Stoves, Rats, and the Grace of God

We had just gotten home from a trip to the States (Hawaii to be exact). We had waited 3 years and finally were able to finalize Nancilynn’s citizenship. The Lord had provided an opportunity to house-sit for a pastor in Hawaii while we finished up the necessary paperwork. So, we were able to combine a business trip with a little R & R. However, when we arrived home, we found our house had been occupied by some very large 4-legged creatures.

The house we rent is situated on a large plot of land in Takhmau Cambodia. The landlord is very proud of his abundant fruit trees. Unfortunately with the trees come all sorts of wonderful creatures that live on the fruit that doesn’t get picked. The largest of those creatures are fruit rats. Somehow the rats got into the house and found they couldn’t get out. When we got home, all the screens had been chewed and my beautiful brand new stove, a gift from a supporting church in the States, had been infested. One of the deacons in our Phnom Penh church, Siphan, had been watching the house for us. He trapped the rats but the damage had already been done.

The Lord gave me grace to give the stove up to Him. “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” You see, the stove was a brand new one with all the computerized bells and whistles that stoves come with today. The rats had chewed up the computer board and the wiring. It was virtually impossible to by parts for this stove here. Not only that, but in less than a week I was expecting company (4 guests for a Revival Conference). We had no extra funds to purchase a new stove (we just spent our wad in Hawaii). Ok, I thought, this is your problem, Lord! And I gave it to Him.

Siphan had a friend who was an electrician. Anyone living in a developing nation knows that you don’t throw anything away (that was my grandparent’s philosophy, too). Out of necessity, Cambodians have become very good at fixing things. We called Siphan’s friend, Nob, to come over and look at the stove. Then he began gutting it (I felt like I was watching a surgeon). After about three or four hours, the stove was put back together, reattached to the propane tank, and lit! I was thanking and praising the Lord!

Now, you may think that was the end of the story, but it’s not! After finding out Nob was a Mr. Fixit, Tom had him fixing all sorts of things around the house. He was back and forth to our house for a couple days. When the work was done and Nob was waiting for Tom to pay him, we had a chance to chat. He asked why we were in Cambodia, and I shared my testimony with him and how God called us to Cambodia. Then, Tom got home and shared the gospel with him. He accepted the Lord that day.

He shared with me later that in 1997 he had been thinking about becoming a Christian and had been attending a church in Phnom Penh. There was a Coup d’etat that summer and the pastor of that church fled the country stating that Cambodia was too dangerous and that he was never coming back. That devastated Nob. He never made the decision to become a Christian. He subsequently spent the intervening years in Siem Riep before returning to Phnom Penh to help his ailing father. Whenhe came to our house and he knew that we were Christian missionaries. Siphan had apparently shared that with him. He watched us for three days to see if our Christianity was real. Then he made his decision to accept Christ.

Now when I look at the stove in my kitchen, it serves as a reminder that everything that I have belongs to God – He can use it for His glory. I can completely trust Him. He makes no mistakes. It reminds me that often, I’m the only testimony of Jesus many will ever see – is it He whom they're seeing?