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![[David Gates]](../images/david.jpg)
SUBJECT: Meeting with the Prime Minister
AUTHOR: David Gates, his wife Becky, and three of their five children - Katrina, Carlos, and Kristopher, work in a medical aviation program in the jungles of Guyana, South America.
DATE: June 12, 1998
Dear Family and Friends,
Since yesterday I had been praying (as many of you) that God would intervene in a special way with the Prime Minister (PM) in order to give us favor in his eyes at today's appointment to discuss the TV station broadcast license for Kamarang.
This afternoon, when we arrived 10 minutes early, he was not in the building, and security kept us waiting outside. Ten minutes later he finally showed up, just after his secretary called security and spoke with Winston apologizing for the late arrival. That was sweet of her and encouraged us. We knew that the PM had been briefed on our meeting by his Personal Assistant, so felt relatively comfortable. But not for long.
As soon as security had cleared us, and we entered the PM's office, he demanded to know why we were there in rather harsh tones. He repeated his demand 3 times, but we both were at a bit of a loss at his treatment, and just kept silence, except to thank him for the privilege of sparing us a few minutes. He finally pointed at the chairs and told us to sit down, but not before walking right between us and shouting at his guards to "send the Permanent Secretary in now!" I began praying for God to intervene, not quite understanding the attitude that was being made evident.
When the Permanent Secretary entered we all sat down. He immediately asked about our nationalities. Winston was Guyanese, and I US. "What is your immigration status right now?" he demanded. I stated that I had been in Guyana now for nearly two years on a work permit. At that he calmed down. While we waited (and prayed) the Prime Minister closed his eyes and held his head in both his hands for 30-45 seconds. When he opened his eyes again, he appeared to be a new man, with a marked change in attitude. He was very friendly. When the PM discovered that we were working with his wife on a project in Arau--the reconstruction of a burned down house, he was pleased.
God's Spirit and the angels must have been hard at work bringing in peace into the room, because it was as if someone had turned on the light switch. From that time on, we all four chatted about Guyana, the interior, the needs there, what type of broadcasting the station would do, some technical concerns, and then our experiences in general with the work in Guyana. It was as if 4 old friends had gotten together at one of their homes to have a friendly chat. We laughed as the PM told anecdotes of his canoe trip up the Kamarang to Waramadang and then to Paruima. As we discussed how we were currently working with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Regional Development, Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, local and regional government, etc both of the other men began to express their confidence that the permission would probably be well supported. We discussed the history of the church in Guyana and how well we have been working alongside the other churches with the aviation program in providing everyone with equal access to medical care.
After about 45 minutes, the PM said he had another appointment, so I guess we would have to end the pleasant chat. Before leaving I asked if the two men would mind a word of prayer. Both seemed appreciative and nodded approval. I asked God to bless them in their heavy responsibilities, and that God would surround them with his presence and protection, giving them wisdom from Heaven to do their work. We then departed with another friendly farewell.
As Winston and I stepped back into the car, we spent the next 30 minutes just talking about the drastic change in attitudes we had witnessed. We took time to thank God for such strong evidence of his presence and the certainty that Heaven was directing in a powerful way to open doors to The Gospel. We bought two ice cream cones to celebrate.
Thank you so much for your continued prayers as we work to declare God's love to a dying world, and tell of His soon return.
In His Service,
David
You may send E-mail to David at:
gates@andrews.edu or
GAMAS@solutions2000.net