WE ARE OUT OF OPTIONS
by Erwin Bourne, 2002urne—March 8
As children, my sister and I were playing housekeeping
with our cousins. The one doing the laundry said that
the washing machine was out of whack. But I had the
solution. I would go to the store to buy more whack!
Today as missionaries on the Amazon, my wife Jean and
I are out of options. We’ve searched for another
option but there seems to be no more. No more options!
What is our dilemma? We’re in a predicament! Life
can’t continue much longer without a solution. There
has to be a way out. Young Joseph had fallen into a
trap. He was obeying his father Jacob, happily on his
way to inquire about his brothers herding the flocks.
These jealous men threatened him with death, but threw
him into an empty cistern. There was no exit!
There was no hope! He had had dreams—was called a
dreamer—but his road to the palace took a detour
through a prison. Eventually, however, it ended up at
the throne. When our options end, God provides the
solution.
As you know, Jean and I are missionaries on the
Amazon. It’s one thing to have no money in the bank.
It’s another thing to have money but no way to cash
into it. This reminds me of a time in Alaska when I
“mushed” my sled dogs over the ridge to Gold Stream
where I made camp for the night. For my supper I had
a can of stew—but I did not have a can-opener. Not
even a knife! So here we are with money in the bank
and no way to withdraw it. The stateside bank had
notified us ahead of time that on Tuesday, all debit
credit cards were being discontinued. Money was
deposited into our Colorado account on Friday evening.
The next day was Saturday when the banks were closed.
Then Sunday. On Monday we discovered our debit Visa
cards were discontinued. We have called the bank in
Colorado. We have expected new Visa cards. We have
used up our credit. Every possibility has been tried.
Mission AMA is experiencing want. We are out of
options!
Yet today is a victorious day. We just learned of an
old school mate who has been completely delivered from
a body full of cancer. Today a dear friend is being
released from prison. There is one near-death
experience after another! When the neck is on the
chopping block, when the noose is around the neck,
when our options are used up—God will spring a
surprise!
Yours for OUTREACH AMAZON
—Erwin and Jean Bourne