A lesson in God’s assurance in an African school classroom

In Global Focus this week, retired Salvation Army officer Lieut-Colonel NEIL YOUNG* recalls a reassuring moment from his time as principal of a Salvation Army school in Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia), Africa, when he sensed God’s affirmation amid doubts about his service.

Did we achieve anything?

As my wife Dorothy and I neared retirement, I began to be quite troubled about my officership. God had called me, but was he pleased with what I had done?

For a time, there appeared to be no answer. Then, one day, while we were praying at a spiritual day at Territorial Headquarters, I had a vision. I was back at Howard Secondary School in Zimbabwe, Africa, teaching mathematics to a class.

It was my practice to walk around the class checking the students’ work, but on this particular morning, we had just started a new chapter, and I was standing at the back of the room watching them work.

A few desks in front of me sat a young boy who was struggling with his schoolwork. (This is a very serious matter because if a student cannot do his schoolwork, he won’t pass his exams, which would mean going back to village life and subsistence living.) He was becoming quite distressed and was on the verge of panicking.

I stood there watching him and felt immensely sorry for him. It seemed to me that all of Africa was in that boy … the hopes, the dreams, the aspirations, the future, and the strivings of the whole continent.

I was about to go to him and offer help, but then I thought it would be better if he could work it out himself. Then he turned and saw that I had been watching him. The despair on his face transformed into relief. He seemed to be saying, “I’m not doing very well, am I, but you are there.”

Then I went to him and said, “Can I help you?” The vision faded, and it was as though God was saying. “Well, that’s all I called you to do, to sense other people’s pain and, where possible, and in so many ways, you’ve been there to help.”

It struck me that that’s really all there is.

And I was satisfied.

*Lieut-Col Neil Young and his wife, Lt-Col Dorothy Young, both 97, are retired Salvation Army officers living in Gympie, Queensland

The Salvation Army’s Self Denial Appeal is now in Week 2 of a six-week series. This week, we journey to Tanzania and see how sustainable agriculture and livestock projects are empowering communities. Here we meet Ahadi, whose family has been transformed through training, sustainable farming, and a renewed sense of hope.

To view the Week 2 video, click here

To find out more and donate, visit selfdenial.info