This past month back in the village, I have been asking the Lord to help me see what is actually here, not only what is hard. I know I look at things with a negative view more often than I should. That is wrong. A month in, I am beginning to notice small things that give me hope that the Holy Spirit is at work.
This past week we went to Sibona’s house for dinner and to teach from God’s Word. When we go on these evangelism dinners I always bring some kind of rice — curry rice, coconut rice, something like that. They know that, and maybe that is part of why they say yes. Be that as it may, it gets us into the house and gives us a place to open the Scriptures with them.
While we were there, Sibona’s wife, Melissa — yes, we share the same name — was dishing out the rice to her family. She had this huge smile on her face. She was simply happy to see them get rice. Everyone in our village has enough food, and for the most part they are healthy because of it. Rice is something they do not get often, and when they do, they treat it as a real gift. Watching her, I was thankful to see joy on their faces.
A few years ago I was with her and Sibona when their firstborn son was bitten by a poisonous snake and died right there with us. These people’s lives are not easy. Without Christ, I would find it hard to see good in them too. With Christ, we can see the beauty in His creation, how He cares for us, and the miracles we have already witnessed.
Caleb preached from Mark 6, Jesus walking on the water. He has gotten much better with the language, and he is doing well in all he does here. Praise be to God. May God’s Word go forth and make disciples.
Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed.
Mark 6:45–51
Another small glimpse of light came the other day on our basketball court. One of the men, about twenty-three, is almost always walking around with a chip on his shoulder, looking for a fight. He did that with me once. Thankfully it ended well. While he was playing, he was genuinely happy. I could see it on his face. He was horsing around and being funny — not angry, not mad, just happy. I have never seen that in him before. His name is Edwin. You may remember him from an earlier letter, when he was stabbed in the chest and I helped him.
I am trying to observe the people around me better. I know everyone in this village. I have been part of their lives for almost nine years. I am pleading with the Lord to save His people.
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation” -Psalm 51:12
(This is a quote is taken from my church’s weekly email)
”The reality is that God is happy and shares his happiness, and that no happiness can last apart from him. It's simply unfair to ask a thing or a circumstance or a human to give lasting happiness to us. Actually, it's foolish and evil and renders an impossible task. The only thing that can stand up to our insatiable, unquenchable need for happiness is God. Eternal—so his happiness is lasting happiness.
Infinite—so his happiness is full happiness. Holy—so his
happiness is pure happiness. Grace—so his
happiness is free happiness. Love—So his
happiness is relational happiness. Power—so his
happiness is intense happiness. Wisdom—so his
happiness is informed happiness. Glory—so his
happiness is a praise-worthy happiness. “
This week we were able to have a cargo flight to come in and bring us the rest of our cargo. This was a great help to us and we are just so thankful for this airstrip. We have another 10 weeks here till we will take a break for Christmas and go back up to the mission base.
Prayer requests-
Evangilism trip to the three villages next Thursday
Health and Safety
His word to be heard and that people will be saved.
Homeschooling