My Mission Monday

Courage, a Suitcase, and the Lion Queen

by Shelli Littleton

 

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deut. 31:6).

 

Nancy Gayle Cobb did not want to go to Zimbabwe the summer of 2000. In her lifetime, she traveled to 21 countries on 5 continents for Jesus. And in that time, she had seen God deliver smuggled Bibles from her hands to the Chinese. She had even seen God allow her to witness in Russia in spite of the police watching her every move. But this trip was different. Fear had swiftly set in.

 

She was purely afraid of AIDS. Africans were falling left and right from the dreaded disease. She had read that 50% of 15-year-old boys living in Africa at that time would die of AIDS; and she was afraid she would contract it.

 

Nancy had also learned that political problems were stirring; Zimbabwe nationals had murdered 38 white farmers. What if she were murdered, too? But International Crusades assured her that she would be in the city of Gweru and would not be working on any farms; she would be in no danger.

 

God placed Psalm 91:7 on Nancy’s heart: “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.” And the following Sunday her pastor, Dr. Bob Price’s sermon was titled, “Here am I, Send Me.” She knew God was confirming her to go in spite of her fears and witness to the very location she had prayed for as a little girl in GA^®’s (a girls’ missions organization). God gave her peace, courage, and she felt His promise of protection.

 

Nancy soon realized this trip would surely prove to be spectacular, for “Old Slewfoot,” as she refers to the enemy, was working overtime. Her plane ticket had not arrived; but incredibly, with suitcase in hand, she received it at the airport. When the missions team’s plane began departing Dallas, much to her horror and dismay, she realized the travel agent had made a mistake—her airplane had left 30 minutes prior.

 

But God paved the way, got her on that airplane, and when there was not a seat available on her connecting Atlanta flight, through God’s amazing orchestration, someone graciously gave up their seat so that Nancy would indeed step foot in Zimbabwe.

 

Nancy’s first assignment on African soil was at Senga Baptist Church; but a change was made, and she was taken to White Water Church, an hour from Gweru, on none other than a white farmer’s plantation. Her heart sank, and she knew that it was one of the plantations where white farmers were being murdered. But she was not afraid. God orchestrated a meeting of 30 people to hear her testimony, and 9 people received Christ that day. God’s protection was with Nancy. There were transportation system problems, she was only taken to that particular mission 2 nights and was able to stay the remainder of the mission at Senga Baptist Church.

 

AIDS seemingly proved inconsequential on her mission, as well. Nancy never knowingly met anyone who had the disease. But her safari trip for rest and relaxation proved much more risky. On that safari, she was given the special treat of spending time with two stunning 8- and 10-month-old lion cubs, P.K. and Quazy.

 

Upon turning her back to the cubs, she was playfully pounced upon. Standing on its hind legs, as tall as Nancy, the cub’s right front paw hit the top of her back, and its left front paw came down on her left arm piercing two holes through her four layers of clothing and her arm. Though bleeding, Nancy didn’t fall down, and even fearlessly escorted one stubborn cub back into its cage. Unmistakably, she was dubbed “the Lion Queen” for the remainder of her stay.

 

“The fact that [the cub’s] force did not knock me down,” Nancy says, “remains a puzzle to this day.” Yet, she remembered her prayer warriors back home were praying Psalm 91 over her: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways . . . You will tread upon the lion . . . ”

 

Nancy may have walked away with lion cub prints on her body that year, but she left Zimbabwe with the fingerprints of God marked all over 82 people’s hearts who received Jesus—children, women, and young men. Altogether, 4,385 people were led by their 27-member team to receive Jesus.

 

Six months back home in Texas, Nancy received shocking news that the pastor’s wife of Senga Baptist Church had died from AIDS; she had been closer to the deadly disease than she ever imagined. “She had taught me how to play the drums,” said Nancy, “and probably had had AIDS while we were there.” Nancy greatly loved the pastor’s wife and felt they were sisters from the moment they met. Regardless of her initial fear of AIDS, she wouldn’t have missed out on that relationship for anything in this world.

 

God had protected Nancy in Zimbabwe just as He had promised—she didn’t contract HIV and wasn’t murdered, and she gives Him all glory. “A promise is a promise,” Nancy said, “and when God gives it, one can take it to the bank.” And the missions trip that she had been the most afraid to undertake turned out to be the most spectacular and her favorite of all.

 

Visit Nancy Gayle Cobb’s Web site at NancyGayleCobb.com and read all about her many mission adventures in her book, Suitcase Carrier for God.

 

Shelli Littleton and her husband, Brian, live in Fort Worth, Texas, with their two daughters, Karalee (12) and Katelyn (10), and serve Travis Avenue Baptist Church. She read Nancy’s book to her family round-trip from San Angelo, Texas, to Albuquerque, New Mexico, through laughter and fought-back tears.