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| Hearing from teammates on team day |
At the same time, we are their cheerleaders. When they are doing well we are so thankful. When they have exciting experiences we are excited with them. As they struggle and work through things, we are encouraged and enjoy cheering them on.
So we thought we’d share some quotes from our teammates this week, quotes we heard that have us excited--anecdotes and little glimpses that point to the fact that our teammates are adjusting, learning language and culture and connecting with people in meaningful ways:
“I taught three ladies how to float this week.”
(Many island women don’t know how to swim.)
“The guys on the soccer field have given me a nickname. They call me Abdu.”
(Apparently his English name was too difficult to say on the fly, but also a sign of him being welcomed into the group.)
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| Tom took a hike with good island friend |
“I was walking down the street and people were stopping me and talking to me. 'Come over here.'”
(Evidence of friends being made and joining the community.)
“Some of the children are calling me by name now, not just chanting ‘Mzungu’” [the island word for foreigner.]
(Becoming a person to islanders and not just a foreigner.)
“I went to a ceremony and met the governor of the island. He told me he was very happy to have us here and happy to hear we were learning the local language.”
(What visa problems?! He’s friends with the governor!)
“The matriarch from downstairs came to up to our house and stayed for a long time. She asked me lots of questions about what I believe. I got to share a lot of good news with her. When she left she said, ‘I understand much better now.’”
(In this matrilineal society, mamas are very important, but rarely drawn into serious conversations.)
“I love learning language with my friend. She is so patient. It was so much fun learning to cook with her.”
(A team goal--to have our relational needs met by friendships with islanders.)
“We went to their house and had dinner. We couldn’t say much, but it was really nice. Then they came over to our house another night.”
(Friendships here are never complete without give and take.)
“I’d been really wanting for some guys to come over. Ladies would come but no dudes. Then the next day two guys showed up at our house.”
(Answers to prayers and more connections with islanders.)
We know as leaders that we help make it possible for our teammates to survive and adjust well here, but we also realize that this team is not in our hands. Thankfully it is in much bigger and more capable hands. So we sit back and marvel at all the ways He is providing. Our team is out there- learning language and building relationships with islanders. It’s a good thing.
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| 1st time back at beach after months of busyness |
PRAYERS ANSWERED
We have visas for all our teammates!! We are thankful for the advocates that came out to speak on Ben’s behalf. The ministry man (turns out he is the general secretary and not the actual minister) still doesn’t like us but people over his head do. He still wrote a letter only recommending a 6 month visa (instead of the standard 1 year visa), but then the friendly people at immigration gave us 1 year visas anyway! Thanks for praying. The babies’ diarrhea is doing better! The English classes have started up again and we are reminded again that we like teaching!
PRAYERS REQUESTED
Next week is our Christmas party for our English Club- pray that it would be a good time of celebrating and sharing with islanders about this important holiday. The girls’ toilet is broken. Tom spent a morning in some smelly stuff trying to fix it but it still isn’t fixed. Pray that the plumber works quickly (he isn’t known for quick work). It was a tough and tiring week with the visa and toilet situations adding stress. Pray that we would re-establish a good pattern of work and rest. This week we will celebrate our first teammate birthday- pray that the birthday boy has a great day!
