The Final Step

Hot and rainy back on the islands!

We’ve made it to “the islands”, but not to OUR island. Clove Island is still unseen, on the other side of the big volcano and across lots of ocean. To get there with all our luggage (which all made it this far!) we’ll have to brave the inter-islands boats…vessels known for unreliable schedules, delays, discomfort and seasickness. So we sit in a simple island-style motel, anxious to complete the final step on our journey.  We’re back and yet the final and perhaps most difficult steps of our journey are still before us.

“That final step is often the hardest,” the speaker said, talking to a room packed full of women. These women had all raised funds, crossed oceans, struggled in new cultures and learned foreign languages in order to be agents of change in Africa—but the final step of leaving their homes, crossing the street and engaging with people can sometimes be the most daunting of these tasks. Sitting in that room of women, I was struck by how blessed we are on the islands. Many people in that room lived in contexts where it was very difficult to get to know local women because women are locked away in their homes and aren’t usually free to mingle and socialize. For many of them making any sort of relationship happen is that next difficult step they are trying to take.

Our older two with their art projects from education week

How different from the islands where breaking into relationships isn’t usually the hard part. Islanders will come to you—even burst into your house! In many island communities groups of people are just sitting along the streets, outside their homes, waiting for something to talk about. Now, you still have to muster up the courage to cross the street and talk to them, but for the most part islanders are welcoming and friendly (especially when they hear you speaking in their language).  No, the final step for those of us who work on the islands is seeing the connections go deeper.

 We’ve realized that you don’t really know an islander until you get to know their family as well.  So one relationship means many relationships.  The final step is getting in among the family. and seeing change in the lives of family groups and whole communities (not just individuals). But to do that usually means going with them.  Going with them to their homes, going with them to their villages, going with them to weddings and funerals—Going with them.  It can feel like a daunting final step, but thankfully we have someone who goes before us.

No slides on Clove Island, so enjoyed it in East Africa

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We made it to the islands with all our luggage! The island customs agent was very friendly and only had us open one token bag! The kids’ academic testing went well and we were given good advice about how to continue to support them in their education.

PRAYERS REQUESTED
It will be a strange week as we try to make it back to Clove Island. Please pray with us that the weather and seas are calm and the boats in good repair so we can make it home. Our boat is supposed to leave on Thursday— pray that the trip would go smoothly (a good day is 3 hours, a bad day can be 6-10 hours). Pray that we don’t get seasick. Pray for our kids as it is easy for them to get antsy in this limbo time. Pray for our return to Clove Island and as we unpack and settle into our new house there (we arranged the rental of a new house before we left). Pray that we would reconnect well with old friends and start off on a good foot with new neighbors and acquaintances. Megan’s aunt had a heart attack and subsequent surgery last week— please pray for her recovery.