Immortality??

 A lot of islanders aren’t great at telling light-skinned foreigners apart. They just aren’t used to seeing many of us and so often get us confused for each other. Sometimes it is completely understandable— people of similar heights and hair color. Sometimes one is tall, the other is short, one is blond, the other brunette and you wonder where the confusion comes from. We usually just correct them (at least the first time) or just politely wave at the wrong greeting in hopes of representing the other person well.

Our sons- know which is which?

 I’m convinced that only a small group of islanders can tell our two boys apart (though to be fair, even other foreigners get them confused).

Then there is Megan and our daughter. Since she was little, people have always commented on how much she looks like Megan. One old teammate persisted in calling her “little Megan” instead of by her given name. Generally our daughter is very good natured about it. It annoys her a little and every once in awhile she’ll give an eye-roll in response to a comment. But other  times she’ll laugh and even talk about it as an anecdote.

Megan & our daughter

When our daughter got glasses, she chose ones that were shaped like Megan’s, increasing the comments. Then she hit her growth spurt. She’s now as tall as an adult. She wears the traditional outer-wrap of a woman.

“I saw your daughter yesterday. She’s grown! It’s like it’s you walking around. I think that is so great when a child looks just like you! Because then it’s like you never die! Because your likeness is still walking around and whenever people see them it is like they are seeing you!”

The shopkeeper who went on this little rant kept it up for quite some time, repeating the idea again several times. She talked about different scenarios, like at a wedding or other event after you had died. If your look-alike is there it is like you are there because everyone will see them and think of you and remember you. She was sincerely happy for Megan, happy that she had this blessing, this slice of immortality, all in a look-alike daughter. “It’s like you’ll never die!”

Megan just smiled and paid for her flour, slightly puzzled and amused by this perspective. Later as we talked about it, we were struck by the emphasis she had placed on being seen and remembered, like that was what being alive was about, being a visible part of community. It also struck us as a little sad for the look-alike— can they ever be their own person in such a small community or will their lives always be tied to their predecessor?

Makes you hope that your look-alike (whether older or younger than you) is a good person, since they will undoubtedly be representing you whether you like it or not. (A reason why we are always on our best behavior when someone we don’t know greets us warmly— who knows who we are representing in that moment?)

Makes you think about God making us in his own image. Was He as excited as this woman is, by the idea that with His image-bearers walking around that there was no way that He could be forgotten?

Tom the birthday boy

PRAYERS ANSWERED
All of our teammates (except one) have returned safely from various travels. Our two medical teammates had good homestays with local families on the far-side of the island, making connections that will hopefully help them to build relationships when they move there. Tom had his birthday today! We were happy to celebrate with him and are very thankful for his 43 years! Elewa and her husband have made it back and have a new diagnosis that will hopefully help them get his health under control, easing her mind and giving him a better standard of living than he has had lately.

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Our short-termer arrives on Wednesday. Pray that she’d make her same-day connection to our island and that her days of orientation living with us would go well. Pray also for the island family that she will be living with during her time here that she could have a positive impact in that household and learn a lot. Pray for our final teammate that is still off island as her return flights have been changed. Pray that her final days with family would not be stressed by her return travel plans. Pray for our medical teammates as they use this final week to buy what they need and pack up for their move. Pray that their new house would be ready for them! Pray for us as we continue to talk with others this week about what our future role in leadership could look like— pray for unity and clarity for all involved in these discussions. Pray for one of the men that Tom was studying with as Tom has learned that he traveled to the little island. Tom has no idea when or if he would return and no way to contact him—pray that he would continue seeking and be drawn to the Light.