Four months have come and gone as we bespoke
Believers of the Father's goodness and
The Tsonga's desp'rate need. What pleasing talk
And happy questions asked these last long weeks.
Following our missionary fathers,
A dozen churches have our report heard:
In all my twenty years and more--all spent
Among that tribe--we've journeyed back six times.
Of each Atlantic crossing I can say,
This last was best as I shall try to show.
First, in my mind, like angels up above,
The saints were lively as they served the church
And here I mean their foreign staff sent out
To build strong "selfish" churches far away.
In May, we gathered with the Flynn's to sing
The walls near bursting with our voices' joy.
'Twas Heaven on earth, and I know you would
Have said so too had you been there with us.
Again, we watched as Deken and his wife
Taught their young girls the gospel and to pray,
Then like so many, went to a small church
Where angels watched though all the world ignored.
We prayed in Taylors for the nations lost
And dined with friends who drove through states to meet.
In travels always comforted with sweets
And twice saw Tsonga pictures on the walls.
These all--and many more--speak love to God
For they love first the Father, next the lost:
But how can this their love take form at all?
They, searching for a vent, pour all on us.
For love to missions from the Christians, I
Say this trip's best, and yet our pray'rs were heard:
Their faith would stand in God and in His pow'r--
To this request, He kindly gave and gave.
In church plant 5 (Do you recall the map?)
Though we were gone, four youth spoke out for Christ.
Each had been now some years coming to pray
And without us, they met twice weekly still.
Within the rock church, verse by verse went on
Nor slacked the meetings held outside Sunday.
Such work maintained by members also grew
To raise our hopes that soon we shall baptize.
Nor these alone, but Elim gripped by zeal
Began the habit--worthiest of all--
To speak to sinners for their highest good
Some have already come to worship there.
At least five more young men from all the works
Are reaching to the work of ministry,
And of the Tsonga pastors unity
Abounds as also with the believers.
So many, many times, "How can we pray"
Was asked. And thus the faith of these dear ones
That it might stand not fail was our reply.
For having this what want we more? And yet
He granted more! Our visa papers done,
And safety on the roads, and Caleb's job,
And most of all our children's love for Christ.
Now landed with our feet back in our home
Tired of travel, burdened now to work,
By faith we hope to see a doubling of
These churches, groups so near God's heart and will!
For words undressed by photos, pray forgive,
Yet since forgetting is a sin, do take
These Tsongas to the Throne as you have done,
And help us through your prayers until the end.
Rehearsing all that God hath done through grace,
Seth and Amy
Grace to the Tsongas | Photos and updates sent to your phone on Telegram, Search for @gracetothetsongas
Bring the Book | English audio sermons
Son of Carey | Reflections on theology, missions, and culture
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