Since some time has passed by and I have very few details on the following events, I will group them together.
Once again in November, we were in our neighboring country doing some shopping. As often happens, some who work with those like us are believers and sometimes they are not yet believers. William found an opportunity to talk with a man who was working at the guest house at which we stayed. He was sharing with the man about Jesus and about getting to be a church if he told his friends. Later on, I came to find out that this man had at one time claimed to follow the Road but had since turned back to his old way because of many pressures from his family life. My prayer is that this man would be challenged by the words of this very bold, very young man to not forsake the Truth.
On this same trip, I am not exactly sure what, but I know that both William and Mariama were sharing with another man who was also working at the place at which we were staying.
Some time later back in our hometown, I had sent the children out to play, and then later I decided to go out to greet a friend as well. I saw them running by and asked where they were going. William said, "To tell someone about Jesus." "OK," was all I could get out. I did not know who nor how it had come about. Later I found out that the young man who spoke some English had told William that he wanted to learn more about the Jesus road. So he was going to tell him. William has since made several visits to this young man. Maybe Rich or one of the young men here who have been following the Truth will get to visit with this young man soon.
Both William and Mariama have told our house helper about Jesus in English. Unfortunately her English is not nearly as good. I know she has not understood most if any of what they have said. I pray though that I will soon be able to water whatever seeds they have planted and see fruit abundant.
Sometimes we who have been in the Family for too long get caught up in saying just the right words or even if we know enough to share. Sometimes those of us overseas get caught up in whether we know the language well enough yet to communicate clearly. As William and Mariama remind me, the important thing is to get the Good News out and then let the Almighty do the rest. We have told them that we are hear to tell the people about Jesus. When they ask how long we will be here, we tell them until the people have heard. So they are doing their part to make sure the people hear. Am I making the most of every opportunity like they are?? I need to get busy.
About Me
- Lisa
- Hello, I am a mother of three living with my husband in Africa. I have been blogging for seven years but still find myself very technologically challenged. I make lots of mistakes, but life is a journey. Come join me on the journey!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
William the Evanglist part 2
Most of our team has either had or has the same language teacher that Rich and I have. She invites all of us to spend the day on all their major holidays. Last September was one of those days. The ladies sat near where the cooking was taking place. The men chatted. The children watched TV. From that aspect, it was not much different from holidays in the states.
Many times holidays can be good times for spiritual conversations. However, because it is our teacher's house, we all know that she has heard the Good News multiple times and it is likely that others in the home have as well. William had watched TV and played with the kids long enough I suppose. After lunch, the older boys/ young men had gone into the courtyard to make tea. William went out to join them. Among them was a young man that spoke some English. William told him that Jesus was not (just) a prophet and went on to tell more of the Good News. When he was done, he instructed the young man to tell his friends, so that they could have a church.
Not having been there, I do not know exactly what William told him nor of the young man's reaction, but I am sure seeds were planted that day in his heart. William is not going to let his age stop him from sharing. He is taking every opportunity to share. He has not gotten the local language down yet, but no one who knows English will get away from him without knowing the Good News if he can help it. He has the plan for church planting down pretty well.
Many times holidays can be good times for spiritual conversations. However, because it is our teacher's house, we all know that she has heard the Good News multiple times and it is likely that others in the home have as well. William had watched TV and played with the kids long enough I suppose. After lunch, the older boys/ young men had gone into the courtyard to make tea. William went out to join them. Among them was a young man that spoke some English. William told him that Jesus was not (just) a prophet and went on to tell more of the Good News. When he was done, he instructed the young man to tell his friends, so that they could have a church.
Not having been there, I do not know exactly what William told him nor of the young man's reaction, but I am sure seeds were planted that day in his heart. William is not going to let his age stop him from sharing. He is taking every opportunity to share. He has not gotten the local language down yet, but no one who knows English will get away from him without knowing the Good News if he can help it. He has the plan for church planting down pretty well.
William the Evangelist part 1
I am way overdue for starting this series. I will try to catch up without missing too much. The first in this series actually took place May of last year. We were on our shopping trip to a neighboring country where English is the first language.
We had gone to a restaurant our first night there. This restaurant is especially nice because they have a fabulous play area out front. You can sit on the patio in front of the restaurant and watch the kids play. William and Mariama were out playing of course and busy making new friends. One of the girls they played with was named Christina. That night as they were getting ready for bed, they told me that Christina had been sick that day and they said they wanted to pray for her to feel better. I said ok, and was praying inwardly that they did not get sick as well. William also prayed that she would tell other people about Jesus. Since it was late, I left well enough alone.
The next day, we went to a grocery store and as we were checking out, who should come in?? Christina with her mother and a sibling, I think. William and Mariama yelled across half of the store that they had prayed for her. I asked them not to yell across the store, but because they did so, conversation was initiated with the workers hanging around the cash registers. Christina and her mom came over and they shared once again that they had prayed for her. William's retelling of his prayer lead to him laying it out there that those hearing needed to follow Jesus.
As we got into the truck when we left, I took the opportunity to remind him that we needed to pray th atthe person knows Jesus personally before we pray that they tell others. Because of the yelling across the store, I wanted to shrink in embarrassment. However, I could not have hidden anymore than a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon could have. I am still so filled with pride at how bold they were and are.
We had gone to a restaurant our first night there. This restaurant is especially nice because they have a fabulous play area out front. You can sit on the patio in front of the restaurant and watch the kids play. William and Mariama were out playing of course and busy making new friends. One of the girls they played with was named Christina. That night as they were getting ready for bed, they told me that Christina had been sick that day and they said they wanted to pray for her to feel better. I said ok, and was praying inwardly that they did not get sick as well. William also prayed that she would tell other people about Jesus. Since it was late, I left well enough alone.
The next day, we went to a grocery store and as we were checking out, who should come in?? Christina with her mother and a sibling, I think. William and Mariama yelled across half of the store that they had prayed for her. I asked them not to yell across the store, but because they did so, conversation was initiated with the workers hanging around the cash registers. Christina and her mom came over and they shared once again that they had prayed for her. William's retelling of his prayer lead to him laying it out there that those hearing needed to follow Jesus.
As we got into the truck when we left, I took the opportunity to remind him that we needed to pray th atthe person knows Jesus personally before we pray that they tell others. Because of the yelling across the store, I wanted to shrink in embarrassment. However, I could not have hidden anymore than a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon could have. I am still so filled with pride at how bold they were and are.
Mariama the Evangelist part 1
Mariama is such a sweet girl! She has that sweet, innocent childlike faith. We have at times had people visit our home. Often she would go get her bear that says the Lord's Prayer or sings "Jesus Loves Me", but I really was not sure why. I thought she just wanted to show them something nice. Well, we saw one of Rich's friends at the market a few days after he had come by the house. She said, "I like him. He knows Jesus." I said, "Really, how do you know?" She replied rather matter of factly, "Because I showed my bear to him that sings about Jesus. Now he is a follower of Jesus too." I was touched and yet sadly replied, "If only it were that easy honey. Knowing about Jesus does not mean that he has accepted who Jesus is and chosen to follow Him."
Well she has continued to learn and grow spiritually and been listening to her brother, who will have his own blog series soon. So a couple of weeks ago, on a Friday night, I heard her outside talking to our guard. Rephrase, not talking, but rather singing to him. She sang "Jesus loves the little children," "Jesus loves me", and "Victory in Jesus" followed by some conversation that could not be heard from where I was. When she same inside, she seemed rather proud of herself. She said that our guard was a Christian now. Really?? She has told him that Jesus was not just a prophet, but our High Priest. She told him he needed to pray to Jesus. Then he was about to pray, as he does 5 times a day, and she thought he was going to pray to Jesus. She had been speaking to him in English, which he does understand somewhat, but it is not totally clear to him. I had to tell her that he might take a while to really understand, and someone might have to talk with him in his language for him to fully understand. I hated to squelch her optimism, but I was quick to praise her for the seeds she planted and her effort.
A week or so after this Rich and I were getting the family ready for family movie night. I do not even remember how we got to talking about this again, but she began talking about that night from above. She was wanting to go follow up with the guard and ask him if he had asked Jesus to come into his heart yet. We talked about what that meant and that we should do something before asking someone else if they have. She said she had not done that yet. We talked about what was involved and then she said she needed a minute "alone". Then she bowed her head in front of us and prayed the simplest but most important prayer of her life.
Because she is so smart and she hears us talking about these things all the time, we wanted to be sure that she really understood. A few days later at lunch or dinner, something came up about Jesus forgiving our sins and becoming the boss of our lives. She said that she had done that. Playing a little silly, I asked, "when?" She said, "You know the other night before family movie night." I said, "O yes, I remember, I just wanted to make sure you did." Then she shared this news with Grandma as we skyped on Sunday.
Oh, my sweet girl! What precious childlike faith!
Well she has continued to learn and grow spiritually and been listening to her brother, who will have his own blog series soon. So a couple of weeks ago, on a Friday night, I heard her outside talking to our guard. Rephrase, not talking, but rather singing to him. She sang "Jesus loves the little children," "Jesus loves me", and "Victory in Jesus" followed by some conversation that could not be heard from where I was. When she same inside, she seemed rather proud of herself. She said that our guard was a Christian now. Really?? She has told him that Jesus was not just a prophet, but our High Priest. She told him he needed to pray to Jesus. Then he was about to pray, as he does 5 times a day, and she thought he was going to pray to Jesus. She had been speaking to him in English, which he does understand somewhat, but it is not totally clear to him. I had to tell her that he might take a while to really understand, and someone might have to talk with him in his language for him to fully understand. I hated to squelch her optimism, but I was quick to praise her for the seeds she planted and her effort.
A week or so after this Rich and I were getting the family ready for family movie night. I do not even remember how we got to talking about this again, but she began talking about that night from above. She was wanting to go follow up with the guard and ask him if he had asked Jesus to come into his heart yet. We talked about what that meant and that we should do something before asking someone else if they have. She said she had not done that yet. We talked about what was involved and then she said she needed a minute "alone". Then she bowed her head in front of us and prayed the simplest but most important prayer of her life.
Because she is so smart and she hears us talking about these things all the time, we wanted to be sure that she really understood. A few days later at lunch or dinner, something came up about Jesus forgiving our sins and becoming the boss of our lives. She said that she had done that. Playing a little silly, I asked, "when?" She said, "You know the other night before family movie night." I said, "O yes, I remember, I just wanted to make sure you did." Then she shared this news with Grandma as we skyped on Sunday.
Oh, my sweet girl! What precious childlike faith!
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