Who Gives What

This blog is going to be a bit different. I am going to copy a news letter I sent out after writing the drama WHO GIVES WHAT. It explains why I had to write it.

Dear Fellow workers,

[Maybe you won’t want to be called that when I tell you what I just experienced. Let me explain.] As I’ve told you, I am writing radio dramas for Africa. I have known for some time now that they do not come from me. God gives them to me and I write.

I attended a conference of Trans World Radio in Johannesburg. This is the organization that the Lord used to get me writing and will be broadcasting them. I came away from the conference charged up and renewed to write the last 8 dramas. (The goal had been set to write 52—one for each week of the year. I was up to 45.)

The next one flowed and was a joy to write!

The following one, I delayed on. I started others I thought would be better. But the Lord would not let it go!!! OK! So, . . . I . . . wrote . . . it. [If you call me Jonah, I will try to not mind too much.]

I wrote it grumpily. I told the Lord, “I have written about this topic already, several times.” After I finished writing I did a search on the manuscript. I had already written eight on this topic . . . Wasn’t that enough??? [Maybe God needed this pointed out to Him!]

I printed it out, had it proofread, and didn’t send it to anyone. I didn’t think it was very good. I sat on it. Then God did a (humorous) Jonah on me.

God engineered for me to be in a (lovely) coffee shop [not the belly of a big fish] for three hours [not three days] eating a breakfast that had smoked salmon [what did Jonah eat?] with a beautiful, talented, educated young African woman who has been encouraging and challenging me in the writing process.

But we were waiting together for someone who never materialized. One hour passed. …The second hour passed. . . . The printout of the drama God had coerced me to write was in my briefcase. I FINALLY remembered it and dragged it out. I gave it to her to read, saying I was sure it needed work.

[Let me say here that one thing that has bothered me is that I have worried about being in touch with “real” Africa. South Africa has plenty of Western appearance. My struggle has been to get beneath the veneer.]

So my friend read it. I expected a polite, “That’s nice.” Or maybe even better, “This is too over the top.” Or, “No good. You can’t say that.”

She read it . . . and sat for several minutes saying nothing. I thought, “It’s no good.” [Nudge, nudge, Lord.]

Finally, she said, “This one, this story is exactly about me.”

I about choked on my coffee. I asked, “What do you mean?” [How could this lovely, talented, educated, modern African woman relate to this story?]

She explained, “What you have written here, what the Grandfather says, is almost exactly what my Uncles have been saying to me. If I don’t do the proper ceremonies and recognitions of what my ancestors have given me, they will remove the talents and blessings they have given me.”

She added, “I like this. I can use your example of the suit. This works.”

[God said to me, “Jonah(ette), I have taught this lesson before in not nearly so nice an environment as this. Don’t make me put you in the belly of a big fish! Just do what I tell you to do!”]

Maybe God wrote that story just for her. I wouldn’t put anything past HIM!!! But I know I am on the track He has for me. Pray that I be faithful.

Your Jonah(ette),

Rachel Gabler​