What Are the Chances?

What is providence?

Providence is the way God is actively and intimately at work at all times and in all ways; he is truly sovereign. He is not the clockmaker who has set things in motion and is now hands-free, to be called upon again only in times of troubling issues. He sees all, knows all, is ever-present, and is at work in and through all things for he is truly the Almighty. He formed the world and upholds it by the word of his power.

Sometimes we get to see the reality of the statements above with greater clarity. At times folks have referred to those moments, where God’s sovereignty is on display for our eyes (though it’s just as true when we don’t see it), as his kind providences, as needed encouragements, a glimpse behind the curtain.

Praise God the temple curtain was torn down, the Holy of Holies made available to all God’s people. Redeemed sinners can come before the throne of grace, an incredible honor, by the finished work of Jesus our Savior and mediator. Though we are constantly seeking to be attuned and sensitive to our Triune God, in step with the Spirit, growing in understanding and glory, as disciples of the Author and Perfecter of our faith, we are not all-wise, all-seeing, or totally aware.

We are not privy to all that God is doing in time and space, to put it gently. We are absurdly oblivious to the vast majority of all God is doing every moment. We are incapable of grasping and tracking with Him who is infinite, to that degree. In his wisdom and for our good, at times he builds us up by showing his presence and power in an undeniable way. I want to share an ‘old’ providence story from our start in Uganda, and another ‘new’ providence story, from our recent medical challenge at the end of last year.

When we were preparing to move to Africa, we initially thought we would be settling down in a place called Moyo, Ugunda. Kilby was still wrapping up her degree online and needed strong internet connection which was not yet available there. This detail led to our investigation of Arua, the town a couple hours south of Moyo (with more reliable internet) which we have now called home for several years. It has been a privilege to live and serve in the West Nile Region and see the grace of God at work.

Important note: we had intended to be back and forth between serving the Church in Belgium and serving in West Nile, Uganda. Covid prevented that plan from playing out according to our intentions, but set God’s plans right before us. We left Belgium by the government’s requirement when the airport re-opened, and Uganda was closed, so we headed stateside after considering a few other options.

This gave us roughly 5 months to visit and share about the season in Belgium, partner to raise support for 20,000 Study Bibles led by our friends in Moyo, and consider what the Lord would have for our future. As the door to Belgium remained shut, the door to Uganda opened. We were aiming to work out the details for Arua when we attended a small gathering of maybe 5 or 6 missionaries families who were ‘stuck’ stateside during the early Covid closures and confusion.

I was privileged to share on making the most of the time while stateside, connecting with local churches in sincerity, and trusting that God is surely over all the details. As it turned out, among the other families (of whom we knew only 2), there was a family that had been serving in Uganda. Not only Uganda, but Arua in particular. They were not going to be able to return in short time, and offered for us to rent their home. I told them that I would be working at a little coffee shop and they said that they knew the place and it was walking distance from their home.

Talk about provision! Not needing to sort out a place, furnishings, security, discern between parts of town, and so on upon arrival, because the Lord has had it in motion through the life and work of another missionary family was a surprising gift. This family we had never met made their space available to us, meeting a crucial need.

How funny to meet them at such a small gathering at a camp in the mountains of North Carolina, where only 6 or so families gathered for encouragement. We had no idea anyone else from East Africa would be among those present; it never crossed our minds. We had no ability to think up or conceive the spectacular way the Lord would work. We took this as divine confirmation, and as often as we remember and reflect on it, we are drawn to praise. You better believe we were encouraged.

In the second half of our first year in-country I was sharing with the young men’s discipleship group the Lord had brought together. I was seeking to explain the sovereignty of God and providence by way of example. We were sitting in the screen-porched area of this very home. When I shared this story the young men sat stunned, almost in disbelief, then clapped with joy at the great power of our God. Praise the Lord for his grace on display, all glory to Him! It was then my privilege to remind them God is always on his throne, always in control, even when we do not understand the times or circumstances.

Next story, as a sort of bracket on the other end of the last 6 years here in East Africa. As we were preparing to travel from Uganda to the USA to surprise family for Thanksgiving (2025), our favorite holiday celebration, I suddenly collapsed on a supermarket floor. We had already traveled south to the city; we were in good health. Now I was having to be rushed to a hospital for care while convulsing, then later in a coma. You can imagine this was not easy on my wife who had to bear so much. The heavy weight landed on her, where I would always seek to prevent that, but that was not what the Lord had in this moment. I will share more about this challenge in the future.

What I want to share here is this: gratitude. Several missionaries passed through the city and helped in one or more ways. Still, there was a time when Kilby was feeling terribly discouraged by the comments doctors and taxi drivers and others were making—some saying I would not make it, others mentioning they would pray I would pass peacefully—causing her to feel exceeding loneliness and deep sorrow. In God’s grace, he provided for her exactly as she needed. He did not let her fall for the lie that the Lord was far off in time of pain and desperation and confusion.

What happened?

In a city fluctuating between 1.8M to 4.5M people, in a particular hospital—out of all the major hospitals and clinics in the city—with so many floors and wards, God did something amazing. Kilby was feeling heavy and alone, wondering if her husband would survive or depart with no warning and no goodbye, thinking about caring for Alma and the unborn baby, finances, logistics, what to do for lunch and transport, etc.

In God’s grace, a stranger came up and greeted her, asking if she knew “Harriet.” This is amazing. Not the question itself, but the story behind it. Harriet was the caretaker who helped Kilby’s family for several months in 2014 during the adoption of her two youngest siblings from Uganda. This was Harriet’s son Matthew greeting Kilby in the hall of Nakasero Hospital.

Matthew and Kilby had never met before as he had been studying in India when Kilby’s family was in Uganda. He had seen the photo of her family on his mother’s living room wall upon his return. When he saw that foreign mzungu lady sitting by herself all these years later, weary and worn, he thought he recognized her from the picture at home—and took a chance by going to find out.

Matthew works on a rotating shift and happened to be in this ward at the time I fell out, ultimately for the glory of God and the comfort of Kilby in time of crisis. God provided in a marvelous way. Matthew was able to listen to Kilby about what was going on. Kilby knew the Lord was near. Harriet was able to come and visit. People who cared were praying. Matthew was able to check in on me when Kilby was not permitted to stay at the hospital while I was in ICU.

This was a gift from the Maker of Heaven and Earth to his child whom he loves, and who needed to know his love experientially in that moment. God is both transcendent but also imminent; he is our Father, though he is in the heavens. He is distinct, yet he is near. He truly cares for us.

What are the chances of meeting someone anywhere in the USA who has ever heard of Arua (not Aruba)? What are the chances of meeting someone who has lived there, has a furnished house available for rent, in this place most people would call the middle of nowhere? On the very road we are looking to move to, near that coffee shop? What are the chances of meeting them in rural North Carolina and realizing the point of intersection the Lord has worked? In this instance, 100%.

What is the probability of a lady named Harriet caring for a family called the Holloways during their adoption, then keeping a photo on her wall all these years? What are the chances her son returns from his studies in India, finds a job at the hospital where I would be taken, and recognizes Kilby on the same hall he is working (of all places in the whole city, or even that very hospital, on that shift)? It happened, 100%.

We praise God for these sorts of bookend moments as we look back on all he has ordained, but also desire to do a better job writing these things down, because there are many from the years in between.

We do not just have a religion of our choosing that we think is decent. We are claiming to worship the One True God and we want to worship him with all of life. We are saying our eyes have been opened to true religion, by grace, and we want everyone else to know the Savior we have come to delight in. We believe you should put your faith in the one we have put our faith in, because He is worthy.

The Lord is certainly over it all: start to finish, up and down. We are his. The glad sheep of his pasture. If you don’t know the Good Shepherd, let me tell you more about him.

I would be glad to catch up on a call, message back and forth, do my best to answer hard questions, and let you know the Lord cares for you and has shown it in time and space. Reach out. As my little Uganda friend Destiny says: “Are you fearing?” Don’t fear. Don’t reject Christ and his gospel without inquiry and investigation. Let’s talk.

#letmeintroduceyou

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