The Month of Fasting

Greeted home with lots of welcome signs!

It's started again.  One month of every year on the islands, everything changes.  The music stops, the restaurants close, schools take a holiday and work days become short, and everyone fasts.  No other time so clearly contrasts the differences between our world views.

There is a sense in which it feels like we are stepping back in time, as if we are living in the Middle East two thousand years ago.  As if we were entering the pages of the holy books and walking around with the disciples of old.  The Pharisees walk around town teaching their ways.  They go by a different name here, but they look and act similarly.  They wear long white robes and turbans with a staff in their hand.  A long, bushy beard and a callous mark on their forehead show everyone their faithfulness and devotion, and this month they are listened to, because everyone wants to be like them, because this is the month where you might find favor with God.  This is the month his mercy and blessing might flow down.  This is the month you might find forgiveness.

You cannot swim during this month. For water could enter your mouth, nose and ears and so break your fast.  You cannot weep, for the tears from your eyes would somehow break your fast as well.  Any day your fast is broken must be redone at a later date.  But if you keep your fast and pray, your prayers are worth ten-fold this month.  And if you pray on a certain night, your prayers are worth 10,000 days of prayer.  Which speaks to the heart of the matter.  Prayers are done to find favor, to receive points.  "To receive points?" I ask them, "like some sort of game?" Understandably, they balk at the word “game”, but they don’t correct me.

Our sons check for ripe tomatoes

Far more often they chastise me.  "You aren't fasting like us? Why not?  You can't do it, can you? You're not strong enough."  It doesn't matter that I do not follow the same path.  “You live on the island so you should conform,” they think, “plus you might even earn your salvation.”

It can be both frustrating and heart breaking to see them striving so hard to conform to all these outward rules.  But there is also hope.  This month, more than any other, islanders seek the face of God.  There are those who long for more than points.  There are those who want more than favor. Who want a new heart and atonement for sin.  Who long for true redemption and a new life.  Those who can see beyond outward rules and who look to fill that hole in their heart with the love of God. 

For this reason it is a privilege to be here during this time.  Everyone wants to talk about these things this month, so it is an opportunity to shine the light of a different path, to give hope and bring to good news. 

PRAYERS ANSWERED
Our family is together again!  Megan and our youngest son have returned and we are so happy to be back together.  We are so happy to see our youngest doing so well after the surgery. 

PRAYERS REQUESTED
You can see how this month is especially in need of prayer.  Will you commit to praying with us every day during this very special month? We have a prayer guide we would love to send you to guide your prayers for the islands. Email us for details.  Our time here is winding down.  We will leave the island in less than a month! There is still much to do.  Please pray for our housing, both here and in the States, we do not know where we will be living in the months ahead.  We trust the Lord to provide but still desire to have these things finalized.We are meeting with our country leader this week to debrief the last few years and look ahead to our return next year— pray for a good time of reflection and planning together.