From the January-March 2005 Issue
We are not alone
Luis and Pilar Cano
‘Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have laboured side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life’.
I am on the bus towards Ciudad Real, to spend from Thursday to Sunday looking after the church there. Of the three-hour journey, I spend the first hour in darkness, the few travellers who are with me are sleeping and I don’t want to turn my seat light on to read in case I disturb them. During my nap thoughts go through my mind of some of the discouragements. The work is great and delicate, I don’t feel the most adequate person. It is not only that people are not converted, but furthermore it is difficult to find men called by God to the ministry and evangelism. There is so much to do and so few to do it!
In those moments of discouragement I tend to blame the believers for their poor quality of life, and the pastors and teachers for the bad quality of their teaching and commitment. I myself don’t escape my criticism either. I feel alone, as I feel alone at this moment in my journey … But then, I start to think about the people who surround my life and my work, and they show me the situation from another perspective, so I end up giving immense thanks to God.
Special helpmeet
Pilar, my wife, is always at my side, although for a few days we have to be separated. The Lord has exceeded his own words and promises to give me more than ‘a suitable helper’! She not only has her own work as an English teacher some hours a week, but she finds time to study and improve her work. The house, the girls and the husband give her daily work that she doesn’t abandon. The church, meetings for women and young people, the children’s club, visits at home and outside of the home, etc. When we have to go out to evangelize, she is the first, and she is also the first to encourage when we are not eager to do it. She is my secretary for everything, and my critic. She writes my letters, she is my bridge to the computer, she translates to English for me and ‘translates my English’. When I am away from Cuenca she calls me to inform me about all the news of the work, and all the matters which arise with the people. They go with their problems to her when I am not there. We have had to renounce certain familiar and personal things and situations, but she doesn’t complain, neither does she let me do so. Thanks to her I go on!
Other helpers
But I also thank God for other believers in the two churches, Cuenca and Ciudad Real. German is a man in his 70s, almost blind because of an accident and with his wife suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, but he has great experience and Christian spirituality. His coming to the church more than a year ago was an answer from the Lord to our prayers and needs as a church. It doesn’t matter what I ask him to do, he is always willing to serve gladly. He never misses our evangelistic visits to the villages and in the town. He is such an example to all of us!
Iván, a Ukrainian man, is already a member of our church. He keeps me alert with his spiritual restlessness, in spite of his difficulties as an immigrant. Now, he is reading the New Testament in Greek and constantly he comes to me with his discoveries. My mind needs these challenges and his example.
And María Amoako? I encourage each local church to have a woman worker to reach areas that a man is unable to do, and to know that she is always there available for many practical things.
Pablo from Cuenca, and Eduardo from Ciudad Real, both young men have been willing so many times to occupy the gaps that I can’t fill with preaching. What about Alberto, from Ciudad Real? He is always eager to come with me to visit people, it doesn’t matter the day or the time, he is there!
All of these and some other committed believers, although unfortunately they are becoming more the exception in our churches. Both churches, in Cuenca and Ciudad Real, show tender patience with my absences.
It is also a blessing to read letters from different brothers and sisters who write to us from the United Kingdom on a regular basis, encouraging us. And, although now I am alone, alone in my prayers, in reality I am not, because I am sure that even right now, there are believers all around, from many places, praying for the work of the Lord here.
Already at home, I continue thinking that at the present time there is a great need of more men and women committed for life to the work of the gospel. It is my thought that if God doesn’t awake or revive his church, the decline will eat away our hearts, and we will only continue seeing crumbs. But, I don’t feel alone, the work is not only mine! I feel the strength of those who are close to me, the arms on which I rest and the example of all those who are before me. I feel the Lord in them with me. I thank God for every single helper, but above all, I give thanks to the Almighty Helper.