Interest

Our family last Sunday

Islanders know us for different reasons. They are our neighbors, our students, our colleagues, our acquaintances, our friends. They meet us on the street or just show up at our house. Some seek us out for English, for money, for amusement. But sometimes they are interested in something else, in something more.

They show this interest in different ways. Sometimes they start a discussion, barraging us with questions about what we believe or how we live. Sometimes we find them looking at a book from our library and they ask to borrow it. Sometimes we can see the interest brewing inside them before they express it, sometimes it comes out of the blue.

Barak is Tom’s good friend. Tom often takes the kids and sits chatting with him. One day  Barak asked about our kids’ names. Tom gave a brief explanation-- mentioning King David, the apostle Peter and the concept of grace. Barak didn’t know the stories of David and was curious. So Tom came back with a kids book telling the stories in simple terms. He left it with Barak. He read the whole thing, but then said, “These are just summaries. I want to read the real thing.” Tom came back and gave him a copy of the real thing.

Sterehi and Sanamwe both come to our English club and borrow books from our small English library. Both took out copies of the Book. Sterehi has known us for awhile. He’s asked for prayer several times. He’s been getting books for a long time but this time he asked to take one not from the normal shelf. Sanamwe is brand new to our English library. We’ve had very few conversations with him but this was one of the first books he grabbed.

Tom & boys in the ocean

Three copies of a very special book in the hands of islanders and this is just the tip of the interest. We have more stories, stories of islanders thinking, asking and seeking. Plus there are those where the interest is brewing inside and we don’t even know. But one day they will find us or one of our teammates. They’ll ask. They’ll seek. Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
Our holiday English club went well-- our time was up before we could have much discussion so we may get more questions this week (today, Sat). So far none of the rest of us have gotten lice! The electricity has improved the past couple days (pray that it is a pattern starting!). Many teammates are starting to have opportunities to have meaningful study with islanders.


PRAYERS REQUESTED 
Still fighting with the lice-- pray that we are winning. Plans are coming together for us to go to South Africa in July to get some medical care for Megan’s back (when our team is going to Kenya for training). Pray for us as we consider different options (surgical procedures, PT…)-- her recent improvements may make us lean away from surgery. Pray that these improvements would continue and make the decision clear. The island has been going through voter registration for elections in November-- we’re a little nervous about these upcoming elections, so start praying now for peace and stability to continue on the islands (especially Clove Island).