I had the opportunity to return overseas to a country in West Africa to help lead a mission trip with our High School students through the church. Last year we helped come alongside local pastors by putting on a VBS in a nearby village. This year the pastors asked us to not only return to that site, but split our team and run a VBS in another village as well for the sake of the gospel message going wide! We were overwhelmed with gratitude at the number of kids the Lord brought to hear the message of the gospel at both sites.
While we were there, our team taught Bible stories, made crafts that went along with each message, danced and taught songs like “Jesus loves me”, and played a variety of games. What continues to amaze me is that all of this was done with either a translator helping connect our language to theirs, or just through actions. It’s amazing how much you can love someone who you can’t speak much to, but are only able to show love through the way we engaged them with actions.
Outside of this village was flat red dirt for miles. There are many different types of trees but particularly one stood out this year. This tree was the palm tree; a tree I have seen many times in my life but as the Lord sometimes does, He puts things in front of our eyes to learn more of the mystery and depths of who He is and all He does. I’m not a tree expert but for the location of where we are, it fascinated me that palm trees could live in this environment. One afternoon after camp, I noticed a cluster of around 50 palm trees and thought of the Old Testament story where the Lord led His people to this type of oasis with palm trees. How faithful our God is! As we continued to drive, I kept my eyes outside the window, praying for this country and that many would be saved. I felt nudged by the Lord to read Psalm 92, thinking it was the Psalm titled “The Lord reigns” (found out later that was Psalm 93), and was immediately brought to tears as I read these words:
“The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” (Psalm 92:12-15)
I had no idea the spiritual depth to this tree and yet this was and is still my prayer for this country, for our students and for me; that we would be like these palm trees, declaring that the Lord is upright and our rock, and flourishing in His presence. And it doesn’t end there!
On the Sunday that we were there, we had the incredible blessing of getting to attend one of the pastors’ churches. This will forever be one of my favorite experiences here on this side of eternity. Although we did not know all of what was spoken and sung, we worshiped alongside sincere and devoted believers of another tribe and another tongue, praising the same God! I opened and read through Revelation 7 speaking of the day we anticipate like this, but it wasn’t until I returned home that the Lord opened my eyes to see even more of the beauty of the palm tree image.
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with PALM BRANCHES in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 7:9-12)
Oh how I long to be reunited with the dear friends I made in West Africa, but oh how much more I long for the day where our different tribes and languages gather before the throne of God with palm branches in our hands, flourishing in the courts of our living God! I truly believe that these moments are sweet glimpses of this anticipated day to come. And as my heart longs for this day. Oh Lord, make me and those around me righteous like the palm tree that flourish in your presence!
-By Sarah Peyton Ellerman
Sarah is Bill Dotson‘s granddaughter.