There will come a day when...
I won't worry that guests saw that chunk of waffle on the floor that I missed when cleaning,
I won't feel bad about sending my snotty-nosed children over to my mom's for New Year's,
My mom will not be recovering from 3 weeks worth of illness,
I do not have to pick between the really early movie that is not when I really want to go
Or the really late show during which I probably would fall asleep.
I will remember to ask the obvious questions when picking up a prescription.
It won't matter how bad a job I did sweeping.
It won't matter what kind of mop I used.
But that day is not today.
There will be a day when...
Christmas cards all get mailed before Christmas rather than after New Year's.
Blogs will not be two months behind schedule.
Photo books will not be months overdue in getting printed.
Papers will not be weeks past when they should be graded.
My husband will not need to come behind me to resweep.
My daughter will not ask me 50,000,000 questions.
My daughter will not be sick and need that medicine.
But that day is not today.
There will be a day when...
I will get to sit to write all those blogs that are in my head.
I will get to write all those Christmas and thank you cards that I want to write.
I will get to sit and read a book uninterrupted.
I will get all those photo books done.
I will actually make a decision based on what I really want to do, not everyone else's desires.
But that day is not today.
Some of these things will be resolved for good reason, like the child will not need medicine because she will be well. Some of them will be resolved for bittersweet reasons, like the waffle piece will not be there because the children will be grown and gone. Some will be for sad reasons, like the fact that we are on the other side of the world from my mom or my mother will be with The Lord one day far from now. Sometimes life can be frustrating waiting for that some day, if we let it. However life can be so much sweeter if we can accept it for what today is. It is not some day. However it is the "present". "This is the day The Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it." Some day all those little things will get done, maybe. But as for today, I must choose to live today for what it is, a gift, as I find it, not how I wish it was.
So thank You Father...
For getting to be here to help care for my mom while she has been sick.
For the children that drop waffle on the floor and ask questions all day long.
For the husband who helps me do dishes and sweep and is even willing to help mop.
For the friends we had over as guests, that hopefully did not notice that piece of waffle.
For getting in and out of the doctor's office quickly and getting the medicines she needs.
For insurance that covered the doctor and medicines, so that I had no copay.
For even being in a place where we have to make decisions about movies.
For being near grandparents,
For mother feeling well enough to see the grandchildren again.
For having time to sit and blog and reflect on Your goodness even in the stress of today.
Today is the day, the day The Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.
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!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 30, 2012
"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.
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.
Friday, November 2, 2012
A little bit of dejavu!
The last few months, the last few weeks in particular, have been nonstop busy, busy, busy. Now we are in waiting mode and getting things finalized before we fly out. This afternoon I had a distinct feeling of dejavu. It may not make sense at first, but I promise it will by the end.
Once upon a time there was a young girl of just 18 on a choir tour to New York. While out touring the city, the group stopped to eat dinner. Just before the group was to leave the girl decided that she needed to visit the "powder room". When she came out, the whole group was gone. She looked up and down the road but did not see a soul she knew. She tried to call her mom to get the phone number for her leader. She should not find it. In her panic of still not seeing her group and being alone in the big city, she decided to grab a taxi to meet her group back at Columbia University, where they were lodging. She had five dollars on her. She decided not to mention this fact to the taxi driver when the meter hit $5 as they passed a row of "gentlemen's clubs". They arrived back at the campus and she made a deal with the taxi to wait while she ran to her room for the money. After she returned and paid the taxi, she went back to her room and anxiously awaited for the arrival of her group. When she saw the buses approach, she ran down the steps and sprinted toward the group, nearly tackling the first person in the group with whom she came into contact.
I feel a lot like that girl as she sat in the room waiting for those she knew to come into view. I feel like I have been on that same adrenaline high she was on as she searched for her group and made her way across town in the taxi. I feel like the airplane ride will be the sprinting down the stairs and that I am liable to tackle the first person I see, who is likely to be my mama.
It is a strange thing that I can have almost the identical emotions that I experienced 19 years ago in that great big city. Some things never change.
Once upon a time there was a young girl of just 18 on a choir tour to New York. While out touring the city, the group stopped to eat dinner. Just before the group was to leave the girl decided that she needed to visit the "powder room". When she came out, the whole group was gone. She looked up and down the road but did not see a soul she knew. She tried to call her mom to get the phone number for her leader. She should not find it. In her panic of still not seeing her group and being alone in the big city, she decided to grab a taxi to meet her group back at Columbia University, where they were lodging. She had five dollars on her. She decided not to mention this fact to the taxi driver when the meter hit $5 as they passed a row of "gentlemen's clubs". They arrived back at the campus and she made a deal with the taxi to wait while she ran to her room for the money. After she returned and paid the taxi, she went back to her room and anxiously awaited for the arrival of her group. When she saw the buses approach, she ran down the steps and sprinted toward the group, nearly tackling the first person in the group with whom she came into contact.
I feel a lot like that girl as she sat in the room waiting for those she knew to come into view. I feel like I have been on that same adrenaline high she was on as she searched for her group and made her way across town in the taxi. I feel like the airplane ride will be the sprinting down the stairs and that I am liable to tackle the first person I see, who is likely to be my mama.
It is a strange thing that I can have almost the identical emotions that I experienced 19 years ago in that great big city. Some things never change.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Comparison of Religions
Three weeks of Ramadan have already passed. Ramadan is the month of fasting for Muslims around the world. Muslims will fast from dawn to dusk for 30 days. The fast includes refraining from eating or drinking anything in the daylight hours. The strictest groups will even spit out any saliva rather than swallow it, so as not to be considered to be drinking.
In history yesterday in home school, we began studying Mohammed and Islam. We were studying the five tenets of Islam, of which Ramadan is one. For the sake of our study, we looked at what scriptures teach regarding those tenets. Listed below are the tenets and the verses we used to respond to them. Many more verses could be used, but this is a sampling.
Tenet 1: Confess that there is one god and that Mohammed is his prophet.
Scripture: Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 4:35
Tenet 2: Pray five times a day, facing Mecca.
Scripture: Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Hebrews 4:16
Tenet 3: Give required alms
Scriptures: Matthew 23:2323; Luke 11:39-41
Tenet 4: Fast from dawn to dusk for one month each year
Scripture: Matthew 6:16-17; Psalm 35:13
Tenet 5: Travel to Mecca on a pilgrimage once in a lifetime
Scripture: John 4:19-24
Pray with us for the Truth to be revealed to those who earnestly seek to know the Way of Truth and who earnestly seek Peace, especially as they enter their last week of fasting. Pray their hunger will not be merely for physical food but also for the Bread of Life.
In history yesterday in home school, we began studying Mohammed and Islam. We were studying the five tenets of Islam, of which Ramadan is one. For the sake of our study, we looked at what scriptures teach regarding those tenets. Listed below are the tenets and the verses we used to respond to them. Many more verses could be used, but this is a sampling.
Tenet 1: Confess that there is one god and that Mohammed is his prophet.
Scripture: Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 4:35
Tenet 2: Pray five times a day, facing Mecca.
Scripture: Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Hebrews 4:16
Tenet 3: Give required alms
Scriptures: Matthew 23:2323; Luke 11:39-41
Tenet 4: Fast from dawn to dusk for one month each year
Scripture: Matthew 6:16-17; Psalm 35:13
Tenet 5: Travel to Mecca on a pilgrimage once in a lifetime
Scripture: John 4:19-24
Pray with us for the Truth to be revealed to those who earnestly seek to know the Way of Truth and who earnestly seek Peace, especially as they enter their last week of fasting. Pray their hunger will not be merely for physical food but also for the Bread of Life.
"This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer (and fasting)."
The title today is taken from Mark 9:29, in which Jesus explains why the disciples had not been able to cast out the unclean spirit in the boy. It brought up discussion amongst us as to what he meant by "this kind." Obviously that means that some healings can be done without specific prayer and fasting, which we suppose to be those physical healings as the blind men or the lepers. "This kind" seems to indicate those of unclean spirits or demons. There are times here that people are sick with legitimate physical illnesses. However, the people seek healing from a spiritual "doctor", which seems to invite the unclean spirits.
One example is in the home of a lady I know. Her son was having seizures, very likely medically caused. However, the mother went to every "spiritual healer" that she could to seek healing for her son. Her son now seems to have been healed from the seizures, but now he has moments where he is a literal fool.
This week then a story was shared with me about a woman in a nearby village. One of our sisters here has been going to this village to share weekly. This woman has been very interested in learning ans listening to the stories that our sister has shared with her. About a month ago, this woman began experiencing pain in her knee as if something is chewing on it from the inside. Our sister prayed for the woman but the pain moved to her hip. The pain is debilitating and keeps the woman from being ale to move around, even to the bathroom. The woman has gone to doctors, but they offered her no solution. She has gone to "spiritual healers", but they just give her a ton of things to do or drink with no real relief.
We are well aware on a regular basis that the enemy has a strong hold on the area that we live. He certainly does not like the idea of anyone that has not been following the Truth to hear and believe. This woman was listening and was on the way to hearing. Pray with me for healing for this woman's body and spirit. Pray for the bonds that the enemy has on the people here to be loosened.
One example is in the home of a lady I know. Her son was having seizures, very likely medically caused. However, the mother went to every "spiritual healer" that she could to seek healing for her son. Her son now seems to have been healed from the seizures, but now he has moments where he is a literal fool.
This week then a story was shared with me about a woman in a nearby village. One of our sisters here has been going to this village to share weekly. This woman has been very interested in learning ans listening to the stories that our sister has shared with her. About a month ago, this woman began experiencing pain in her knee as if something is chewing on it from the inside. Our sister prayed for the woman but the pain moved to her hip. The pain is debilitating and keeps the woman from being ale to move around, even to the bathroom. The woman has gone to doctors, but they offered her no solution. She has gone to "spiritual healers", but they just give her a ton of things to do or drink with no real relief.
We are well aware on a regular basis that the enemy has a strong hold on the area that we live. He certainly does not like the idea of anyone that has not been following the Truth to hear and believe. This woman was listening and was on the way to hearing. Pray with me for healing for this woman's body and spirit. Pray for the bonds that the enemy has on the people here to be loosened.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Home School Field Trip
Ok, sometimes, alright, more than sometimes, my blog can be rather heavy and never have much to do with my role as teacher to my children. So here is a light-hearted blog that also tells a little of what we are doing in school this year.
My mom has been wanting to go with us back to that Magical place in Florida, since we all went back in 2009. Since we began planning our trip stateside for 7 months, we have also been planning to go there as well. We had been planning for the spring of 2013, but then we planned for after Thanksgiving of this year. (Shhhhhhh, it's a surprise for the kids!)
I have come to the conclusion that it is going to be considered a field trip.
Here are my arguments for declaring it as such:
1) Our second history lesson this year was on the Barbarians and Vikings. Since many of these people were from Norther Europe, it only seems fitting that we have lunch at the Akershus castle in Epcot modeled after the one in Norway and eat Norwegian food. Meeting the princesses was going to be a bonus until....
2) Mariama has been studying Aesop's fables. I was going to skip the part in her book that talked about myths, since we are not studying Greece and Rome this year. Yesterday, I decided we would substitute some of Grimm's fairy tales for the myths, since she is also supposed to be reading them this year. After those she will be looking at Hans Christian Anderson as well as learning to tell Cinderella's story. I decided it was only appropriate that she go meet all of the princesses after reading all of their stories, as originally told before Disney. Just to be sure she meets everyone from Cinderella's story though, we will go to 1900 Park Fare to eat with all the characters from this particular story and hopefully get to dance with the Prince.
3) In general reading maps on the way to Florida and to each of the parks and getting a taste (quite literally) of places around the world should work into geography somehow. We can also compare Africa, which we know well, to Asia while we are in the Animal Kingdom.
4) Mariama's other literature assignments include Pinocchio and Winnie-the Pooh. We will be sure to eat at Pinocchio's Village Haus. We will also be sure to tell Winnie that she read his book and maybe get it autographed when we have lunch with him and the gang at the Crystal Palace as well as ride his ride.
5) Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland were on William's literature list for last year, so we will be sure that he indeed finished both before we go meet Alice or ride the Mad Tea Party or go to meet Tinkerbell or ride Peter Pan's Flight. His list for this year includes the Adventures of Tom Sawyer, so Tom Sawyer's Island must be explored. This year also calls for Mary Poppins, so we must read it before we meet Mary who will be just wild about, I am sure. He will also be reading Robin Hood, which should tie in well to Friar's Nook.
6) We will be studying castle architecture and life shortly before returning to the states. So of course lots of observing of Cinderella's castle will be necessary.
7) Preparing for the next school year, we will get a glimpse as we go to Liberty Square and as we go to the Swiss Family Treehouse before he reads Swiss Family Robinson.
So there you have it, my arguments for why we will be considering our trip to the most magical place on earth, well in Florida anyway as field trip.
My mom has been wanting to go with us back to that Magical place in Florida, since we all went back in 2009. Since we began planning our trip stateside for 7 months, we have also been planning to go there as well. We had been planning for the spring of 2013, but then we planned for after Thanksgiving of this year. (Shhhhhhh, it's a surprise for the kids!)
I have come to the conclusion that it is going to be considered a field trip.
Here are my arguments for declaring it as such:
1) Our second history lesson this year was on the Barbarians and Vikings. Since many of these people were from Norther Europe, it only seems fitting that we have lunch at the Akershus castle in Epcot modeled after the one in Norway and eat Norwegian food. Meeting the princesses was going to be a bonus until....
2) Mariama has been studying Aesop's fables. I was going to skip the part in her book that talked about myths, since we are not studying Greece and Rome this year. Yesterday, I decided we would substitute some of Grimm's fairy tales for the myths, since she is also supposed to be reading them this year. After those she will be looking at Hans Christian Anderson as well as learning to tell Cinderella's story. I decided it was only appropriate that she go meet all of the princesses after reading all of their stories, as originally told before Disney. Just to be sure she meets everyone from Cinderella's story though, we will go to 1900 Park Fare to eat with all the characters from this particular story and hopefully get to dance with the Prince.
3) In general reading maps on the way to Florida and to each of the parks and getting a taste (quite literally) of places around the world should work into geography somehow. We can also compare Africa, which we know well, to Asia while we are in the Animal Kingdom.
4) Mariama's other literature assignments include Pinocchio and Winnie-the Pooh. We will be sure to eat at Pinocchio's Village Haus. We will also be sure to tell Winnie that she read his book and maybe get it autographed when we have lunch with him and the gang at the Crystal Palace as well as ride his ride.
5) Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland were on William's literature list for last year, so we will be sure that he indeed finished both before we go meet Alice or ride the Mad Tea Party or go to meet Tinkerbell or ride Peter Pan's Flight. His list for this year includes the Adventures of Tom Sawyer, so Tom Sawyer's Island must be explored. This year also calls for Mary Poppins, so we must read it before we meet Mary who will be just wild about, I am sure. He will also be reading Robin Hood, which should tie in well to Friar's Nook.
6) We will be studying castle architecture and life shortly before returning to the states. So of course lots of observing of Cinderella's castle will be necessary.
7) Preparing for the next school year, we will get a glimpse as we go to Liberty Square and as we go to the Swiss Family Treehouse before he reads Swiss Family Robinson.
So there you have it, my arguments for why we will be considering our trip to the most magical place on earth, well in Florida anyway as field trip.
Sometimes things just do not go like you want.
In early July, things were crazy busy with trying to squeeze in a few weeks of school before heading to the capitol and trying to get out to share as well. Several weeks in a row I had tried to make contact and have been fairly successful in contacting a particular group of women. One Friday, I realized how much I had neglected another group who had been eager to learn in the past. I was not really sure where to go visit but felt lead to go to this house that I had not visited in a while.
I entered the home and greeted everyone there. A young man that I did not recognize was there. He turned out to to be the son of the lady that I was there to visit. Since she has such young children as well, I was taken a bit off guard a bit, though I am not sure why. The women begin having children here so early and continue to late, that it is not unusual for their children and grandchildren to be the same age.
As I sat and visited, the conversation never went very deep. People passed by just to greet the white woman or would stand outside the gate and stare. At points, it felt so wasteful to just be sitting there. I had to look at it as just building relationships, which i do not often get to do. i have since questioned whether staying there was the right decision or not. Was there someone waiting to hear the good news that I should have gone to see instead? Was spending this time just being there worth my time? Only time will tell.
I entered the home and greeted everyone there. A young man that I did not recognize was there. He turned out to to be the son of the lady that I was there to visit. Since she has such young children as well, I was taken a bit off guard a bit, though I am not sure why. The women begin having children here so early and continue to late, that it is not unusual for their children and grandchildren to be the same age.
As I sat and visited, the conversation never went very deep. People passed by just to greet the white woman or would stand outside the gate and stare. At points, it felt so wasteful to just be sitting there. I had to look at it as just building relationships, which i do not often get to do. i have since questioned whether staying there was the right decision or not. Was there someone waiting to hear the good news that I should have gone to see instead? Was spending this time just being there worth my time? Only time will tell.
Keep up with what is going on around Africa!
Here are some other sights to help you keep up with what is going on around the continent:
africastories.org
africatales.org
The first is for all ages though geared more for adults. Though adults may learn something from the second, it is geared more for adults. Have fun!
africastories.org
africatales.org
The first is for all ages though geared more for adults. Though adults may learn something from the second, it is geared more for adults. Have fun!
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Nothing really pleasant comes without work and pain!
The title is from words said to me last night as I visited and shared with a woman. We were talking about the creation story and man and woman and their disobedience. She said she liked the whole story. Often people will say that as what we would call a "sunday school" answer, because it is God's Word. However generally they will begin to agree that there are parts of the story that are difficult to like such as the woman having pain in childbirth or man having to work hard to have just a little to eat. This woman though did not change her opinion. She agreed that childbirth is painful, but having the baby is wonderful. Having a child with good character is a good thing, but raising them to have good character is not pleasant sometimes. "Nothing pleasant and worth having," she said, "comes without work and pain." How true that is but oddly enough painful. So often we want things and think they should come easily, but the best things just do not happen that way. I experienced that just yesterday on the way to visit this woman. I was tired from a busy week of home school and really just wanted to relax. However I knew that this is the reason why I am here and that there were women expecting me to show up with a Word to study. Fortunately, I was reminded on the way that when we are weak, then He is strong. When we are at our end, He is most able to work and show Himself true to His Word. What is it that you most want and desire? Are you willing to work for it? Are you willing to put in the blood, sweat, and tears to get to it? Really? Am I? This visit was a gut check I needed.
By the way, lift up this woman. She has lots of "good" answers but it also seems like she just wants to put the good I teach in her basket of beliefs. She needs to realize that she must throw out the rest of the basket and start afresh and anew. Ask the Father to give me the words to say to prick this woman's heart.
By the way, lift up this woman. She has lots of "good" answers but it also seems like she just wants to put the good I teach in her basket of beliefs. She needs to realize that she must throw out the rest of the basket and start afresh and anew. Ask the Father to give me the words to say to prick this woman's heart.
A New Brother!
Well, unfortunately I had some computer issues the last time I wrote, so now I must retell this story from my memory, weak though it is. The story is alive with the Spirit, so I trust It to help me remember.
As I was visiting with a local sister, she was sharing with me some wonderful things that the Almighty is doing in her village. She, along with a local brother who was in town working, was hosting gatherings on an evening during the week to allow those who had questions about our beliefs to come forward to ask them and hear stories of the Good News. The gathering just previous to my visit with her involved three young men choosing to follow the Way. Wow, what rejoicing there is over just one!
It would have been a happy story if it had ended there, but the teaching was no where near done. The challenge then becomes teaching them how to live out their new faith in the face of all their traditions. One in particular had some major questions, which I am sure will impact his friends as well. This one is actually of another people group. He had a particularly pressing question.
In this new brother's tradition, a young man will go through a ritual where blood is drained from his hips. This blood is then combined with finger nail cuttings and hair trimmings to be sacrificed to a spirit. This spirit then is supposed to be bound to protect the young man the rest of his days. The spirit world is very real here, and people live and die in fear of it.
This young man needed to know how to respond to his family about this tradition and whether he would even travel there the following week to undergo this. It does not end there though. He needs to know that our God is greater than any spirit. He needs to know how to answer his mother who will surely beg him otherwise because she fears for her child's safety. He needs to know how to answer his father when he can no longer follow in his father's steps. He will have to know how to answer the father of any girl that he might wish to marry and risk the stigma of not being fully one of them.
The gathering after my visit with my sister would be followed by the young man's travel to his people to follow in their traditions or his refusal and pronouncing his new faith. Intercede with me for wisdom for my
sister and for this young man and his friends. May they have the confidence that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had as they went into the fiery furnace!
As I was visiting with a local sister, she was sharing with me some wonderful things that the Almighty is doing in her village. She, along with a local brother who was in town working, was hosting gatherings on an evening during the week to allow those who had questions about our beliefs to come forward to ask them and hear stories of the Good News. The gathering just previous to my visit with her involved three young men choosing to follow the Way. Wow, what rejoicing there is over just one!
It would have been a happy story if it had ended there, but the teaching was no where near done. The challenge then becomes teaching them how to live out their new faith in the face of all their traditions. One in particular had some major questions, which I am sure will impact his friends as well. This one is actually of another people group. He had a particularly pressing question.
In this new brother's tradition, a young man will go through a ritual where blood is drained from his hips. This blood is then combined with finger nail cuttings and hair trimmings to be sacrificed to a spirit. This spirit then is supposed to be bound to protect the young man the rest of his days. The spirit world is very real here, and people live and die in fear of it.
This young man needed to know how to respond to his family about this tradition and whether he would even travel there the following week to undergo this. It does not end there though. He needs to know that our God is greater than any spirit. He needs to know how to answer his mother who will surely beg him otherwise because she fears for her child's safety. He needs to know how to answer his father when he can no longer follow in his father's steps. He will have to know how to answer the father of any girl that he might wish to marry and risk the stigma of not being fully one of them.
The gathering after my visit with my sister would be followed by the young man's travel to his people to follow in their traditions or his refusal and pronouncing his new faith. Intercede with me for wisdom for my
sister and for this young man and his friends. May they have the confidence that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had as they went into the fiery furnace!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Spending the night in a village
Ok, so some people have asked what we do when we go to a village. Usually that includes visiting with the people and gathering whoever is willing to listen and sharing from the Word. I have rarely gone to a village just to observe and learn from the culture. I have, however, not spent the night in one since we came back to this country in 2009. I began feeling a bit guilty about this recently and wanted to do so. I did not want to do it with the kids because I actually wanted to focus on what God might have me see. I also did not want to do so with one of our volunteer teams because I wanted to just observe life rather than be on translation duty. For months now, my friend has been wanting me to go out to her village again. Last year we were going out there to teach but then work got to be too much and this village just got dropped off the list. I have been wanting to go back, but I could find no good time to go in the midst of home school. I really wanted to go on a Sunday because that is also their market day, which I wanted to see. I had to struggle with giving up my rest day with my family as well. I wanted to spend the night also to get the full cultural experience. So Sunday before last I went to the village, and here is what happened there.
I got ready to leave and packed my bag with only a change of clothes and my crochet stuff and my copy of the Word in local language. I packed another bag with two bottles of water for each day I would be gone. I went into our town to buy some nuts that are used here as a gift to show respect, particularly when one has not been to visit in a while and when greeting for a death, both of which applied to my case. I then went to pick up my friend who was not ready to go, not surprisingly. She had gotten food cooked for her family to have later in the day. Her step-daughter was going with us as well, since she had never been to this village, despite how long my friend has been her mother. My friend's youngest child, just a little older than Lydia-Ann, was going with us because he is weaning but he is very much so "2". The next youngest child was wanting to go as well because she had not been there since her mom had had the baby. So we loaded into the truck and got the children buckled in, as well as my friend. I am not sure who was more uncomfortable--my friend or the little ones. We drove for about an hour, the last half-hour being the most rugged terrain of all.
We arrived and greeted the house. Everyone was so welcoming despite it being such a long time since I had been there last. They brought buckets of mangoes and cashew fruit for us to eat. I waited until the father arrived to give the nuts that I had brought to greet him. They kept asking me to eat more and more mangoes, but I said I could not or I would not be able to eat lunch. They laughed. We got ready to eat lunch, which they served to us. They served white rice with a green slimy sauce in the middle made of leaves and okra and then drizzled around on the rice a red oil-like liquid to add more flavor. I realize it does not sound appetizing, but I really like it. Don't get me wrong. I like my meat and veggies! I could make it on this stuff for a while. We chatted a bit more after lunch.
Then my friend told them I was wanting to go to the market. I thought it was not far, so I had planned to walk. However, now it was after 2pm and HOT, so I was ok with driving there. I was glad that I had when we got there. It was farther than I would have liked to have walked in the heat and am not sure I would have made it before the market closed. We had to cross a border to get to this market, and I had to go past military on our side but not the other. Upon arrival I found a good spot and my friend's dad began showing us around. He wanted to buy some packets, much like Kool-aid. They were also wanting to buy some soap and jewelry for the dad's wives. Everything under the sun that people need here can be found at this market. There were tables covered with packages of hair extensions. There were tables covered with "Secrets" that would make "Victoria" blush. There were booths with used kids' clothes and toys. One could also buy material to make an outfit or buy a ready made outfit. There were tables set up with toiletry items like toothpaste and toothbrushes. Toward the back were rows of ladies all selling beignets, which people snack on a lot here. I really like them but most were no longer fresh this late in the day, so I passed on them. At the very back are mechanics and those who repair bikes. It is a market held only on Sundays and it is truly a one-stop shop. I even found some sidewalk chalk and a purple Tinkerbell jumping ball for the kids.
Upon arriving back at the truck, the step-daughter who had stayed in the truck, said that the military there had come to ask her for some papers. She had just gotten that out when they walked up behind me. They asked to see my papers and my friend's dad offered his papers as well. The military asked us to come sit with them in their "shack". No longer had our feet entered the space than the dad began talking the ear off of this military man. Dad truly knew just about every person at this market. I don't know if it is something he said or just the fact that he would not stop, but the military just handed us back ur papers and said, "Good day." We got in the truck and left. The dad told me that I certainly would have had to pay had he not come with us. I am so glad he did. We got back to the stop on our side of the border and had to stop. They wanted to make sure I had nothing in the back of my truck that I was not supposed to have. Then we had a nice drive back.
We got back to the village and some rested and some started the process of cooking dinner. One lady brought a bowl of fresh honey to us to eat. When I say fresh, I mean still very raw and full of "chunks". You don't want to look too closely at the chunks, for fear that you are eating actual bees It was delicious, but one can only eat so much. They wanted me to eat the whole bowl. I could not do it. I took out my crochet and worked as I chatted. After a while, a mattress was brought outside for us to sit/ lay on to relax. More mangoes were brought for us to snack on, and the cooked fresh cashew nuts were brought to us to crack and eat. I ate so many mangoes that my lips started to hurt from the acid. The ladies kept talking about making rice for me, but they were having millet. I said there was no need for them to make extra work for themselves, but that I would gladly eat whatever they were having. They had caught a chicken earlier in the evening to make sauce for us. This was in addition to the other sauce they were making for the millet. Nightfall came and we were eating dinner by flashlight. The millet was delicious, maybe the best I have ever had, maybe even better than Moroccan couscous.
After dinner I lay looking up at the stars and pulled out my copy of the Word to look up a few passages. This was just time for me and my Creator. What a precious time that was for me. However, my heart was heavy and I longed to talk to a friend. I turned to my friend and talked a little about what weighed on my heart. She and another shared some words of wisdom. I knew my Creator was speaking even through them. I lay back down and fell asleep. Just about that time, they came to get us up to move inside the huts. The round cement hut with thatched roof had four double size beds. I slept with the stepdaughter in one of the beds. I wished that I could have stayed outside to sleep because it was so much hotter inside. But eventually I fell back to sleep.
The next morning we got going rather quickly. I took a rinse off bucket bath and got redressed. Then we went out to gather mangoes which had to be knocked down out of the tree and cashew fruit which has to be gathered from the ground. We carried so many buckets of mangoes back to the truck that the bed was completely covered. The cashew fruit juice was leaking such that the dad started to worry that I had a gas or oil leak. When we were done, we ate our breakfast. It was a combination of rice and peanuts that had been pounded together. They gave us the choice of the red oil from lunch the day before or sugar to put on it. It was good with both, but I prefer the sugar. Sometimes it is served with yogurt over it, but this village did not have any this day. We said our goodbyes and got in the truck. We drove the hour home and made it just about the time I was hoping to be home, surprisingly. Time for a real shower and a little English listening.
I got ready to leave and packed my bag with only a change of clothes and my crochet stuff and my copy of the Word in local language. I packed another bag with two bottles of water for each day I would be gone. I went into our town to buy some nuts that are used here as a gift to show respect, particularly when one has not been to visit in a while and when greeting for a death, both of which applied to my case. I then went to pick up my friend who was not ready to go, not surprisingly. She had gotten food cooked for her family to have later in the day. Her step-daughter was going with us as well, since she had never been to this village, despite how long my friend has been her mother. My friend's youngest child, just a little older than Lydia-Ann, was going with us because he is weaning but he is very much so "2". The next youngest child was wanting to go as well because she had not been there since her mom had had the baby. So we loaded into the truck and got the children buckled in, as well as my friend. I am not sure who was more uncomfortable--my friend or the little ones. We drove for about an hour, the last half-hour being the most rugged terrain of all.
We arrived and greeted the house. Everyone was so welcoming despite it being such a long time since I had been there last. They brought buckets of mangoes and cashew fruit for us to eat. I waited until the father arrived to give the nuts that I had brought to greet him. They kept asking me to eat more and more mangoes, but I said I could not or I would not be able to eat lunch. They laughed. We got ready to eat lunch, which they served to us. They served white rice with a green slimy sauce in the middle made of leaves and okra and then drizzled around on the rice a red oil-like liquid to add more flavor. I realize it does not sound appetizing, but I really like it. Don't get me wrong. I like my meat and veggies! I could make it on this stuff for a while. We chatted a bit more after lunch.
Then my friend told them I was wanting to go to the market. I thought it was not far, so I had planned to walk. However, now it was after 2pm and HOT, so I was ok with driving there. I was glad that I had when we got there. It was farther than I would have liked to have walked in the heat and am not sure I would have made it before the market closed. We had to cross a border to get to this market, and I had to go past military on our side but not the other. Upon arrival I found a good spot and my friend's dad began showing us around. He wanted to buy some packets, much like Kool-aid. They were also wanting to buy some soap and jewelry for the dad's wives. Everything under the sun that people need here can be found at this market. There were tables covered with packages of hair extensions. There were tables covered with "Secrets" that would make "Victoria" blush. There were booths with used kids' clothes and toys. One could also buy material to make an outfit or buy a ready made outfit. There were tables set up with toiletry items like toothpaste and toothbrushes. Toward the back were rows of ladies all selling beignets, which people snack on a lot here. I really like them but most were no longer fresh this late in the day, so I passed on them. At the very back are mechanics and those who repair bikes. It is a market held only on Sundays and it is truly a one-stop shop. I even found some sidewalk chalk and a purple Tinkerbell jumping ball for the kids.
Upon arriving back at the truck, the step-daughter who had stayed in the truck, said that the military there had come to ask her for some papers. She had just gotten that out when they walked up behind me. They asked to see my papers and my friend's dad offered his papers as well. The military asked us to come sit with them in their "shack". No longer had our feet entered the space than the dad began talking the ear off of this military man. Dad truly knew just about every person at this market. I don't know if it is something he said or just the fact that he would not stop, but the military just handed us back ur papers and said, "Good day." We got in the truck and left. The dad told me that I certainly would have had to pay had he not come with us. I am so glad he did. We got back to the stop on our side of the border and had to stop. They wanted to make sure I had nothing in the back of my truck that I was not supposed to have. Then we had a nice drive back.
We got back to the village and some rested and some started the process of cooking dinner. One lady brought a bowl of fresh honey to us to eat. When I say fresh, I mean still very raw and full of "chunks". You don't want to look too closely at the chunks, for fear that you are eating actual bees It was delicious, but one can only eat so much. They wanted me to eat the whole bowl. I could not do it. I took out my crochet and worked as I chatted. After a while, a mattress was brought outside for us to sit/ lay on to relax. More mangoes were brought for us to snack on, and the cooked fresh cashew nuts were brought to us to crack and eat. I ate so many mangoes that my lips started to hurt from the acid. The ladies kept talking about making rice for me, but they were having millet. I said there was no need for them to make extra work for themselves, but that I would gladly eat whatever they were having. They had caught a chicken earlier in the evening to make sauce for us. This was in addition to the other sauce they were making for the millet. Nightfall came and we were eating dinner by flashlight. The millet was delicious, maybe the best I have ever had, maybe even better than Moroccan couscous.
After dinner I lay looking up at the stars and pulled out my copy of the Word to look up a few passages. This was just time for me and my Creator. What a precious time that was for me. However, my heart was heavy and I longed to talk to a friend. I turned to my friend and talked a little about what weighed on my heart. She and another shared some words of wisdom. I knew my Creator was speaking even through them. I lay back down and fell asleep. Just about that time, they came to get us up to move inside the huts. The round cement hut with thatched roof had four double size beds. I slept with the stepdaughter in one of the beds. I wished that I could have stayed outside to sleep because it was so much hotter inside. But eventually I fell back to sleep.
The next morning we got going rather quickly. I took a rinse off bucket bath and got redressed. Then we went out to gather mangoes which had to be knocked down out of the tree and cashew fruit which has to be gathered from the ground. We carried so many buckets of mangoes back to the truck that the bed was completely covered. The cashew fruit juice was leaking such that the dad started to worry that I had a gas or oil leak. When we were done, we ate our breakfast. It was a combination of rice and peanuts that had been pounded together. They gave us the choice of the red oil from lunch the day before or sugar to put on it. It was good with both, but I prefer the sugar. Sometimes it is served with yogurt over it, but this village did not have any this day. We said our goodbyes and got in the truck. We drove the hour home and made it just about the time I was hoping to be home, surprisingly. Time for a real shower and a little English listening.
O my, how do I respond to this one??
Almost two weeks ago now, I was visiting a friend. She is my closest friend here that is not a "sister". She is the only one whoever comes to just check on me and visit just to visit. We get along really well. I had to keep from jumping out of my skin on this visit though.
My friend and I were in the course of a normal conversation when she begins to complain about something. She used a word I was unfamiliar with and asked me if it was true that we did not do that thing. It was clear that the government was declaring illegal something that was important to them. After continued talking it became clear that she was talking about female circumcision. (Please see earlier post about female circumcision, which resulted from a discovery of a journal entry by a co-worker.) She was concerned because only one of the girls in their house had it done, but there were several that were of the age and had not and now legally could not. I sat in stunned horror at the thought of these precious girls suffering this terrible ordeal. I wanted to scream at her that she could not possibly do such a thing, but I knew that was not going to accomplish my purpose. I sat as she continued.
She said they needed to do so for their religion. However, her husband, who had come out by this time, contradicted her that not all those in their religion have this tradition, but rather quietly he emphasized that it was a tradition for their people. She bemoaned the fact that financially times were hard and that they could not afford to have it done and the fact that the government was preventing this tradition.
With every bit of composure that I could muster, I explained that we did not do it for the sake of health of the girl, and she would not dare give them a medicine that could kill them. I tried to tell her it would be better for them when they married. I also tried to teach that the Word teaches that we are to obey our government, particularly in an area that God does not clearly command.
I confess that I was completely taken off guard by this and had no ready response other than to want to scream. I have a feeling though that I will be on my guard for the next few weeks as the school year comes to an end for them, since things like that are generally done during the "summer break". Please pray for me to have the right words to speak and that I can get through to the heart of my friend before one more precious girl has to suffer this agony.
My friend and I were in the course of a normal conversation when she begins to complain about something. She used a word I was unfamiliar with and asked me if it was true that we did not do that thing. It was clear that the government was declaring illegal something that was important to them. After continued talking it became clear that she was talking about female circumcision. (Please see earlier post about female circumcision, which resulted from a discovery of a journal entry by a co-worker.) She was concerned because only one of the girls in their house had it done, but there were several that were of the age and had not and now legally could not. I sat in stunned horror at the thought of these precious girls suffering this terrible ordeal. I wanted to scream at her that she could not possibly do such a thing, but I knew that was not going to accomplish my purpose. I sat as she continued.
She said they needed to do so for their religion. However, her husband, who had come out by this time, contradicted her that not all those in their religion have this tradition, but rather quietly he emphasized that it was a tradition for their people. She bemoaned the fact that financially times were hard and that they could not afford to have it done and the fact that the government was preventing this tradition.
With every bit of composure that I could muster, I explained that we did not do it for the sake of health of the girl, and she would not dare give them a medicine that could kill them. I tried to tell her it would be better for them when they married. I also tried to teach that the Word teaches that we are to obey our government, particularly in an area that God does not clearly command.
I confess that I was completely taken off guard by this and had no ready response other than to want to scream. I have a feeling though that I will be on my guard for the next few weeks as the school year comes to an end for them, since things like that are generally done during the "summer break". Please pray for me to have the right words to speak and that I can get through to the heart of my friend before one more precious girl has to suffer this agony.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Language Evaluation--opportunity to share the Truth!
At the beginning of the year, I took on a new role on our team in charge of language stuff. My job is to encourage our team to keep growing and learning in our language, even after we achieve our language levels. Our language has so much vocabulary and their are so many similar dialects around us, which makes it a continual process. It also fell upon me to arrange for our language evaluations. Well, obviously setting up evaluators for my own evaluation would be difficult to do without in some way swaying the score I would receive. Not sure what to do, a team mate suggested working through our language teacher.
One day I went to see our teacher and told her what I was wanting. She knew some teachers that would be able to help us out. We arranged the when and the where. I did not have the list of questions with me at the time, so I sent them over with Rich another day. I thought they would be self-explanatory. The following day, I sent over a list of questions in French that I thought would be clearer. That just confused the situation. So the day before the evaluation, I had to go see her again to explain clearly what it was we were wanting. There were a lot of things on the list that had to do with everyday life but the most important was the last question, which was to show that we could do our job.
With everything clear, hopefully, I stopped by our team mates to say how relieved I was that they were not taking the evaluation with Rich and I. I would have been way more stressed out and hoped that all the kinks would be worked out before their evaluation.
Morning came and everyone arrived. We served coffee and bread to the evaluators before we got started. Rich went first and joked around breaking the ice and setting himself at ease. He came out feeling good about how things went.
I continued to be nervous and had problems hearing and just being comfortable with people I did not know. Finally I got comfortable enough in our conversation to be able to hear and speak clearly. I was encouraged as I continued by the smile from the lady evaluator. We came to a point where they were ready to dismiss me, but I had still not gotten to tell my story. I asked for permission to tell my story. They permitted me to do so. I told them the story of creation to the fall to the command for sacrifices to the insufficiency of sacrifice alone and the promise of a Savior and what our Lord did for us.
They had a question or two and then thanked me for the story and dismissed me. When all was said and done, Rich and I both scored very well. I am so thankful that things ended up so much smoother than I feared. I am also grateful that I was able to take that time to share the Good News. Lift up these three evaluators and our teacher that have heard the Truth. Ask the One that gives the growth to grow these seeds.
One day I went to see our teacher and told her what I was wanting. She knew some teachers that would be able to help us out. We arranged the when and the where. I did not have the list of questions with me at the time, so I sent them over with Rich another day. I thought they would be self-explanatory. The following day, I sent over a list of questions in French that I thought would be clearer. That just confused the situation. So the day before the evaluation, I had to go see her again to explain clearly what it was we were wanting. There were a lot of things on the list that had to do with everyday life but the most important was the last question, which was to show that we could do our job.
With everything clear, hopefully, I stopped by our team mates to say how relieved I was that they were not taking the evaluation with Rich and I. I would have been way more stressed out and hoped that all the kinks would be worked out before their evaluation.
Morning came and everyone arrived. We served coffee and bread to the evaluators before we got started. Rich went first and joked around breaking the ice and setting himself at ease. He came out feeling good about how things went.
I continued to be nervous and had problems hearing and just being comfortable with people I did not know. Finally I got comfortable enough in our conversation to be able to hear and speak clearly. I was encouraged as I continued by the smile from the lady evaluator. We came to a point where they were ready to dismiss me, but I had still not gotten to tell my story. I asked for permission to tell my story. They permitted me to do so. I told them the story of creation to the fall to the command for sacrifices to the insufficiency of sacrifice alone and the promise of a Savior and what our Lord did for us.
They had a question or two and then thanked me for the story and dismissed me. When all was said and done, Rich and I both scored very well. I am so thankful that things ended up so much smoother than I feared. I am also grateful that I was able to take that time to share the Good News. Lift up these three evaluators and our teacher that have heard the Truth. Ask the One that gives the growth to grow these seeds.
God uses Mariama to get me where He wanted me.
The other day, Mariama was begging me to let her go to a friend's house. I like the people at the house, one of my best friends here lives there. However the house is not within eyesight nor earshot. After a few incidences here, I don't really like her going somewhere by herself unchaperoned. William was busy. Rich was busy. I was hoping to get some computer work done. If you have not met Mariama, well, she can be very persistent. When it comes to candy and snacks and things, it can be easy to let her down. Wanting to get out to be with friends and work on her language is a little harder to do, because that is something we want for her to do.
So, I got myself up and ready and took her to the house. We arrived to find out that my friend was not there. She had gone to the village to celebrate a marriage with her family on Easter. While she was still there a day later, they found out that her grandfather in the capital had died. So she was staying there until the body was brought down for burial.
I was talking with the grandmother in the house and another lady. The Father put in my mouth to begin discussing that it is sad and yet the way of the world. All are born and all will die, since Adam and Eve. I used it as an opening to share how sin entered the world and then the Father's command of sacrifice. However, a sacrifice without repentance is worthless. The people's sacrifices had become a stench to the Father. (I know the woman was tracking with me to this point because she was repeating/ answering questions.) Then the Father promised a Savior to be our perfect sacrifice. I told her what was said about the one who would come and how Jesus fulfilled all those things.
I really do not know where this woman's heart is. She is an older lady who I had prayed with numerous times. Please ask the One who gives the growth to grow this seed that has been planted in this woman's heart.
Thank you Mariama for getting me to a place I needed to be to share what this woman needed to hear!
So, I got myself up and ready and took her to the house. We arrived to find out that my friend was not there. She had gone to the village to celebrate a marriage with her family on Easter. While she was still there a day later, they found out that her grandfather in the capital had died. So she was staying there until the body was brought down for burial.
I was talking with the grandmother in the house and another lady. The Father put in my mouth to begin discussing that it is sad and yet the way of the world. All are born and all will die, since Adam and Eve. I used it as an opening to share how sin entered the world and then the Father's command of sacrifice. However, a sacrifice without repentance is worthless. The people's sacrifices had become a stench to the Father. (I know the woman was tracking with me to this point because she was repeating/ answering questions.) Then the Father promised a Savior to be our perfect sacrifice. I told her what was said about the one who would come and how Jesus fulfilled all those things.
I really do not know where this woman's heart is. She is an older lady who I had prayed with numerous times. Please ask the One who gives the growth to grow this seed that has been planted in this woman's heart.
Thank you Mariama for getting me to a place I needed to be to share what this woman needed to hear!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Rated R for Horror--part 2
As I stated in part 1, if you are a child or under 18, stop reading this now and have your parents read it before you do. If you are a parent and you are reading this to your children, please stop. This topic is not pleasant but one very much in need of awareness.
I will spare what gruesome details I can, but this post is not for the weak. Female circumcision is illegal in this country and is punished legally, but it does still occur in some villages.
A girl between the ages of 4 and 8 is taken to a hut where an older woman comes to meet her. Then four people each hold her arms and legs, while the woman cuts off the girl's clitoris. For this day and a week afterwards, a drummer is outside the hut to play drums to drown out the girl's screams of pain. After the week, the wound is treated further. However, the girl will never know sexual pleasure as a woman, because, after all, "pleasure is for men."
How do you minister to this girl? How do you minister to women who have endured this? How do you help her to realize her value in God's eyes when she has been so demeaned and broken? How do you explain how a God who loves her allowed this to happen? How do I??? I don't know.
I will spare what gruesome details I can, but this post is not for the weak. Female circumcision is illegal in this country and is punished legally, but it does still occur in some villages.
A girl between the ages of 4 and 8 is taken to a hut where an older woman comes to meet her. Then four people each hold her arms and legs, while the woman cuts off the girl's clitoris. For this day and a week afterwards, a drummer is outside the hut to play drums to drown out the girl's screams of pain. After the week, the wound is treated further. However, the girl will never know sexual pleasure as a woman, because, after all, "pleasure is for men."
How do you minister to this girl? How do you minister to women who have endured this? How do you help her to realize her value in God's eyes when she has been so demeaned and broken? How do you explain how a God who loves her allowed this to happen? How do I??? I don't know.
Rated R for Horror
Before I begin my story, I ask that if you are reading this to a child, please stop. If you are a child reading this, please stop and have a parent read it before you do. I do need to make a disclaimer before I begin. The story I am about to tell is not always the case, however, it does happen and it is a story worth telling.
A girl is often given in marriage at an early age, particularly in the village, often shortly after she becomes a "woman" by having her menstrual cycle. Parents may be concerned for the girl's welfare or just to prevent any premarital sexual activity and consequently premarital pregnancy.
One 13 year old girl was taken on a walk by her father. They came to a hut where a man 3 times older than the girl was waiting for them. The father introduced the girl to the man and then told her that she would now submit to this man because he would be her husband. The father walked out of the door and closed it behind him. The "husband" proceeds to force himself on the girl, raping her and attempting to keep her from screaming. Meanwhile, the "father" waits outside, telling the girl that she will submit, threatening to kill her if she does not.
Upon hearing this story, I was not sure which one to be more horrified over, the husband or the father. With this picture of a father, I would have a hard time presenting God as our heavenly Father. How do you explain what true love is to a woman who has been treated in this way?
On a side note, as I said, this is not necessarily the rule, however it does happen. Is it any wonder that I have a hard time letting my young daughters out of the house? Young men will often say how pretty they are and ask to be their husband. Sometimes I can tell they are joking or just wanting to compliment them, but other times I can feel a chill go down my spine. I am so grateful that my girls have a father who is adamant about protecting them and letting them know they are truly loved and consistently shows them how much they are valued. Pray with me that girls like this one will know what true love is.
A girl is often given in marriage at an early age, particularly in the village, often shortly after she becomes a "woman" by having her menstrual cycle. Parents may be concerned for the girl's welfare or just to prevent any premarital sexual activity and consequently premarital pregnancy.
One 13 year old girl was taken on a walk by her father. They came to a hut where a man 3 times older than the girl was waiting for them. The father introduced the girl to the man and then told her that she would now submit to this man because he would be her husband. The father walked out of the door and closed it behind him. The "husband" proceeds to force himself on the girl, raping her and attempting to keep her from screaming. Meanwhile, the "father" waits outside, telling the girl that she will submit, threatening to kill her if she does not.
Upon hearing this story, I was not sure which one to be more horrified over, the husband or the father. With this picture of a father, I would have a hard time presenting God as our heavenly Father. How do you explain what true love is to a woman who has been treated in this way?
On a side note, as I said, this is not necessarily the rule, however it does happen. Is it any wonder that I have a hard time letting my young daughters out of the house? Young men will often say how pretty they are and ask to be their husband. Sometimes I can tell they are joking or just wanting to compliment them, but other times I can feel a chill go down my spine. I am so grateful that my girls have a father who is adamant about protecting them and letting them know they are truly loved and consistently shows them how much they are valued. Pray with me that girls like this one will know what true love is.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Langauges, languages everywhere! And a first for me!
Since the beginning of the year, I have been learning to crochet. I generally do not have time to do much for myself, so getting to do this is exciting, especially since Rich also watches the kids while I get to go learn.
When I first went, my crochet teacher, who is a pastor's wife, tried to talk to me as I worked. However, that did not last long because I had to pay too much attention to the work but wanted to chat. So in time they began chatting in their own mother tongue as long as it was just family. If neighbor's came by they often spoke in the language I speak, so I would have to look up from my work. Sometimes another neighbor would come by speaking the language we had learned before, which requires even more effort on my part now, which meant I just had to sit the work down. Once done with our lesson, my teacher initiated that we would pray together for one another's family and ministry. She prayed in the national language and I prayed in the local language we speak now. After a few weeks of really concentrating and not much chatting, I finally have the hang of it. Maybe one day before too long I will be able to do it and chat at the same time. So my crochet lesson involves no less than three language and usually ends up being four.
The languages thing is pretty common when visiting in homes around here. I have recently been visiting with a lady who in enjoying reading the Word. She is technically old enough to be my mother, since she has children my age, but she is not much older than my sister. A few weeks ago she was looking for her resume. Her contract with the school at which she had been teaching had ended in December. She had searched though a ton of papers before I got there but could only find her son's resume, which could be used as a template, but she really wanted to find hers. She did eventually find it. One of the headings on every resume here is languages. Both she and her son had five languages listed.
How is it that we as Americans are so proud of ourselves when we speak just one language outside of English? How is it that these people who speak so many languages can see themselves as lacking intellect just because they do not have as many degrees as we do?
O, in the title, I mentioned a first for me. When I went to my crochet lesson yesterday, my teacher's husband told me to go on in the house, because my teacher was getting dressed. I went inside and placed a bag of clothes for their son who is a little younger than William and their daughter who is seven months younger than Lydia-Ann. My teacher, and friend, got distracted from her dressing by the clothes. She was only half-dressed but was so excited that she hugged me. I am not sure what shocked me more, being hugged by a half-dressed woman or the level of gratitude which she showed. I pray that I will always remember how truly blessed I, and my children, have been by all that we have been given.
When I first went, my crochet teacher, who is a pastor's wife, tried to talk to me as I worked. However, that did not last long because I had to pay too much attention to the work but wanted to chat. So in time they began chatting in their own mother tongue as long as it was just family. If neighbor's came by they often spoke in the language I speak, so I would have to look up from my work. Sometimes another neighbor would come by speaking the language we had learned before, which requires even more effort on my part now, which meant I just had to sit the work down. Once done with our lesson, my teacher initiated that we would pray together for one another's family and ministry. She prayed in the national language and I prayed in the local language we speak now. After a few weeks of really concentrating and not much chatting, I finally have the hang of it. Maybe one day before too long I will be able to do it and chat at the same time. So my crochet lesson involves no less than three language and usually ends up being four.
The languages thing is pretty common when visiting in homes around here. I have recently been visiting with a lady who in enjoying reading the Word. She is technically old enough to be my mother, since she has children my age, but she is not much older than my sister. A few weeks ago she was looking for her resume. Her contract with the school at which she had been teaching had ended in December. She had searched though a ton of papers before I got there but could only find her son's resume, which could be used as a template, but she really wanted to find hers. She did eventually find it. One of the headings on every resume here is languages. Both she and her son had five languages listed.
How is it that we as Americans are so proud of ourselves when we speak just one language outside of English? How is it that these people who speak so many languages can see themselves as lacking intellect just because they do not have as many degrees as we do?
O, in the title, I mentioned a first for me. When I went to my crochet lesson yesterday, my teacher's husband told me to go on in the house, because my teacher was getting dressed. I went inside and placed a bag of clothes for their son who is a little younger than William and their daughter who is seven months younger than Lydia-Ann. My teacher, and friend, got distracted from her dressing by the clothes. She was only half-dressed but was so excited that she hugged me. I am not sure what shocked me more, being hugged by a half-dressed woman or the level of gratitude which she showed. I pray that I will always remember how truly blessed I, and my children, have been by all that we have been given.
Wow, is it 2012 already??
I cannot believe how fast time flies sometimes. 3 years ago this month we were attending a meeting in Virginia to look at our prospects of returning overseas. We met some wonderful people, who we are still very close to, in hearts if not in miles. The Father had done so much just to get us to that point, and He has continued to do still more.
At that time, He had worked through others to get us from college loans that could have purchased a small house to a debt equal to that of a small car. Over the course of the next few months, we would continue to pay down on it, to the point that we are completely debt free now with a nice sized savings in case emergencies happen. What a wonderful feeling it was then but even better now.
Rich had needed to get some more schooling for us to qualify to return, which he did, so that we would be considered associates. Since we arrived here, we have been changed to permanent status but Rich is still looking forward to finishing his masters, though there may be some changes to expedite that, which would be great.
We met some friends that week who scattered to the world in the months to follow. Some have returned to the states for medical reasons, and some have found the Father using them in ways they did not expect to reach the nations. Some have added to their family by births or by creating new families through marriage.
Some specific highlights of that week were playing Phase 10 with our new friends while I was wearing leopard print pajamas and fuschia high heels (I had forgotten my slippers).
Kneeling in a group in prayer with a beloved brother who feared that saying goodbye to his father would be the last time to see him alive, which wound up being the case a year later. Rich who had known that feeling and the flight back was able to encourage this friend as he prepared for that.
Breathing a sigh of relief that we knew where we were called to go while others had no idea in the world where the Father was calling them.
Rejoicing in the fact that we were able to see some friends that we had not seen in a while and the Father only knows when we will see them again.
Breathing a sigh of relief as we were given the affirmative that we would indeed get recommended to return overseas, after being in the states for over two years. (Of course that did not compare to the call we got two months later making it official as we were on our way to Disney World.)
Sometimes it feels like no time and sometimes it feels like a lifetime ago. Wow a lot can happen in three years! Thinking of my precious friends around the world.
At that time, He had worked through others to get us from college loans that could have purchased a small house to a debt equal to that of a small car. Over the course of the next few months, we would continue to pay down on it, to the point that we are completely debt free now with a nice sized savings in case emergencies happen. What a wonderful feeling it was then but even better now.
Rich had needed to get some more schooling for us to qualify to return, which he did, so that we would be considered associates. Since we arrived here, we have been changed to permanent status but Rich is still looking forward to finishing his masters, though there may be some changes to expedite that, which would be great.
We met some friends that week who scattered to the world in the months to follow. Some have returned to the states for medical reasons, and some have found the Father using them in ways they did not expect to reach the nations. Some have added to their family by births or by creating new families through marriage.
Some specific highlights of that week were playing Phase 10 with our new friends while I was wearing leopard print pajamas and fuschia high heels (I had forgotten my slippers).
Kneeling in a group in prayer with a beloved brother who feared that saying goodbye to his father would be the last time to see him alive, which wound up being the case a year later. Rich who had known that feeling and the flight back was able to encourage this friend as he prepared for that.
Breathing a sigh of relief that we knew where we were called to go while others had no idea in the world where the Father was calling them.
Rejoicing in the fact that we were able to see some friends that we had not seen in a while and the Father only knows when we will see them again.
Breathing a sigh of relief as we were given the affirmative that we would indeed get recommended to return overseas, after being in the states for over two years. (Of course that did not compare to the call we got two months later making it official as we were on our way to Disney World.)
Sometimes it feels like no time and sometimes it feels like a lifetime ago. Wow a lot can happen in three years! Thinking of my precious friends around the world.
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