What You Meant for Evil...

Having a happy Pancake Day!

If you’re a frequent reader of our blog you may remember Bwe.  For more than a year I have been visiting him at his home and meeting with him and his friend Mnyawe (and occasionally others) to study the word and seek the truth.  They have been seeking for a long time.  Sometimes it has felt like we were talking in circles, but just when I was ready to give up, there would be a breakthrough.  Sometimes its felt like things were going really well, only to have an incident happen that assured me that though they understand a great deal, there has not been heart change.  As our time in the States has been approaching, my thoughts and prayers have often been about Bwe and Mnyawe.  Who could come in and take over? Who could help them to continue on their journey?

You may wonder why this is so difficult.  Don’t I know people? Don’t I have others who could guide them in these things? The answers to these questions is, “yes…but” relationships are not so easy here.  Friendships cannot be simply handed off.  And trust is something that must be earned.  I had tried a few other times.  One young brother seemed very promising.  I thought he would be the one to step in.  He met with the guys a few times, but he suddenly left—left the island and hasn’t come back. I brought another guy along, but it was clear that he was not a leader yet and would be learning as much as any of them.  So it has continued to be a dilemma that lacked an answer.

Then, a few weeks ago, while I was away at a conference in Kenya, Bwe’s house was broken into and everything he had of any value was stolen.  It was clear that the thief was someone he knew. The job was done quickly and efficiently and in a small window of time.  Bwe was so upset he went to visit his brother on another island.  I knew none of this.  When I returned from my trip, I couldn’t reach him on his phone and it wasn’t until I went to visit that I was told the discouraging news.  I went home feeling very discouraged. 

But what was meant for evil, God could use for good.

I would not see Bwe for over a week after that.  At the time, I had no idea how long he planned to stay with his brother and no way of reaching him (his phone had been stolen).  But an idea, not my own, came to me during this time—what if we arranged a prayer time for him at his house?

Right now you’re probably thinking—that sounds bizarre.  But in fact, when robberies happen here, this is a very common response.  They send for the religious teacher and say a ‘prayer’—really a terrible curse that they call down on the thief with terrible consequences.  More than once, people have pointed out to me a crazy man or woman and said it was the result of this cursing prayer. Stories abound of its power.  Hopefully you already know that I did not want to do this kind of prayer. Rather I wanted to take this cultural ceremony and see it transformed.  It would not be a time of cursing but a time of blessing and asking for forgiveness and mercy for the thief.  A few days later Bwe was back and I asked if I could bring some of my brothers to pray this different kind of prayer.  He agreed. 

When I asked some of my brothers, they thought it was a good idea and challenged me further.  “It would be good if we gave him something more than just prayer,” my island brother said.  “Like a phone, or some money…but it would be better if we could give him a phone.”  I agreed, assuming I would need to go phone shopping, when another brother brought out an extra phone. It felt like it was meant to be.

Over the next 24 hours it felt as if God was orchestrating things concerning this prayer.  When I needed to find Bwe to talk through the plan and give him the phone, Bwe suddenly appeared before me on the street.  When I started making plans for something to read during the time, the power went out and I couldn’t print it out.  That lead me to pray more and decide to ask my island brother to take the lead instead of me.  There were others I thought of inviting, but I wasn’t able to reach them.  I let go of my plans and rested in the idea that the two (one island brother, one other foreigner) were the ones that were supposed to go. Bwe and Mnyawe were waiting when we arrived.

There was nothing spectacular about this meeting.  Some people met.  Some prayer was said.  But there is great potential—a connection was made, and made in a special way that allowed for greater trust and in culturally appropriate ways.  We prayed for Bwe and for his home and for forgiveness and for mercy on the thief.  They also listened to many testimonies of God’s goodness and His Kingdom.  They exchanged phone numbers.

What will the outcome be? I don’t know, but I am hopeful.  When Bwe got his phone up and running he gave me a call.  A little later I sent a message to my island brother letting him know that Bwe’s phone was working.  He sent me a message back: “I know, I’ve already talked to him.” 

Rainy Season meets learning to make gifs

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We had a great visit with the short-termer, may God use this time to bless him as he was a blessing to us.  The religious debate Tom was having over WhatsApp went in good directions and Tom was able to share the story of the 2 Kingdoms.  Our new teammate was able to move her things from the smallest island, now we pray that she can follow her things and get back to us safely (travel to/from the smallest island is always tricky). 

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Continue to pray for Bwe, Mnyawe and the brother they met at the prayer time.  May this lead to regular meetings and a new road for them on their journey toward the truth.  A friend came by yesterday who is very sick and traveling to another country for medical treatment.  He allowed for me to pray for his healing in the Savior’s name.  Pray that he would be healed in both body and spirit.  We have only two weeks left on Clove Island before starting to head toward the US- pray that we would use our time wisely and have meaningful times with islanders as we say goodbye. One of the island sisters wants to have a gathering of women for International Women’s Day, pray that it could be an encouraging time and that we’d have discernment in what to do for it. A group from mainland Africa is coming this week to do a big survey of the island situation, pray that they would ask the right questions, have good discernment as they seek to understand and give guidance and advice for the future. As we were in the middle of posting this blog, we were informed that an island friend/neighbor has gone into labor, pray for smooth delivery and healthy mom and baby.