education.  In one particular village, following a visit to an abandoned clinic, the village leader rode with us about a mile outside of town to their water source, a dried up riverbed.  From my vantage point on the elevated banks, I noticed several clumps of women, girls and boys kneeling in the sand.  A closer look revealed that the villagers were digging holes in the riverbed where dirty water could collect.  As soon as the murky water was a couple of inches deep, they would dip it out with tin cans.  Each can of water then would be poured into 1 gallon jugs for transport by foot back to town.

I was especially touched by one group of children, which was managed by an older brother.  As soon as his little sister had filled their gallon jug, he hung it on her back with a well-worn strip of fabric and marched her off to town, just as one would coax a burro to market.  I gasped at that moment as the Holy Spirit reminded me of my thoughtless prayer of the previous evening.  Tears of contrition immediately ran down my dusty cheeks, and I fell before the Lord to beg for His forgiveness.  It was a hard lesson learned, but one I hope to never, ever forget.

Approximately, 2.2 million people die each year due to unsafe drinking water.  That’s 6,000 deaths per day, 90% of which are children under the age of 5.  How would God want you to respond to this tragic need?  Ask Him.  Then, follow His direction.