"So how many people have been saved?"

Ok, so I knew this question was coming, and I knew what the person was wanting to hear, but I still was not really ready for it. The first week we got back to the states, I got that question from a very sweet lady. I expected and had planned to be ready to answer, but then I just froze when she asked.

I wanted to say, "slow but the Word is going out.". I wanted to tell her how many we're baptized or at least expressed the desire to follow in The Way in the last month. Unfortunately, I was frozen. It was hard to not give her the answer I perceived she wanted to hear, of people beating down our doors to hear and be baptized.

All my feelings and stresses about those who have said they were following the way but then never going beyond that or those who never spoke a word about following but were always listening came flooding my heart. It can be so hard to give a real number sometimes. It takes me back to the parable of the sower and the soils.

Some with whom we work are not so interested but their hospitable nature refuses to let them dismiss us. Instead they may even act agreeable just to get us to move on to something else but never really follow the Truth.  Some are quick to proclaim their new faith and may even talk about how they can go share with other villages, but then never again make time to study the Word again after that. Some do indeed believe the Truth but then find themselves worn out by their family members who mock or even steal from them because of their faith. However, others who study the Word little by little will eventually follow the Way and live fervent lives of faith irregardless of the struggles that come. They will be baptized, which is the ultimate sign of cutting ties with their former way and identifying themselves with the True Way.

The question should have been an easy one, but it just was not as easy as I thought it would be.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:6 states it well, "I planted, Apollos watered, and God gave the growth."
I may not be able to tell of all the fruit of the work, but I can tell of the work being done.