Can they change?

Tom's famous!- this picture has been in an island TV ad!

Walking down a winding path as I hunt for houses in a village not far from here I am almost run down by a 5 year old girl with a big mischievous grin on her face.  Behind her I hear wailing.  Further down the street is a little girl, maybe two or three years old, bawling.  She has a rock in her hand and her arm cocked back as if ready to throw it, but she is hesitant.  She looks back down the street.  Her mother sits on the porch with another woman laughing and encouraging.  “Go, throw the rock at her.”  they say to the little girl.  The girl continues to cry and hesitate in her action.  Meanwhile my heart breaks.  I wonder at the formative lesson she is learning at this moment: Your parents won’t help you.  No one will stand up for what is right.  The wrong doer will go unpunished.  The best you can do is take your revenge.   How well will she learn this lesson?  Will this moment in the street stay with her for the rest of her life?  Who will show her that there is another way? Will this pattern of revenge ever change?

Our son & friend with a giant yam

Early in the morning I sit down under the window in our living room to have a quiet time with God.  The morning sun is still weak so the window offers the best light.  Outside, without fail come the old men.  They have come, dressed in their fine white prayer robes, from their morning prayers (they were up well before the sun) and now they congregate on the public benches under the shade of a breadfruit tree to chat.  As I listen to their chatter outside my window and read the beautiful words in front of me, many times I am struck wondering, “Who could share with these old men?  How long have they prayed this way?  Have they ever heard anything different? Would they ever change?”

Our daughter & Megan buying fish by our house

At English Club we get into a discussion about thieves.  What should the punishment be?  A few say we must teach them not to steal, but most call for them to be beaten.  One tries to talk about the underlying poverty, but no one seems to listen. “Once a thief always a thief,”  they say.  “They won’t change.”  One girl says, “They should be put to death!”  After a bit more discussion, someone suggests that repeat offenders should have their hands cut off.  There is consensus. All but one or two feel this is a great solution.  “Once a thief always a thief,”  they say again.  “They never change.”

“We don’t agree,” we speak up.  “People can always change.”

We believe in change.  We believe people, families, communities, even whole societies can change.  We have seen change.  And so we have hope.

PRAYERS ANSWERED

Our youngest (11months) getting big

We’re close to deciding on a second house for our future teammates (that would make only 3 more houses to find!). One day this week we said to each other, "I think our youngest is starting to get the hang of going down stairs." Then the very next day I find him out on the street, having quickly gone through the whole house, opened the screen door to the porch, gone down the stairs to a shared landing area and then down the final stair to the street. All this in a matter of moments. I discovered him just as an islander man was saying, "Hey guys, look at this white baby!" When I found him he just smiled at me. We’re thankful he was all right.  Our kids are doing well and are gaining new friends among the neighbor kids.

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Pray for change on the islands! Megan’s back has been showing improvement but setbacks are quick- pray that she can be strict about limiting her activity and  of course pray for healing. For the continuing house hunt and preparations for the team. For opportunities to talk and share with people during this month of fasting.