Thank you for your prayers! Jerry went to the capital of the Department (think State Capital) to look into the
land problem. Last year a government surveying team came to check our boundary
markers, and one of them had warned us that we might lose land because of a new
law that says, in summary, “if you don’t use it you lose it.” We have over 200
hectares here (About 500 acres), and while we continue to expand our agriculture
program, much of our property is still undeveloped.
We never heard anything further, however, until about two
weeks ago when the school director, Cornelio, greeted the owner of a
neighboring cattle ranch while fueling the truck in town.
“We need to talk,” the neighbor said. “The government is
taking away our land and we need to fight it!”
The new survey results label the entire back section of
our property as government land. Cornelio immediately dispatched Jerry to see
if there was anything we could do about it.
Jerry arrived in Trinidad feeling very small and incapable
of doing much, but with a prayer in his heart, he went to the government office
early in the morning and explained our situation to the secretary. The
secretary told him to come back at 11:00 am to speak with the director, as that
was the time scheduled to hear all complaints from landowners. When Jerry returned, the waiting room was
full of people.
Wow, I’ll be lucky to get five
minutes with the director. He thought. I’ll just have
to make the most of it. Lord, give me the words.
Meanwhile, back at the school, I was praying with my
students in class.
“Lord, give Mr. Jerry grace in the eyes of the officials”
we prayed.
When Jerry’s turn came to speak to the director, he
introduced himself and explained the reason for his visit.
“I kept expecting her to tell me my time was up and send
me away, but she listened politely and expressed interest in the school.” Jerry
told us later. “She seemed impressed when I explained to her what we do. I
ended up talking to her for a full half hour. When I showed her the map, she
remembered seeing it in committee, and told me that the case was pending and
the decision had been scheduled for early next week!
‘It’s a good thing you came right away’ she said. She promised
to send another team of surveyors to reevaluate the situation within the next
week.”
All this week we waited for the promised survey team to
show up. On Friday I began to worry that they would come on Sabbath and we
would have to tell them to return later, but the day has passed without event.
We praise God for His providence, but continue to solicit
your prayers.
The official from the survey crew that came last year
recommended that we obtain some livestock, and we began a project immediately
to cut fence posts from some lumbar on the other side of the creek, and we have
fenced in a couple of hectares that are now the home of nine ewes and one ram.
Although it represents an effort, it is not likely to be anywhere close to
enough. For example, our neighbor has a herd of several hundred head of cattle,
and the government is still cutting back his land. We have no hope outside of a
miracle. Of course, this school has always existed and operated only by the
grace of God. As long as He wants us here, we aren’t going anywhere. This is
His school. We are thankful for this opportunity to grow in faith and see the
salvation of the Lord.
May God be with you.
P.S.
Another new teacher has arrived, and more will be coming soon, Lord willing.
God always provides (Philippians 4:19).
