Not Today, Satan! - September/October 2021

Dear friends and family,

Please note: If you want to read a short story about a crazy experience on our recent trip to Bolivia, continue directly. If you want to read our ministry update, feel free to skip halfway down the letter.

Yes, we were literally one minute away from losing our flight.

Very early that morning (in mid-September), Genesis and I had boarded a flight out of Augusta, GA and by midday we were in Orlando, FL, changing airlines to make our journey to Bolivia for a month-long ministry trip. Despite the insanely long line of passengers, the agents didn’t open the gate until exactly three hours before the departure time. Thankfully, we had arrived early enough to be near the front of the line.

It seemed like every customer was taking a long time, and I could hear them arguing with the agents, but couldn’t make out why. We were both very tired from getting up so early, so we were relieved when we finally got our turn at the desk. After a few routine questions, the agent asked for our COVID test. I had done my best to do my research online about requirements to enter Bolivia, which was all very muddled and confusing. Finally, we realized that Bolivia, unlike most countries, was only allowing one type of COVID test and had asked around the pharmacies and hospitals in the area to ensure we had the right one. The nurses on the phone had not recognized the test type at first, but eventually I spoke to a doctor who reassured me they could give us the right one.

“This test is not the right one,” the agent declared, “we can’t allow you to board.”

I was stunned, and tried to get more information, explaining that the doctor we had talked to assured us this was the right test. When I kept pushing for more options, she finally conceded that we could get our test done at the airport or in Orlando, but that most likely we would miss our flight.

I glanced at my watch, we only had two hours and ten minutes until our plane boarded, and only one hour and ten minutes until I knew their system at the counter would automatically shut down.

We raced down the crowded walkway with our carry-ons and checked bags, trying to find the place that gave the specialized COVID test. Although it wasn’t far away, there was already a long line of people there; we were clearly not the first ones with this dilemma. I was finally able to speak to a clearly exhausted nurse, who told me they would only be able to give us the exam in a couple hours, meaning we would miss our international flights. We quickly filled out the paperwork and thanked her for her time, saying we would be close at hand in case an earlier opening appeared.

At this, I quickly pulled out my phone and dialed the Bolivian Embassy in the US, to see if there was some help available. A friendly voice answered the phone almost immediately. I explained the situation, and he assured me that the test we had taken was indeed acceptable, only that it was under a different name. He gave me his name and position at the embassy and said to pass this information on to the airline.

With time running out, we raced back to the line at the airline counter, which was still incredibly long. Since we had already been attended to, I got in their preferred line and was quickly given an audience with an attendant. I explained what the Embassy had stated, asking for an exception. When she was about to grant it, the other attendant, with a long and angry face now, walked over and told us that the word of the embassy had no weight on the airline, foiling what seemed to be our last hope.

I then told them that we had been scheduled to be tested in a couple hours and petitioned to be put on the next flight, for later that afternoon. The second attendant and the head person there, smirked and said we wouldn’t be flying out that day and offering little encouragement for the next. It almost seemed like she was enjoying our struggle. I glanced over at Genesis and our hearts dropped, thinking of having to perhaps sleep on the floor and miss our engagements already planned for Bolivia the next day.

I glanced back at my watch: we only had 45 minutes before the counter closed.

We once again raced down the crowded aisle, and towards the COVID test site, reaching it panting and sweating. Before proceeding, we breathed deeply and prayed together, asking the Lord to work out a way for us to make it onto the upcoming flight.

As we looked up, the nurse from before had already spotted us. I walked over and pleaded quietly with her if there was any way to squeeze us in right away, telling her we only had some 40 minutes left before we missed our flight.

She looked at us kindly and whispered: “The test takes 30 minutes to process, so it would be close.” We looked at each other in amazement, grateful she was even considering us in front of so many others sitting around the area. “To be honest, everyone here treats us terribly, as if it’s our fault they can’t board their flight. The whole system right now is a disaster, and it seems like all the governments are out to make a buck off the suffering and confusion.”

She quickly waved for us to follow her and began taking our payment for the test ($350 for both of us!): “Both of you have been the highlight of my day, there is something different about you two. You have been kind and understanding with us, so thank you!”

Genesis and I both looked at each other, we had barely said a word to her or the other nurses in the short time we had been there.

As soon as the payment cleared, we were rushed into the next room to take a test. “I’ll make sure you make that flight!” she added, as we passed through the curtain.

Seconds later, another nurse had taken our samples and we were told they would come out in approximately thirty minutes. Glancing down at my watch, we only had thirty-five minutes before the airlines’ check-in desk would close.

As we walked out, I hugged Genesis and we thanked the Lord, while also praying that we would have enough time to board. Genesis then went back to the gate, to ensure we could immediately be attended by the counter, and I awaited the results.

Thirty minutes later...

“Come on…” I gasped, as my watch showed five, then four minutes until close. Suddenly, a nurse walked out and called out my name. I eagerly grasped the paper, expectantly waiting for the second sheet for Genesis. Yet once she had handed out all the results, she walked back in, and I only had the one result in hand.

“Oh no!” I glanced back at my watch, it looked like we would miss our flight after all. I again prayed silently, my whole-body tense with stress and worry. I again imagined us sleeping on the ground and trying to make the flight the next day, also hoping the agent wouldn’t be so irrational with us when we tried to get another flight.

My prayer was suddenly interrupted, as the nurse called out “Genesis.” I quickly reached for the paper, waved goodbye to the nurses who had helped, and sprinted down the aisle with both results in hand.

“Sweetie, I have them!” I panted into my cellphone, alerting Genesis that I was on my way.

As I skidded next to her, I glanced down at my watch, seeing the counter would close in exactly one minute. Looking up again, an agent was waving for us to come forward.

“We have them,” I gasped, my whole back covered in sweat by now, as I slapped the results on the table.

“I can’t believe you actually made it, we all thought you’d miss it,” she added, smilingly. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the head agent give me a dirty look.

Not today, Satan. Not today. I thought, hugging Genesis tightly, and saying a prayer of thanks to our Eternal Protector.

Moments later, we were passing through security and racing down the corridor towards our flight, arriving even as the boarding was closing.

“Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.” – Augustine of Hippo

* * *

Bolivia Trip: Once we arrived in Bolivia, after just over two years away, we were eager to visit any number of family and friends, while also having quite a list of ministry opportunities scheduled during our short visit.

I was asked to speak at seven different churches, and Genesis also spoke at four ladies’ events during her time. The highlight of the ministry, as it inevitably is for me, was teaching Church History at the Bible School in Camiri, Bolivia, where we once lived.

The students were eager and attentive, as we walked through God’s incredible and often miraculous protection and guidance for the Church over the past 2000 years. From deadly persecution to the rise of dangerous heresies, to the corruption of what was once a Biblical Church into a power-hungry and money-grubbing oligarchy masquerading as religion. Then into a golden age of missions and religious freedoms, only to be faced with the materialistic, mediocre, and often legalistic church we see so often today. Despite it all, Christ’s promise to His Church and His promise to return remains firm: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18, ESV). May we remain grounded in Him, even as He is always faithful to us.

The students, coming from all over Bolivia and some from Argentina, were also tasked with reading my book Confessions of an Inquisitor, which many finished reading well before the due date. The book, a historical fiction novel based in the Middle Ages, delves deep into perhaps the darkest and most polarizing era of Church History – the all-powerful Holy Inquisition and the battle for the rediscovery of the Bible and the Gospel during the Reformation. Originally published in 2017, we’re so blessed to see the book continuing to sell several thousand copies per year in Spanish and English, with our main readers being young adults in secular schools in South and Central America. It remains among the best sold books in Spanish after being recognized as a bestseller in both 2017 and 2018. God is good!

While the Spanish book is already on its fourth printing or so, we hope to release a second (revised) edition in English soon. Of course, you can always find all our books, including the non-fiction work Heroes: The Titans of History, on Amazon.

US Ministry: Ever since moving to South Carolina earlier this year to better serve as “missionaries to Hispanics worldwide”, we have felt so wonderfully welcomed and appreciated by so many in the area. The Lord has opened so many doors, as church after church has contacted us, inviting us to share with them, and finding ourselves mutually encouraged in the process.

Despite our calling as missionaries to Spanish-speakers, our hearts also break as we see many of our own English-speaking churches dwindling in number, lacking in youth and vision, and many feeling discouraged about the future. Genesis and I feel strongly from the Lord that we want to, in His strength, perhaps bring some joy and strength, to help so many who have for so long helped others. Suddenly, the churches who for so long have sent out missionaries, funds, and prayers all over the world, are feeling the need at home. The idea that “America may be one of the most difficult mission fields in the world today”, is one that many are resonating with during our visits. May the Lord use us, even if in a small way, to build up His Church in America.

2022 Calendar: By August of this year, our entire 2021 calendar was already full. Already our 2022 has trips scheduled to Miami, Phoenix, and San Diego, as well as being in contact with several camps for next Summer. Churches within driving distance have also started getting in touch. Despite COVID and the many restrictions that still are so stringent in many Spanish-speaking countries, we’d like to be able to spend two months outside of the country in 2022. We have not yet made any definite plans, but we are leaving April and October open as we seek the Lord’s will.

Prayer Requests:

Thankful to the Lord for all His provision and guidance as we settle into a new area and ministry opportunities
That the Lord would continue to grant us grace to encourage and build up His Church both at home and abroad
For our 2022 calendar to fill up with the places where we could best be used, as well as for the right doors to open internationally

Thank you so much for taking the time to read our update!

May the Lord richly bless and encourage you,

Christopher and Genesis Mattix

Visiting Camiri, Bolivia after 2 years away!